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 'Dancing with Shiva' - a dynamic dance presentation - Manjari Sinha e-mail: manjari@sinha.com Photos: DJ Corey October 6, 2024 The packed-to-capacity Kreeger Auditorium in Rockville, Maryland was on its feet with loud applause for 'Dancing With Shiva: The Manifestation of Primal Rhythmic Energy' presented by Kalanidhi Dance, on the 27th of September 2024. Kalanidhi Dance is a professional dance company founded in 1991 by Anuradha Nehru, a brilliant disciple of the iconic Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, in Washington DC. It has toured the world and introduced audiences to the beauty, complexity and depth of Indian classical dance in general and Kuchipudi dance in particular. Anuradha raised the profile of Kuchipudi here in the US, by training students to the highest standards, because her dance institution Kalanidhi strives to make Kuchipudi accessible to audiences without compromising its integrity, core values and tradition. They have presented exquisite performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington DC, the Lincoln Center in New York City, the Ananya Dance Festival in New Delhi, the Erasing Borders Festival NYC, the Drive East Festival and many other well-known festivals and venues.  'Dancing With Shiva' was presented by Kalanidhi with just six of their chiselled dancers, accompanied by a harmonious live orchestra comprising the versatile dancer, choreographer, and composer Kishore Mosalikanti on nattuvangam, B. P. Haribabu on percussions, who would change his instrument according to the 'Sthayee (main) Swara' of the compositions being sung or played, Tanya Panda (equally adept as a vocalist and a dancer) on vocals, Sai Kishore on flute and Ranjani Parthasarathy on violin. The talented accompanists were very thoughtfully introduced in-between the items, one by one, with details of their musical accomplishments. The opening invocation was Adi Shankaracharya's 'Shiva Panchakshara Stotram', where each of the five shlokas open with the syllables Nakara, Makara, Shiakara, Vakara and Yakara, used in the Mantra 'Namah Shivaya'. These five shlokas also represented the five fundamental elements of nature; earth, water, fire, air and space respectively. This invocatory piece was specially composed by Varijashree Venugopal and choreographed by Kishore Mosalikanti for 'Dancing With Shiva', which premiered this evening. Aptly preceded by Guru Vandana "Dakshinamurtaye Namah" in raga Revati, the 'Shiva Panchakshara Stotram' continued seamlessly in Ragamalika set to khandachapu talam.  'Kala Bhairavashtakam', a set of eight Sanskrit shlokas written by Adi Shankaracharya, depicted Shiva as Kala Bhairava, the one who determines our time on earth and hence feared and respected by all mortal souls. Choreographed by Anuradha Nehru as a duet and danced by Ritika Reddy and Pragnya Thamire, Kala Bhairavashtakam was composed by Sudha Raghuraman in Ragamalika using ragas like Tilang, some Sargams and Kalawati et al set to tisra adi tala.  The Geetam, "Shiva Shiva, Bhava Bhava" based on the story of Gangavatarana, had lyrics by Narayana Teertha composed jointly by Ramesh Jetty and Kishore Mosalikanti in Ragamalika, adi talam, and was imaginatively choreographed by Kishore Mosalikanti. The story of King Bhagiratha who does penance to please Shiva who can bring river Ganga from heaven to earth, so that her waters could liberate his suffering ancestors, was elaborated by the three main aspects of Indian classical dance namely nritta, nritya and natya as practised in the Kuchipudi dance style. The story climaxed with the scintillating Tarangam, a characteristic feature of this classical dance form, where the dancers Anjana Kuttamath, Mytreyi Nair, Ritika Reddy, Pragnya Thamire and Deviga Valiyil danced on the edge of brass plates, performing complex rhythmic patterns.  Pragnya Thamire The song "Enneramum Undan" next, was inspired by the 8th century saint Nayanar's extraordinary story of love, devotion and dedication to Shiva. Nandanar's anguish and burning desire to be always at the feet of Lord Shiva set him on an arduous journey to the Chidambaram temple in Southern India. On finally entering the temple, his only wish was to remain in the presence of the Lord at all times. It was an engaging solo choreographed by Anuradha Nehru, where Pragnya's intense abhinaya was remarkable. The lyrics and composition, both by Gopalakrishna Bharathi were soulfully sung in raga Devagandhari set to talam adi.  'Dancing With Shiva' climaxed with 'Ananda Tandava', the dance of bliss with lyrics by Dr. C. Narayana Reddy, composed in Ragamalika, talam adi by P. Sangeeta Rao and choreographed by Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. As Shiva dances in sheer ecstasy, the dancers Sriyuktha Ganipineni, Anjana Kuttamath, Mytreyi Nair, Ritika Reddy, Pragnya Thamire and Deviga Valiyil watch enthralled and merged with him as the primordial rhythm that pulsates through the universe, affirming their devotion. The flawless presentation of 'Dancing with Shiva' proved why Kalanidhi's work is recognized and funded by the National Endowment for the Arts, Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, Maryland State Arts Council and the Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County. The company regularly organises interactive workshops and performances by visiting artistes, further spreading the appreciation for Indian Arts and culture. Anuradha humbly reiterates "Kalanidhi is committed to creating a community of passionate dancers, audiences and the pursuit of artistic excellence!"  Manjari Sinha has an M.A. in Sanskrit and Music, and Sangeet Prabhakar in vocal, tabla, sitar and Kathak dance. She has regular columns in national dailies as a music and dance critic. |
