ANITA SAYS.....
PATHS ARE MADE BY WALKING
- Franz Kafka, Czech author
This is an important quote and a very important signifier for everyone.
It's August - a time between the Indian seasons of summer, GRISHMA and
the upcoming monsoons, VARSHA. This is also when many in South India
take to health resorts and Ayurvedic centres to strengthen their immune
systems. It is believed that this is a very important time when the rays
of the sun weakens and our bodies become most susceptible to infections
and illness.
So wherever you are, I hope you are well, in good health and taking the time to read my thoughts.
Read on....
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Anita Says...by Dr. Anita R Ratnam
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TAKITATOM
Akademi's Artistic Director, SUBA, has been included in 'A VERY BRITISH RHYTHM',
an exhibition by the Museum of Colour, London. This exhibition offers a
rare opportunity to connect with some extraordinary dance artists of
colour who have significantly influenced the dance world in the U.K.
'EXHIBITING INDIA: THE ART OF HERITAGE WALKS' authored by Navina Jafa
was released on July 31, 2024 at IIC, New Delhi. It is published by
Publication Division, Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt
of India.
ANURADHA NEHRU becomes artistic director emerita as she entrusts Kalanidhi's executive leadership to DANIEL PHOENIX SINGH.
India House at La Villette during the Paris Olympics 2024 is the very first India House in the history of the Olympic Games. 'Bharatanatyam-A Timeless Tradition' will be an interactive exploration by Bharatanatyam exponent BALA DEVI CHANDRASHEKAR on Aug 7, 2024 at India House, Paris
GURU SYED SALLAUDIN PASHA has developed a pioneering curriculum encompassing Certified and Diploma courses in Classical Wheelchair Dancing and Choreography, that aims to impart technical expertise and also cultivate an appreciation for the cultural and artistic nuances of dance.
The book KSHETRAYYA PADAMS authored by DR. KANAKAM DEVAGUPTAPU was launched on July 30, 2024 in Chennai.
ANANDA SHANKAR JAYANT and group performed in Thailand for the Ramayana festival.
In the book 'Ganika - In The Visual Culture Of The 19th-20th Century
India', a group of scholars have come together to image a collection of
visual cultures associated with the Ganika, as a Devadasi and a
Courtesan. DR. SWARNAMALYA GANESH'S section of the book examines the
accoutrements of the Sadir performer, costumes and jewellery, their
history, circulation and provenance.
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MIXTURA VIZHA 2024 was presented by
Shreya Nagarajan Singh (SNS) Arts Development Consultancy in Partnership
with various organizations to celebrate its 7th anniversary. Ten
Performances - Three International Acts - Three Venues - One Evening
simultaneously across Chennai catering to an audience of almost 3500
people on June 28, 2024.
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AWARDS
 KERALA
SANGEETHA NATAKA AKADEMI STATE AWARD for 2023 was conferred on
Kathakali acharya Kottakkal Sashidharan Nair on July 21, 2024 at KSNA
hall, Thrissur.
Ashish Mohan Khokar's ATTENDANCE ANNUAL AWARDS 2024 are to be given on November 30, 2024 at Alliance Francaise, Bangalore.
MOHAN KHOKAR WRITING DANCE AWARD: Ranee Kumar
RAM GOPAL BEST MALE SOLOIST AWARD: Washim Raja
UDAY SHANKAR CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD: Vishwakiran Nambi
RUKMINI DEVI OVERALL CONTRIBUTION AWARD: Guru Vanashree Rao
MK SAROJA TRUE GURU SHISHYA PARAMPARA AWARD: Aishwarya Nithyananda
MAYA RAO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Guru Aloka Panikar
Special honor: Geetha Bhat for promoting Crafts/Chittara, Neha Muthiyan
for dance publications, Akila Venkat for photography and graphic design. 
Dancer GEETA CHANDRAN is to be honoured by Krishna Gana Sabha with
NRITYA CHOODAMANI award on 13 December 2024 during the inaugural
ceremony of the 68th Marghazi Mela in Chennai. RANJANI-GAYATRI receive
the SANGEETA CHOODAMANI.
Artiste and critic VIJAY SHANKER receives the SHRI BAL GANGADHAR TILAK
SEWA SAMMAN 2024 on August 23, 2024 from World Against Corruption People
Council, at Mira Bhayandar, Thane, Maharashtra. |
ATMA SHANTI
Bharatanatyam
dancer HAMSA MOILY, daughter of former Karnataka Chief Minister
Veerappa Moily, passed away on June 30, 2024. She was 46. She has acted
in Tamil feature film 'Shringaram' based on the lives of hereditary
artistes of the 1920's, and a short film 'A portrait of a dancer'
directed by Ruchi Bakshi.
More info
Guru DR. MAMATA NIYOGI-NAKRA passed away on July 6, 2024. She was the
disciple of Gurus U.S. Krishna Rao and U.K. Chandrabhaga Devi and
performed extensively in India, U.K. and Europe, but an accident in
1969, soon after her arrival in Canada, left her with a permanent
injury, which abruptly cut her off from performing. She founded Kala
Bharati in Montreal, Quebec in 1981 and was one of the pioneers who
taught Bharatanatyam in alien soil. Mamata created a new repertoire of
classical items designed for children and choreographed a series of
vignettes in Bharatanatyam style to capture Haiku moments. In Montreal,
she presented her work regularly with La Troupe Kala Bharati,
independently and in collaboration with various other organizations.
She was co-author with Vincent Warren "Crafting Dance: Two Voices" (in
preparation) and published many articles on Indian classical dance. She
created Shishu Sadhana, a child friendly Bharatanatyam repertoire, book
with a DVD (2005). In recognition of her contribution to Indian
classical dance and Bharatanatyam, Mamata Niyogi-Nakra has been
mentioned under the section Guru Parampara in the book Bharatanatyam,
published by Marg Publications, Bombay (1997). She was the recipient of
the Medal of Honor by the National Assembly of Quebec in 2016.
To all those that crossed her path, she enriched their lives by infusing
her love for dance, as a Guru, a teacher, a speaker, and a mentor. Her
passion for dance, contribution at a scholarly level, and unceasing
endeavors in the field of dance has left an indelible mark on many
individuals and on the dance community.
Dancer KOUSHIK DAS expired on 18th July 2024 at a Kolkata hospital succumbing to lungs infection (pneumonia).
He joined Sapphire Creations Dance Company in 2006 and performed in
major productions like Rituranga, Parivahitam, Ekonama &
Sapphirescope. He toured extensively in major countries with Sapphire
like Nepal, Kazaksthan, USA, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Singapore & Sri
Lanka. He assisted Founder Director Sudarshan Chakravorty and
co-choreographed productions, including leading workshops in University
of Guwahati under National School of Drama and with Chorus Repertory of
iconic theatre director Ratan Thiyyam & Geetanjali Dance Academy in
Shillong.
He was a recipient of Junior CCERT Scholarship in Kathak and studied
under Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharya and creative dance under Kohinoor Sen
Barat.
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
 Kapila Vatsyayan - My lifetime mentor
- Dr.Utpal K Banerjee
To many, this tribute may appear to be highly egocentric, for which I
need be amply excused, since I am helpless. Kapilaji was always aglow in
my life's firmament and I always basked in her reflected glory.
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