Bangalore Fest: A feast for the eyes
- AV Sathyanarayana,Bangalore
e-mail: dancetherapyindia@gmail.com 

December 30, 2009 

 
Bangalore Habba presented 2 beautiful classical dance forms of India, Bharatanatyam and Kathak on Dec 16 at Chowdiah Memorial Hall by Malavika Sarukkai and Aditi Mangaldas, both dancers of high caliber in their respective schools, who took the heart and soul of the audience.
 
Malavika Sarukkai
Photos: Srivatsa

Malavika Sarukkai commenced her recital with a dance, which is performed at the temples called Malhari in Gambira Nata Raga with ease and elegance. Involving thattu mettu and nrittaka paada, she neatly presented the basic and simple steps.  She enacted the roles of a drum player, piper player, conch player in a most natural way.  She presented in Ragamalika and Talamalika, a composition of Bilva Mangala of the 14th century. The beauty of Brindaban, a beautiful environment, melody of the flute, the tune coming out of the flow of water, the dazzling dance of the peacock, all these turned into movement and expression. Her gentle presentation for supple Jatis, the blend of expression to Ragam Thanam Pallavi was something special. She continued her recital with "Adharam maduram, Nayanam maduram," which explains the wholesome personality of Krishna. 

Usually, mischievous acts of infant Krishna is picturized in the dance programs, but, Malavika picturized through the dance of infant Rama and motherly affection of Kausalya from the scripts of Ramacharitamanas of Saint Tulasidas. She also depicted the natural movements of birds through classical dance gesture and movements. Malavika concluded her dance recital with the composition of Dr. Balamuralikrishna's Thillana, in raga Brindavani.
 

Aditi Mangaldas

In the latter part of the Bangalore Habba was an enthralling Kathak performance by Aditi Mangaldas. While dancing to a song "Hari mei to," she used the techniques and pure grammar of Kathak from amad and pharan.  The vibrant foot work (tatkar) and thrilling whirling, the most popular movements of Kathak, was neatly presented. The vibrant tatkar symbolises the flushing out of negative toxins and experiencing optimistic positive thoughts, and whirling is nothing but finding the world at a single point. Her presentation for Sufi traditional music, a composition of Amir Khusroo, "Jashme Masti" was more of Kathak traditional movements with traditional white costume. The use of paltas and complete use of the stage was well received by the audience.  In "Hey ghata chanda hey ghata sur," she expressed the influence of environment, the beauty of nature and music on the emotional changes of a person. 
 

Dr. AV Sathyanarayana is a dance therapist.