|     |
|
| |
 A journey through Shakti by Natyashala's young and senior dancers- Dr. Sukhada Khandgee-mail: sukhada.khandge@gmail.com Photos: Ganesh Bhujbal & Shreeya Hebbalkar May 7, 2026 Charanya Gurusathya's Natyashala Academy of Fine Arts marked its 17th year with a dance presentation that showed both growth and confidence, on April 25 at Natasamrat Nilu Phule Sabhagruha, Sangvi, Pune. The theme of the evening, Devi Mahatva Margam, focused on the many forms of the goddess, her power, grace and divine feminine. The entire recital presented by Charanya Gurusathya and her disciples followed this single idea, which made the performance feel complete and easy to follow.  Orchestra A key highlight of the show was the accompaniment of a live orchestra. This brought a strong sense of energy to the stage and helped the dancers stay connected with music at all times. Performing with live musicians is not easy, especially for young students, but the dancers handled it well. It was impressive to see children as young as eight getting this kind of exposure early in their training. The orchestra was led by Charanya Gurusathya, whose nattuvangam was conducted with clarity and control. This provided a steady base for the dancers. She was accompanied by Rohan Pillai on lead Carnatic vocals whose voice captivated audience throughout the show, Pancham Upadhyaya on the mridangam, Gurusathya Rajasekar on ghatam, khanjira and special effects, Sanjay Sasidharan on the flute, Madhu Ramankutty on violin and Pritha Bhattacharjee on Hindustani vocals. The vocalists, along with the percussion and instrument players, supported the performance with soulful music, attention and balance. The coordination between the dancers and musicians showed good practice and understanding.  The recital began with an invocation to Goddess Saraswati. She was presented as the source of knowledge, music and art. The young dancers portrayed soft, clear movements to express her qualities. The story of her origin and her importance in guiding people towards learning was shown in a simple manner that was easy for the audience to connect with. As the program proceeded, different goddesses were introduced one after another. Lakshmi, Ganga, Parvati, Kali, Chamundi, Sati and Durga were portrayed through short dance pieces. Each segment had its own mood, yet all of them stayed connected to the main idea of Shakti. The dancers' efforts in expressing both strength and grace, marked key aspects while depicting the Devi's characters.  Charanya Gurusathya  Chinnamasta pose One of the most engaging parts of the recital was the inclusion of regional forms of the goddess. Vaishnodevi from the north, Kamakhya from the east and Kamakshi from the south were presented with care. The section on Maharashtra's goddesses such as Ambabai of Kolhapur, Tuljabhavani of Tuljapur, Renuka of Mahur and Saptashrungi was especially meaningful for the local audience. The use of regional music in these parts added a special touch and helped bring out the identity of each Shakti Peetam. Stories from mythology like Samudra Manthan, episodes of demon Raktabija, detailed description of the Dasha Mahavidyas, exploring the Linga Bhairavi, Devi portrayed as Amritakarshini and Annapurani, brought out the choreographic talents, and showed the efforts gone in in-depth study of the Indian texts and its essence. These stories added drama and variation to the performance. The dancers performed crisply with neat footwork and expressions.  The costumes and props were simple but effective. They supported the theme and helped in creating the right mood for each segment. Eighty dancers ranging from different age groups performed together, from junior to senior students. While the experience was varied across performances, Natyashala team worked well as a whole. Overall, the recital was sincere, thoughtful and rendered effortlessly. It showed the academy's commitment to training, tradition, dedication and stage experience. The idea of presenting many forms of the goddesses through one theme left a lasting impression. Devi Mahatva Margam shall remain cherished in the minds and hearts of the audience for a long time.  Dr. Sukhada Khandge, Ph.D. in Interdisciplinary Folk Media from the University of Mumbai, is a disciple of Dr. Manjiri Deo. She is the recipient of Junior research Fellowship from CCRT, Ministry of Culture. She is currently working as Associate Head of Academics - Journalism and Communication, at Seamedu Ajeenkya DY Patil University. She is a notable figure in journalism, academia, and research, contributing significantly to the understanding and preservation of Folk Arts. |
