Report - Sonia's chamber concert: A unique experience

Sonia's chamber concert: A unique experience
- G Ulaganathan
e-mail: ulag_nath@yahoo.com
Photo: Samhita K

November 10, 2019

It was a chamber concert with a difference. Called ‘Nritya Visleshanam,’ it was part of a series conceptualized by Manasi Raghunandan as part of Abhivyakti’s program to support talented artistes. Held at the small rehearsal hall (With large mirrors on three sides offering a 360 degree view of the dancer) in the Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, it was aimed at dancers and students to get the experience of connecting to the audience. So, there is no stage and no distance between the dancer and the small audience of about 50 people.

In this concert, the dancer is asked to perform four items in about an hour. She is also required to speak about the repertoire herself and get ready on her own, even putting on the makeup herself. The volunteers from Abhivyakthi Dance Centre will only help with logistical part.

The guru of the performer of the day introduces her to the audience and conducts the program. The artist feels closer to the audience and it also comes with its own challenges, limitations as well as scope. According to Manasi, an accomplished Odissi dancer and a master’s degree holder in Odissi from Rabindra Bharati University in Kolkata, Nritya Visleshanam is presented by students and dancers who have completed at least 7years training and who have already danced before a larger audience on a bigger stage. They should have also taken up a certain examination in dance, and have had the exposure of performing at different festivals.

As part of this series, she presented one of her senior disciples Sonia Krishnamurthy who is pursuing her PG diploma in dance. She has performed in Bengaluru as well as at Bhubaneswar and has been part of several dance dramas. On this occasion, she proved herself to be an expert communicator as well and gave a glimpse of her immense talent in Odissi which, she says, is her passion.

Starting with Ganesha Mangalacharan, she invoked the blessings of Lord Jagannath, Mother Earth (Bhumi Pranam), the teacher, the accompanists and the audience. Then she explained how in the present Odissi repertoire most of the songs are in praise of Lord Krishna, but in the earlier days Shaivism had a sway over the eastern part of India and there were many Shaivaite saints in that region. She took a Shiva sthuti and presented Lord Shiva who is adorned with earrings, bright necklaces, kaustavamani and danda (trident). In this wonderful composition by Guru Gangadhar Pradhan, the dancer not only pays obeisance to Shiva but also brings out the fury of a Shiva with fiery eyes and one who wears serpents as ornaments.

Next, before proceeding to Pallavi, Sonia demonstrated and explained the significance of different hand gestures and footwork, the tribhanga (3 bends of the body) and chauka (the square stance) which make the Pallavi very graceful. As compared to other pure dance pieces in the Odissi repertoire, the pallavi is characterized by a feeling of beautiful language and playfulness. Sonia also said through this the dancer effectively communicates to the audience but it needs great strength and good control over the body movements as pallavi usually begins in a slow tempo, picks up pace as it progresses and finally reaches an enthralling crescendo.

Sonia concluded with an abhinaya piece and her learning and mastery over various gestures was fully evident. For the young children in the audience, it was a learning experience. She also answered a few questions post the performance. Concerts like this are a visual treat and break the barrier between the artiste and the audience. Manasi is planning such programs every alternate month at the same venue.

G Ulaganathan is a senior dance critic based in Bengaluru.