NARTHAKI MONTHLY NEWSLETTER
June 2019
 ANITA SAYS.....
June 1, 2019
Civilisation has always depended on
Selective memory
So, when does the road become a river
Or bone become marrow
When demons crawl beneath the surface
And wait... wait to burst forth
The soft earth mellows heat
And the dandelion rises through the crevice
- Dialogue from the British TV series SHERLOCK
It was a roller coaster month
I was in five cities over the last 31 days and so there is much to share.
And of course, India voted in the largest theatrical exercise - of
strong words, ranting, raving, hatred and tears. A gigantic spectacle!
But first, the month that was in dance and theatre.
Read on...
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ROVING EYE: A section of impressions, images and inspirations
Curated by Anita Ratnam
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SPOTLIGHT
- On June 4, 2019 Subijoya Dance
Foundation created in memory of parents of choreographer Sudarshan
Chakravorty, honours dancer Priti Patel, theatre person Debesh
Chattopadhyay, music composer Prabuddha Banerjee, elocutionist Pranati
Tagore, actor Riddhi Sen with SUBIJOYA AWARDS (Subinoy & Bijoya
Chakraborty Smriti Purashkar), at GD Birla Sabhaghar, Kolkata.
- On 4th May 2019, Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri, eminent exponent of
Thidambu Nritham dance received the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for his
outstanding contribution to temple dance, at Pulloor Sree Mahavishnu
Temple in Kasaragod, Kerala.
- Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala was honored with the VOCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
AWARD instituted by the Rotary Club Kilpauk, on 9th May 2019 at Chennai.
- Winners of the AMERICAN NATYA IDOL competition conducted by Soorya Performing Arts in April 2019 at St. Louis, MO.
Group 1: Shrinidhi Sairam (1st Prize), Tanujha Manikandan (2nd Prize), Shreenidhi Senthilnathan (3rd Prize)
Group 2: Sweta Balaji (1st Prize), Rithika Iyengar (2nd Prize), Sriya Pokala (3rd Prize)
Group 3: Samanvita Kasthuri (1st Prize), Shadhvika Nandhakumar (2nd Prize), Shilpa Repala (3rd Prize)
- Kalasagar celebrated the 95th birth anniversary of chenda maestro
Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval titled ORU PIRANALINTE ORMAKAYI
on May 28, 2019 by presenting the KALASAGAR AWARDS 2019 to artistes
aged between 40 to 70, at Kalikotta Palace, Palakkad.
Kathakali: Vesham/Actor - Dr. Haripriya Namboodiri, Pattu/Music- Kalamandalam Rajendran,
Chenda - Gopikrishnan Thampuran, Maddalam: Biju Aattupuram, Chutty/Makeup - Kalamandalam Raju John
Ottenthullal: Maruthuvorvattam Kannan, Chakyarkoothu: Margi Sajeev Narayanan
Koodiyattam (Mizhavu): PK Unnikrishnan Nambiar, Mohiniattam: Kalamandalam Ambika,
Bharatanatyam: Dr. D Beena, Kuchipudi: Sreelakshmi Govardhanan, Thayambaka: Kalpathi Balakrishnan
Panchavadyam: Thimila - Chottanikkara Subhas Marar, Maddalam -
Chottanikkara Surendra Marar, Edakka - Kavil Unnikrishna Warrier,
Thalam - Peruvanam Muraly, Kombu - Machadu Padmakumar
- Photographer Deepak R was awarded YUVA KALA SADHAKA for classical
dance photography by Sphurana Nritya Kala Kendra, on 26th April 2019 at
Sevasadan, Bangalore.
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OBITS
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Bharatanatyam Guru Jamuna Krishnan, Director, Kalangan Centre for
Classical Arts in New Delhi (established in 1991), and mother of dancer
Ragini Chandershekar, passed away on May 15, 2019. Born on March
12,1943, she was a revered dancer, teacher, scholar, researcher and
choreographer. She is known for widening the vocabulary of
Bharatanatyam, her unique contribution being incorporating regional
poetry into Bharatanatyam, especially compositions based on bhakti
literature of North India like the poetic works of Vidyapati, Surdas,
Meera, Kabir etc with all the music composition and dance choreography
done by her. Jamuna's thought provoking research papers have added new
dimensions in the Bharatanatyam thought process.
More info
OBIT/TRIBUTE
Musical Footsteps in Poetic Dance: Jamuna Krishnan
- Dr. Navina Jafa
What defined Jamuna Krishnan was her zeal to 'know'. While deeply embedded in the South Indian culture, she was a Delhi girl.
Jamuna Krishnan: A path-breaker
- Ranee Kumar
Jamuna Krishnan will be remembered for her innovative productions and lively nature.
QUOTE
Sruthi is vibration of sound. Colour is vibration of light. Emotions are
vibrations of the bloodstream. When vibration (spandha) is linked to
santha rasa, it brings joy. Acrylics and oils are my preferred media.
Real and surreal landscapes and life forms are my subjects, drawn from
Nature.
If music is the most abstract art form, sculpture is the most concrete.
While music is the movement of the medium, sculpture is the blocked
movement of the medium. I salute the craftsman who sculpted the first
Nataraja. The way it slices and defines space reveals his in-depth
knowledge of Natya. My sculpture of Siva holding a Kathakali posture and
mudra is inevitably influenced by my sensibilities as a natya
practitioner.
- Sadanam Harikumar
('How Harikumar Asan experiments with Kathakali themes' by Lalitha Krishnan, The Hindu Friday Review, May 2, 2019)
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FOOTLOOSE AND FANCY FREE with Dr.
Sunil Kothari
- Samsmaranam: 15th anniversary of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
Srjan, Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa presented a two day
program of Odissi dance by Srjan Ensemble and Shivagni Musical Ensemble
on 6th and 7th April at Rabindra Bhavan at Jalpaiguri, West Bengal.
- Nrutya Rangoli Samanvay Art Festival: Part 1
It was a Bangalore Bonanza, the three day (19, 20 and 21 April) Nrutya
Rangoli Samanvay Art Festival organized by that dynamic dancer, guru,
choreographer, curator, and an able administrator Dr. Veena Murthy
Vijay, held at Chowdaiah Auditorium.
- Nrutya Rangoli Samanvay Art Festival: Part 2
The highlight was Nayaka Vilasa, 4th edition of Creative Lab. In this
session six male dancers were assigned challenging task of interpreting
women's feelings.
- Sanjali's Pravah Dance Festival in memory of Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra
Opening the Pravaha Dance Festival organized by Sanjali Dance Company of
Odissi dancer Sharmila Mukerjee at Chowdaiah Hall, Bangalore on 13th
April, Anita Ratnam presented in her Neo Bharatam style, her work
'Ma3ka'.
- Dance Conference at North Carolina University, Charlotte
Dance Department of North Carolina University at Charlotte in USA
organized under the leadership of Assistant Professor, Odissi dancer
Kaustavi Sarkar, an international dance conference titled 'Sensate
Technicities, Dance Connecting Communities.'
DANCE MATTERS: Column by
Ashish Mohan Khokar
- A for arangetram
Earlier, a guru decided when his or her ward was ready for the stage to
be presented to the society of peers, family and friends. Today, a
student is ever ready!
SOCH: Column by Dr. Arshiya Sethi
- What we need to remember on World Dance Day
World Dance Day is more than a celebration of dance. It is an
acknowledgement of the important role dance plays as a language of human
expression.
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TAALAM: Column by Leela Venkataraman
- Arts in whole-child education
An excellent symposium at the IIC mounted by Kri Foundation and Kala
Bharati (Montreal) on Arts Education for Youngsters, presided over by
Arshiya Sethi, resulted in some valuable interaction on a topic which is
crying out for intelligent discussion among the art minded and artists.
- More praise than dance
Some of the emerging formalities of late have made me wonder if strict
rules should be insisted upon on how long a master of ceremonies or the
compere can speak.
- Delhi inauguration of fine idea of Nava Pallava needs more clarity
Nava Pallava, the brainchild of Ashok Jain of Spic Macay deserves all
encouragement, for it aims at providing performance opportunities to
young artists, who apart from being outside the charmed performance
circuit, are also exploited by so called impresarios providing platforms
for a fee.
THE EASTERN EYE: Column
by Dr.Utpal K Banerjee
- Delving into Partition's realpolitik
'Ekla Chalo Re' premiered by Swapna Sandhani on April 5, was brilliant
recreation of recent history with all its actions and repercussions.
- A fairy tale and a morality play
'Return Ticket' presented by Natyaranga was a very brave attempt to
create a parable in the practice of clinical psychology. 'Bhalo Lok' (A
Good Person) presented by Sayak was faithfully adapted by Chandan Sen to
an Indian milieu reflecting a placid rural background…
- A medley of classical dances
Kolkata is no exception to this endearing global frenzy on World Dance
Day, with select conclaves at Rabindra Sadan and Govindan Kutty
Auditoria in particular.
PRISM
- First Presidential address by Biranchi Narayan Rautray in the first meeting of Jayantika established on June 22, 1958
(Translated from Odia by Malabika Patel, edited by Ileana Citaristi)
Once upon a time, Odissi dance may have gone beyond the pinnacle of
excellence. But the apathy and neglect of many centuries has only
reduced it to the silent frozen stone sculptures found in temple
crevices
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| Meet the artistes
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SANCHARI.. More
on the arts |
Articles |
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EVENTS
June 1 - 14, Odisha, Japan
Schedule for Odissi Guru Gajendra Panda and Tridhara
-June 1: Group Odissi dance for DEBASMRUTI organized by Tridhara.
At: Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, 6.30pm
-June 2: Group Odissi dance for DEBASMRUTI organized by Tridhara.
At: Open air theatre, Badahata, Satyabadi, 6.30pm
-June 3: Dance drama SABITRI for RAKHYAKALI MAHOTSHAV organized by Ghanteswar Temple Trust.
At: Open Air Theatre, Ghanteswar College, Ghanteswar, Bhadrakh, 6.30pm
-June 4 - 14: Tridhara conducts International Odissi Dance Workshop
At: Studio Yui Tsurumai, Nagoya, Japan, 10.30am to 4pm
*June 8: Guru Gajendra Panda and Chisato Miura perform for 2nd Annual Festival of Himawari International
At: Open air of Himawari International,7.30pm
*June 9: Odissi Dance Workshop by Guru Gajendra Panda
At: Longwood Kozoji Studio of Himawari International, Kasugai, Japan, 7.30pm
*June 12: Guru Gajendra Panda and Chisato Miura perform at Welfare Care House Hall, Takizawa-ari, Japan, 7.30pm.
*June 14: Folk Dance Workshop led by Guru Gajendra Panda, assisted by Chisato Miura.
At: Welfare Care House Hall, Takizawa-ari, Japan, 10.30am to 4pm
June 2, Bangalore
Rasika Arts Foundation presents Manasvi K, disciple of Kiran Subramanyam
and Sandhya Kiran in LAVANYA KRISHNA - A Bharatanatyam Margam dedicated
to Lord Krishna
At: Sri Krishnadevaraya Kalamandiram, Telugu Vignana Samithi, Vyalikaval, 6.30pm.
June 4 - 30, Kolkata, USA
Schedule for Sapphire Creations Dance Co.
- 4th June: RITURANGA: A Symphony of Seasons set to philharmonic
orchestra celebrating the seasons of India in the context of climate
change. This evening also observes 1st anniversary of Subijoya Dance
Foundation created in memory of parents of choreographer Sudarshan
Chakravorty. The evening honours dancer Priti Patel, theatre person
Debesh Chattapadhyay, music composer Prabuddha Banerjee, elocutionist
Pranati Tagore, actor Riddhi Sen with SUBIJOYA AWARDS (Subinoy &
Bijoya Chakraborty Smriti Purashkar)
At: GD Birla Sabhaghar, Kolkata, 7pm
- 7th June: Celebrating Eid -ul-Fitr, Sapphire presents the empanelled
artistes of Subijoya Dance Foundation in RHYTHM DIVINE set to Sufi and
Islamic devotional songs.
At: The Park, 8pm.
- 14th June: Sapphire performs for product launch in a corporate event
where dancers perform a shadowgraphy and also an interactive dance with
LED screen where dancers respond with movements to moving objects on
screen.
At: JW Marriot, 7pm.
- 18th June- 30th June: Sudarshan Chakravorty leads an 8 member team to
USA to perform in NORTH AMERICAN BENGALI CONFERENCE and also choreograph
the Opening and Closing ceremony of the same conference with more than
70 participants from various cities in East coast.
At: Baltimore, Virginia, Washington, Maryland
June 6 - 30, Aurangabad
- 6,7,8 June: Dance Immersion conducted by Parwati Dutta from 6-8 pm at Mahagami Gurukul.
-16 June: Nava Pallava Dance concert at Mahagami
-29 & 30 June: KALIDAS DIVAS at Rukmini Sabhagriha. Concept & Choreography: Parwati Dutta
June 13, Singapore
Rama Vaidyanathan and group present VIVARTANA for the Dance India Asia Pacific showcase.
At: Esplanade Theatre, 8pm
June 13 - 30, Europe
Summer performance tour of Bharatanatyam exponent Bala Devi Chandrashekar
-13th & 14th June: Workshop, The Hague, Netherlands
-15th June: 'Karna - Destiny's Child,' Theater de Omval, Deiemen, Netherlands
-18th June, 7pm: 'Karna - Destiny's Child,' Pallas Theater, Nicosia, Cyprus
-19th June, 7pm: 'Karna - Destiny's Child,' Attikon Theater, Paphos, Cyprus
-21st & 22nd June: Workshop at the Bhavan, London
-23rd June, 6pm: 'Brihadeeswara - form to formless, through the eyes of a Devaradiyal,' Bhavan, London
-28th June: Workshop, Riga, Latvia
-29th June, 6pm: 'Shiva Panchaksharam,' Riga, Latvia
-30th June: Workshop, Riga, Latvia
June 22 - 27, France & Italy
Srinidhi Raghavan will teach a series of Bharatanatyam workshops in Paris and Rome.
-Workshop in Paris is organized by Compagnie Shantam, on June 22 at 3pm
at Studio Bleu 20ème and on June 23 at 10am at Studio Bleu 9ème.
-Next workshop is at L'Arco, Rome, on 24th June.
-Solo production VOICES at Teatro Hamlet in Rome on June 25th, at 9pm
-in Bergamo at Arcate D'Arte 2019, a festival organized by Teatro Tascabile di Bergamo, on June 27th at 9pm
June 23, Vancouver
Mandala Arts and Culture presents Bharatanatyam performance by students and graduates of Jai Govinda Dance Academy.
At: Surrey Arts Centre, Main Stage, 13750, 88th Avenue, Surrey, 2pm
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