Tuesday 30 May 2023

Article - Deafening silence is louder than jingling salangais - Uma Palam Pulendran

 In the Bharatanatyam establishment multitude of issues that plague the community get discussed in private whispers year after year. There is a general lack of appetite for open and public discourse. Everything is wrapped up under the carpet and pretended that "all is well". Here the phrase "Bharatanatyam establishment" I refer to, consists of active Bharatanatyam artists (non-performing teachers, senior and young performing artists), institutions, Bharatanatyam dance critics, sabhas (assembly or organization for the arts), and other South Indian arts organizations in Chennai, and South Indian arts organizations in other metropolitan cities in India, and globally particularly in the USA that promote Bharatanatyam.


While numerous problematic issues permeate the art form ranging from lack of diversity equity, and inclusion (DEI), systemic nepotism, to non-inclusion of the larger international Bharatanatyam community in the December festival I chose to focus on three issues namely, cultural appropriation of Bharatanatyam, corruptive practices of arts organizations and sexual abuse cases within the Indian dance institutions although each of these issues deserve a separate article to be able to discuss in depth. The chosen issues hold significance due to recent events and discussions surrounding them. While one issue gained attention on social media, another garnered coverage in both social and news media. The third issue, although never publicly addressed, has permeated the entire dance field worldwide. Despite their seemingly disparate nature, these issues are intrinsically linked, with implications that resonate across the Bharatanatyam community. It is crucial to shine a spotlight on these issues, initiate open dialogue, and foster meaningful change.

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Monday 22 May 2023

In memory of a Kathak legend - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

The two-day Kathak Darpan organised Smriti Festival, paying homage to late Pandit Birju Maharaj, held at the Madras Music Academy, while mentioning, in the printed information in dailies, 3 Padma Shri awardees and 5 Sangeet Natak Akademi awardees as participants, listed no names. Mounted with laudable effort, not to speak of a large heart, by Kathak Darpan Institute of Chennai run by Kathak dancer Neha Banerjee, a student of Pandit Birju Maharaj, it is surprising that the organiser seemed totally unaware about Chennai audiences - for whom late night soirees of the kind held in the North till the wee hours of the morning, are out of bounds - and no cultural programme in Sabhas lasts beyond 8.30pm. To plan evenings with the best of fare programmed after 9pm was, to say the least, being over optimistic.

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Saturday 20 May 2023

Bharat Prem Katha: Kundalika and Mrigaya - Dancing on Air: Column by Kathakali Jana

Building upon the three pillars of dance, process, practice and performance, Odissi dancer-choreographer Sharmila Biswas has devised a series of online classes on Bharat Prem Katha to be taught over one year.

"Getting into the skin of 8 women from the epics, and understanding their love stories have been possible because of the intense online study we did last year, on Nayika Bhed - some of my favourite dancers and I. They have motivated me to choreograph Bharat Prem Katha."

- Sharmila Biswas 

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Saturday 13 May 2023

My mother was my best friend by Sharon Lowen - Mothers by Daughters and Others

My mother, Ethel Rose Lowen, was my best friend - sharing love, trust, and respect until she passed away peacefully at the age of 101. Throughout my childhood she ensured that I had every opportunity to be exposed to the finest arts and world cultures. Annual season tickets for all of the international dance, music and theatre series made it possible for me to see performances from Europe, South America, South, East and SE Asia including the Bolshoi Ballet, Uday Shankar, Ballet Folklorico, Eastern European Folk Dance and Puppetry, Marcel Marceau, Kabuki along with national companies of Martha Graham, Jose Limon, Merce Cunningham, Joan Erdman, Nikolais and the NYC Metropolitan Opera at Detroit's suitably large Masonic Temple Auditorium.

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Friday 12 May 2023

Shashwat Bharat - Dance Matters: Column by Ashish Mohan Khokar

Meera is actually a minor historical figure but a major influencer, in today's jargon!

She may have suffered indignity and ridicule in her times but now she represents women's empowerment, fight for rights and love.

Kamani was in dark for a minute that loomed like eternity. And the lord said let there be light! There was nothing light about Sonal Mansingh's Meera. She was centred, stable and self-contained. Generally, Sonal Mansingh looms large on stage and her energy is all over the place. This once, she sat peacefully for most of the 45 minutes rendition and was an epitome of depth and dignity, mesmerizing with meaningful interpretation of this tale of Meerabai.

Shashwat Bharat is her latest offering to showcase the richness of India that is Bharat - musicians, dancers and more.

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Tuesday 9 May 2023

Article - International World Dance Day Online Festival MOVE 2023 - 3rd Edition by The KLMovement - Michelle Jueney

This year has been a milestone with the launch of the 'League of Legends' Legacy category. It has truly been an exceptional experience and privilege albeit online meeting, speaking and working with the actual Directors, Dancers, Librarians, Specialists and people behind the Foundations and Trusts who committed and was able in their schedule.


The Legacy Category is an initiative dedicated to dance legends, icons, pioneers, historical dance figures in dance that was envisioned when the project began in 2021.

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Monday 8 May 2023

Immersive cultural extravaganza blending art with scholarship in Ramayana Kalpavrksam - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

Ramayana Kalpavrksam, an immersive cultural experience spread over three days, held at Hyderabad's CCRT Campus, Madhapur, under the aegis of Shankarananda Kalakshetra and Natyarambha, was one of its kind. Curated by artist/scholar/administrator Ananda Shankar Jayant, who, for the best part of her life has presided with equal panache over the two very dissimilar worlds of bureaucracy and art, along with scholar Anupama Kylash as co-planner designing the morning talks, here was a cultural extravaganza, with the rare opportunity for listening to and interacting with brilliant minds, alongside being treated to rare and specific works of art - all inspired by the Ramayana. Like the proverbial Banyan tree with a spread, covering areas far beyond its place of birth, the Ramayana offshoots have spread far beyond our country - to South East Asia and other places, spouting varying expressions of culture.

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Monday 1 May 2023

Roving Eye - May 2023

 


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Anita says...May 2023

 People will forget what you said,

They will not remember what you wore
Or how you looked
But they will always remember
How you made them feel

- African American poet Maya Angelou

Anita Ratnam
With World Dance Day just behind us, it is a good moment to indulge a bit longer in the delightful and sensorial plunge into a weekend of watching, listening and thinking about our world of Dance. I was in New Delhi and was able to attend some very interesting performances.

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