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NARTHAKI MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
December 2019
ANITA SAYS.....
"Every day brings you the chance to take a deep breath, kick off your shoes and Dance
When you hit a wall, climb over it, crawl across it or just dance on top of it."
- Oprah Winfrey
We live in an age of crass cacophony. When a 29 year old priest
slaps a 50 year old female devotee right in front of the sanctum in the
CHIDAMBARAM temple and immediately flees the scene, we are staring at a
scenario where there are no safe spaces and no automatic sanctuaries.
When the #METOO accused just one year ago are not just roaming around
scot free but also performing in several December sabhas and receiving
awards, we are facing a dire landscape of broken rules and splintered
hopes.
It is not enough anymore for our politics to be separate from our art.
No amount of dancing and praying to Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna, and Devi can
sublimate the anarchy of our times. No shouting and screaming about
disrobing Draupadi or humiliating Sita will suffice. The praise of
BEAUTY is just not enough anymore. For our art to be in sync with our
lives we must embrace the turmoil of our times and find a way to enfold
it in our artistic practice..
Read on...
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ROVING EYE: A section of impressions, images and inspirations
Curated by Anita Ratnam
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SPOTLIGHT
Ashish Mohan Khokar's AttenDance, the only yearbook on Indian dance, presented its annual awards on 30th November 2019 at ADA Rangamandira, Bengaluru.
Dr. Seshadri Iyengar - RAM GOPAL AWARD for BEST MALE SOLOIST
G. Ulaganathan - MOHAN KHOKAR AWARD for BEST ARTS WRITER
Bharat and Sharat Prabhat - UDAY SHANKAR AWARD for CHOREOGRAPHY
TTB-Teatro Tascabile Bergamo, Italy - RUKMINI DEVI AWARD for OVERALL CONTRIBUTION
Guru Jitendra Maharaj - LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT
After more than 30 years of exhilarating and challenging directorship,
Mira Kaushik steps down as Artistic Director of Akademi, South Asian
Dance, UK on 31 December 2019 to work in the wider creative sector.
Subathra Subramaniam takes over as Artistic Director and Kirsten Burrows
as Executive Director.
SHIKHAR SAMMAAN, the highest civilian award of Madhya Pradesh state, was
conferred on Bharatanatyam Guru Dr. Lata Singh Munshi on 18 November
2019 at Bharat Bhavan, Bhopal.
Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presented SUMITRA CHARAT RAM AWARD FOR
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT (2019) to Dr. Sonal Mansingh on November 17, 2019
at Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.
Chitraleka Bolar and Sujata Banerjee won the Akademi sponsored SOUTH
ASIAN DANCE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and the DANCE EDUCATION AND
PARTICIPATION LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD respectively, at the One Dance
UK Awards held at the Imperial War Museum, Manchester, on November 9,
2019.
Bharatanatyam dancer Nadhi Thekkek received the MYTHILI KUMAR EMERGING
ARTIST AWARD on November 8, 2019 from World Arts West, the producers of
the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival.
Geeta Chandran received ANCIENT ARTS AWARD 2019 on October 30, 2019 for
her contribution in popularising Bharatanatyam especially among youth
audiences. The award was presented to her in Delhi by the Rays of Wisdom
Society spearheaded by dance/yoga artiste Reela Hota.
On Dec 3, 2019 Urmila Sathyanarayanan receives NATYA PADHMAM from Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai.
Tapas Cultural Foundation presents VIDHYA TAPASVI title for 2019 to Dr.
Sriram Parasuram (music) and A. Lakshmanaswamy (Bharatanatyam) for their
dedicated service towards bhakthi oriented classical fine arts on 8th
December 2019 at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
On Dec 13, 2019 Pt Rajendra Gangani receives NRITYA CHOODAMANI from Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
On December 14, 2019 Meenakshi Chittaranjan receives NRITHYA KALA NIPUNA from Mylapore Fine Arts, Chennai.
On December 18, 2019 Prof A Janardhanan receives NATYA KALASIKHAMANI from The Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai.
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PREVIEWS
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QUOTE
"In dance, the one minute goosebumps inducing acrobatics and gymnastics
might garner you a momentary applause, but it never sustains through
time and eventually becomes forgettable. Our aesthetic structure
requires a balance and never an overdose of anything. This gimmickry is
born from the need to be appropriated into a societal system that
celebrates one minute wonders on reality shows etc. This must preferably
stop and pave way for the sustainable long lasting, deep impact that
our art can create, if presented with its presentation systems and
structures intact."
- Sonal Mansingh
('Artistes must whet and whip that appetite again,' by Karthik Hebbar, The Hindu Friday Review, Oct 24, 2019)
OBIT
Dipali Das, one of the first Assamese artistes to perform Sattriya
internationally in Indonesia in 1975, passed away on November 29, 2019.
Sattriya got its first international exposure when President Fakhruddin
Ali Ahmed took the initiative to showcase Ankia Bhaona and Sattriya
during his visit to Indonesia. A troupe of Sattriya artists from
Kamalabari Sattra was led by Parmananda Barbayan and included Sharodi
Saikia and Dipali Das Bhuyan.
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UPDATE IN THE SITE |
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TAALAM: Column by Leela Venkataraman
October features varying manifestations of dance
Indo-American Friendship Association featured at Habitat's Stein
auditorium, an evening of dancers trained under three stalwarts of
dance, Pt Birju Maharaj, Sonal Mansingh and Saroja Vaidyanathan.
Arguing for a humanised rather than an idealised body
At Habitat's Gulmohar, the fourth lecture of the Kelucharan Mohapatra
series organized by Art Matters, saw Sadanand Menon, Art commentator,
speak on Dancing Democracy.
Samyog-Viyog: Good intentions needed better treatment
Kusum Awasthi Gupta's best intentions in wanting to showcase sringar
rasa in a poetry / music / dance integration notwithstanding, the
evening Samyog-Viyog in a collaboration featuring Asavari with Living
Music Society for Arts, ended in mixed feelings.
FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY FREE with Dr.
Sunil Kothari
 Rangayan Festival of Arts and Literature: A festival with a difference
Sharodi Saikia has been organizing a multi-discipline festival of dance,
music, paintings, poetry reading, lectures, literature, drawing
competition, a freewheeling discussion, and get together of dancers,
musicians, painters, literary figures.
Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre presented Sapthati
On the occasion of the 70th birthday of Bharatanatyam exponent Dr.
Vasundhara Doraswamy, Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre and Guru Shishya
Parampara Trust presented a unique celebration on a grand scale
organized in a manner which won appreciation of one and all present
there to wish Vasundhara a happy birthday.
BOOK REVIEW
Vasundhara: Odyssey of a Dancer
Biography by Prof George S Paul
On the occasion of the 70th birthday of senior Mysore based
Bharatanatyam exponent Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, her biography
'Vasundhara: Odyssey of a Dancer' penned by Prof George S Paul was
released on 2nd November in Mysore during the celebrations.
THE EASTERN EYE: Column
by Dr.Utpal K Banerjee
Other theatres - symbolic, magic
Presented by 'Shilpisangha' with child actors all this side of 18 years,
Bir Purush was crafted around Tagore's eponymous poem that has the
veneer of a boy's fantasy and is built around the core of his abiding
love for mother. Dolls Theatre presented Paths of Truth, a puppet
theatre based on the real-life incidents of Champaran peasant movement
in Bihar in April 1917.
From Novelty to Eternity
The panache with which the third generation youthful dancer Shashwati
Garai Ghosh went about presenting some new concepts of the interfacing
of dance and classical music revealed quite a new façade of
creativity... The celebrated Kathak dancer Aditi Mangaldas whose prowess
in pushing her classical form to ever new heights of imagination, has
now become the stuff of a legend.
Mediating among media
Alongside the ongoing resplendant programme of Kolkata International
Film Festival, it is quite befitting to explore cinema's connection with
theatre.
DANCE MATTERS: Column by Ashish Mohan Khokar
Dakshin December
Devaniya's tenth anniversary show was a very professionally mounted mega
production that started on time, ran seamlessly and finished on time.
PROFILE
Gender, Nationalism: Sitara Devi - The Fiery Queen of Kathak
- Navina Jafa
Remembering Sitara Devi on her birth anniversary on 8th November, the
Queen of Kathak dance is as much about her fiery personality as it is
about locating the legendary dancer in a wider frame.
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EVENTS
Chennai Season Schedule
Dec 1, Mumbai
For Morn to Dusk, Celebrating 50 years of NCPA, Aditi Mangaldas presents IMMERSED (extracts) at Tata Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, 1pm.
Dec 1 - 29, Aurangabad
Schedule for Parwati Dutta and Mahagami.
- 1 Dec: Aura Aurangabad concert at Mahagami
- 8-14 Dec: DEEKSHANA Cultural Immersion Programme by Parwati Dutta at Mahagami for IIM Bangalore students
- 14-15 Dec: VAYAM DANCE FESTIVAL at Mahagami featuring solo Odissi and
Kathak performances by Parwati Dutta and her senior disciples.
- 16-21 Dec: Natyashastra workshop
- 28-29 Dec: SUTRAATMAN: Luminous threads of Gandhi, with concept and choreography by Parwati Dutta.
Dec 1 - 29, Odisha, Secunderabad
Schedule for Ileana Citaristi and Art Vision for December 2019.
- 1st Dec, Bhubaneswar: Ileana Citaristi receives Odisha Excellence
Award 2019 (in Dance category) intituted by Odia Media Private Limited,
at GKCM Odissi Research Centre, 4pm.
- 2nd Dec, Cuttack: Ileana Citaristi performs for a TEDx event at SCB
Medical College, around the theme 'Resonating Ripples' (Small efforts
bring huge changes), 6pm
- 5th Dec, Bhubaneswar: Ileana Citaristi performs Odissi dance for
Virasat series under the auspices of Spic Macay, Bhubaneswar chapter, at
IIT, Argul, 6pm
- 15th Dec, Bhubaneswar: Art Vision performs Odssi dance on the
inaugural day of the 14th Toshali National Crafts Mela, Janta Maidan,
6.30pm
- 19th-20th Dec, Secunderabad: Art Vision performs REFUGEE as part of
the XXII International Conference on 'Global South Cultural Production
and Dialogue' organised by Forum on Contemporary Theory at 6pm at SVIT
Auditorium, Sarojini Devi Road. The performance will be preceded by a
conversation between the artiste and Dr. Ketu Katrak, convenor of the
Conference. On the next day Ileana performs solo Odissi for the
conference delegates at Hotel Minerva Grand, S.D. Road, 6.30pm
- 21st-22nd Dec, Secunderabad: Under the auspices of Our Sacred Space in
collaboration with Anubhav Centre for Performing Arts, Ileana Citaristi
presents a performative Lec-Dem on 'Shades of Love' in Odissi dance.
The performance will be preceeded by a conversation between the artiste
and Anupama Kylash. At Our Sacred Space, Sardar Patel Road, 6.30pm. The
following day Ileana conducts a Chhau dance workshop from 10am to 2pm.
- 29th Dec, Bhubaneswar: Dibya Supakar and Kashish Bharati of Art Vision
Dance Academy perform duet Odissi for Odissi International festival,
organised by Dept. of Culture, Gov. of Odisha, Rabindra Mandap, 6.30pm
Dec 4, Kolkata
Sparsh Studio for Performing Arts presents Sharmila Biswas in ANTAR
YATRA at G D Birla Sabhagar 7pm. Music by Srijan Chatterjee, lights by
Dinesh Poddar.
Dec 4 - 20, Konark, Los Angeles, Hyderabad, Delhi
Schedule for Raja-Radha Reddy and Natya Tarangini
- 4th Dec: Raja - Radha Reddy and Group perform at Konark Festival, Odisha.
- 7th and 14th Dec: Bhavana Reddy performs at Walt Disney Concert Hall
alongside the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra in their
production of Stravinsky's 'Rite Of Spring.' This will be the first time
an Indian classical dancer, especially Kuchipudi, will perform at the
Walt Disney Concert Hall, Los Angeles, CA.
- 8th Dec: NT Hyderabad, anniversary celebrations
- 14th Dec: Raja-Radha Reddy are chief guests at Hillwood Academy School, Delhi
- 20th Dec: Rangapravesham of Sahira Chugh, Kamani Auditorium, Delhi
Dec 4 - 31, Odisha, W Bengal, New Delhi
Schedule for Guru Gajendra Panda and Tridhara.
-4th Dec, Konark: Tridhara group presents Odissi dance drama PRAHALAD at
KONARK FESTIVAL, 7.30pm to 8.30pm. Live telecast on DD Bharati.
- 5th Dec, Bhubaneswar: Odissi dance drama INCARNATIONS at Ruchika, on the occasion of Indo Japan Friendship, 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
- 6th Dec, Chhatrapur: Dance drama LAXMI NRUSINGH for GANJAM MAHOTSAV at Sports Stadium, 7.30pm to 8pm.
- 9th Dec, Puri: Dance drama KRISHNAYA TUBHYAM NAMAH at Sri Krishna Temple for BYANJAN MAHOTSAV, 7.30pm to 8pm.
-12th -15th Dec, Angul: Aarya Nande presents DURGA TANDAV at open air, Sabhaghar, for 18th SURTAAL UTSAV, 9.30am onwards.
- 14th /15th Dec, Boudh: Duet Odissi dance ARDHANARISWAR at
Town Hall, 7.30pm to 8pm, for 2nd NATIONAL SEMINAR and DANCE FESTIVAL.
- 20th -24th Dec, Purba Vardhaman, WB: GANANAYAK, 7.30pm to 8.30pm, for
22ND BHARAT SANSKRITI UTSAV, at Town Hall Maidan Auditorium and
Angikar Hall.
- 25th - 30th Dec, Bhubaneswar: Disciples of Guru Gajendra Ku. Panda
present solo and duet Odissi dance for INTERNATIONAL ODISSI DANCE
FESTIVAL at Rabindra Mandap, 10.30am to 9.30pm.
- 25th - 31st Dec, Kolkata: DEVI DASABIDHAM for 22ND BHARAT SANSKRITI
UTSAV, at Open Air, Deshapriya Park and Sarat Smruti Sadan, Triangular
Park, 7.30pm to 8.30pm.
- 26th -27th Dec, New Delhi: Dr. Gajendra Ku. Panda, Prabhutosh Panda,
Ankita Kumari, Pt. Birju Maharaj, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Jayarama Rao,
Ramli Ibrahim and Dr. Sangeeta Gosain, present JOGINI JOGA ROOPA for
GURU DEBAPRASAD NRUTYA PARAMPARA, from 7pm to 8.30pm, at Stein
Auditorium. Organized by Debadhara,New Delhi.
Dec 6 - 25, New Delhi and Bhubaneswar
Schedule for Madhumita Raut and her Odissi ensemble.
- Dec 6: Youth Festival 2019, Central Park, Rajiv Chowk, New Delhi, 6pm.
- Dec 9: Ayyappa Temple, R K Puram, New Delhi, 6.30pm.
- Dec 22: India International Centre, New Delhi, 6.30pm.
- Dec 25: Chausathi Yogini Mahotsav, Hirapur, Bhubaneswar, 6.30pm.
Dec 8, New Delhi
DRISHTIKON HOME-STUDIO BAITHAK: SEASON VII presents Bharatanatyam by Rukmini Vijayakumar and Kathak by Diksha Tripathi.
At: Drishtikon Dance Studio, 6.30pm
Dec 8, Thiruvananthapuram
Chitra Arvind and Rhythmotion ensemble present VIVIDHA - Bharatanatyam,
Kathak and Contemporary dance, as part of Soorya Jugalbandhi Festival.
At: Ganesham, 6.45pm
Dec 8 - 30, Tirukurungudi and Chennai
Schedule for Anita Ratnam and Arangham Dance Theatre
- Dec 8: Arangham Trust conducts the annual KAISIKA NATAKAM at Tirukurungudi.
- Dec 13: Solo lec dem UNI-VERSE (The many worlds and words of poetry)
by Anita Ratnam for NATYA DARSHAN pre-event series of Kartik Fine Arts
at British Council space, 7pm.
- Dec 22, 7.15am: Arangham presents AWAKENING, featuring music by Anil Srinivasan accompanied by flute.
- Dec 23: NAACHIYAR NEXT for Krishna Gana Sabha, 7pm
- Dec 25: ARANGHAM STUDIO SERIES presents a morning of abhinaya with Geeta Chandran from 10.30am to 11.30am.
- Dec 27: NAACHIYAR NEXT for Brahma Gana Sabha, Sivagami Petachi Auditorium, 7pm
- Dec 30: NAACHIYAR NEXT for Kartik Fine Arts, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, 5.30pm
Dec 21 and 27, Jaipur, Chennai
- Dec 21, Jaipur: Drishtikon Dance Foundation presents SAMVET at Neemrana Fort Palace, Delhi- Jaipur Highway
- Dec 27, Chennai: Aditi Mangaldas performs FOOTPRINTS ON WATER (extracts) at Dance for Dance Festival.
Dec 26 and 30, Chennai
Disciples of Ramya Harishankar, Arpana Dance Company, perform under the
aegis of Anusham Arts Academy, at Rasika Ranjani Sabha, Mylapore.
Dec 26: Solo performance by Visalini Sundaram @ 4.30pm
Dec 30: Solo performance by Shreya Patel @ 4.30pm
ARANGETRAM
Dec 20, New Delhi
Sahira Chugh, disciple of Raja-Radha Reddy, Natya Tarangini
At: Kamani Auditorium, 7pm (Kuchipudi)
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