Music Academy's annual Mid Year Dance Festival presents variety of competing young talents

The Madras Music Academy's annual Mid Year Dance Festival (July 17-19) at the mini hall, facilitated by the endowment of the family of late M.N. Subramaniam, projected a select group of young talents - comprising one Mohiniattam exception, amidst a predominantly Bharatanatyam group - all meticulously trained with good grasp over dance technique and line.

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Tribute - Vempati - The architect of Kuchipudi's soul - Aruna Rekha Varanasy

This morning, as I sat on my balcony sipping filter coffee, the Mumbai monsoon whispered against the glass. I played my favourite Kuchipudi tracks - the same ones I've heard thousands of times over the past thirty-five years. And yet, not once have they lost their magic. Not once have the rhythms dulled, or the choreography faded into monotony.

Across the world, in Telugu homes where young dancers rehearse and gurus guide, his presence is still felt. In every ankle bell, every chari, every jathi, there echoes the imprint of Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. His legacy isn't just remembered, it's lived. 

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Book Review - Natya Sastra in a Nutshell - Sreya Srinath

Nāṭya Śāstra in a Nutshell: A Hand Book on Nāṭya Śāstra

Author: Dr. P. Rama Devi

Pages: 230 / Edition: 2025

Price: Rs.1000

Nāṭya Śāstra in a Nutshell by Dr. P. Rama Devi is a concise guide to Bharata Muni's foundational treatise on Indian performing arts. In this volume, Dr. Rama Devi simplifies complex classical theories such as Rasa, Bhāva, the Chaturvidha Abhinayas, and many other intricate concepts into a lucid, easy-to-understand format that is especially useful and valuable for young music and dance students. The author has further enhanced clarity by providing illustrations for hastas, padas, dr̥ṣṭibhedas, sthānakas, etc., making it easier for exam going students to grasp these advanced topics with greater accuracy through well-presented visuals and explanations. Additionally, the inclusion of ślokas along with their translations makes the text more accessible and easier to comprehend.

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Article - Unsung characters for adaptation in dance (Part 3) - Dr. Padmaja Suresh

CHARACTERS FROM THE NARAYANEEYAM OF NARAYANA BHATTATIRIPAD

Kubja was a maidservant in Kamsa's palace, responsible for procuring sandalwood paste and fragrant oils for Kamsa. She was a hunchback, sometimes referred to as 'Trivakra' (crooked at three spots). Krishna, captivated by her devotion, accepted her offering, straightened her back and made her of a perfect form. This narrative can be well dramatized and suitably brought to choreography.

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Article - Cosmic cadence through proscenium time:Question and evolution of space across times in Bharatanatyam - Brinda Dhar

 ABSTRACT

The term 'vivarta' refers to an illusory appearance of transfiguration. In a philosophical context, particularly within the Vedanta system, the doctrine of vivarta is utilized. The journey of space in Bharatanatyam, from temples to modern proscenium, incredibly moulds the spatial aspects through fusions, thus debunking the actuality of political Bharatanatyam, which has, however, remained constant for ages. Intersectional fusions then do more than blend contemporary politics with classical technique - they decolonize the very knowledge systems that uphold the dance's authority, thus furthermore challenging the idea that Bharatanatyam must remain frozen in a curated museum of authenticity.

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Article - A special Guru-Shishya Bharatanatyam connection - from Kolkata to Ottawa - Kate Macdonald

How the sacred power of Bharatanatyam crossed the seas, pierced the isolation of the pandemic lockdowns, and continues to foster connection and growth...

The Beginning: December 2020
The community center in Ottawa where I teach yoga in Canada's capital was locked down due to Covid.

"Sheltering in place", I found myself scrolling through YouTube. I was interested in investigating what connections might exist between yogāsana and something I actually knew little about - Indian classical dance. I stumbled upon a video that gave me pause. In it, a young dancer from Kolkata - Supratim Talukder - interpreted a trending version of the Shiva Tandava Stotram. To me his embodiment of Lord Shiva was a window into the Divine: darshana. 

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Obit/Tribute - Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi (June 1, 1935 - June 29, 2025) - Dr. Sinam Basu Singh

A great loss for the world of dance (Manipuri), Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi expired on 29th June 2025.

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi was a celebrated Manipuri classical dancer known for her profound contributions to the art form over five decades. Her work primarily focused on enriching and promoting Manipuri classical dance, including traditional forms like Raas Leela, Lai Haraoba, and tribal folk traditions. She was revered for her graceful artistry, intricate hand gestures (mudras), devotional storytelling, and her unwavering dedication to preserving and promoting Manipuri dance both nationally and globally as a performer and a teacher. 

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