Jun 2024
Pride is a time where we not only celebrate our identity but our
diversity. We are grateful to live life openly and with so much love and
support. So many have fought for LGBTQIA+ rights and now is the time to
keep fighting.
It's a privilege to live life as an artist and we look forward to
exploring more representation of queer life and themes on and off the
stage!
Our world is becoming more close minded, spreading hate and violence, so
we must be proud of who we are. We must be present and be able to
exist. Now is the time to stand up in life and art and be
unapologetically ourselves. Love is the only way forward! Happy Pride
❤️🧡💛💚💙💜
- Kasi Aysola & Alex Aguilar
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ANITA SAYS.....
Your time is limited,
So don't waste it by living someone else's life.
Don't be trapped by dogma-
Which is living with the results of other peoples thinking!
- Steve Jobs
Tech pioneer
In the end,
We'll all become stories
- Margaret Atwood
Writer
Having not danced, watched any performance or engaged with anyone
connected with dance for a full month is a rarity for me. But it was a
conscious decision. I needed to disconnect and distance myself for some
time to be able to refocus and perhaps, even float. I wanted to enjoy a
rhythm where there were no deadlines, no rehearsals, no performance
related duties and no compulsions to finish or complete any project. A
real privilege, I know, but something that was long overdue.
Read on....
Connect and subscribe to our podcast on Spotify
Anita Says...by Dr. Anita R Ratnam
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TAKITATOM
DD Bangla television
channel has made a 2 part documentary on the life and achievements of
scholar and critic DR.UTPAL K BANERJEE.
The statue of Manipuri GURU THIYAM TARUNKUMAR SINGH was unveiled at the
Golden Jubilee Celebration of Progressive Artiste Laboratory (PAL) at
its complex in Imphal, Manipur, on May 21, 2024.
PRIYA MURLE assumes office as President of ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India).
PROF. ANN R DAVID's newly published book RAM GOPAL: INTERWEAVING
HISTORIES OF INDIAN DANCE (Bloomsbury) on Indian dancer Ram Gopal was
released on May 14, 2024 at the Coronet Theatre, London.
SWARNAMALYA GANESH has been featured on the cover of May edition of
International Culture & Art magazine published in Pakistan.
Choreographer TANUSREE SHANKAR was in Cannes, France, as part of the
film team of the Bengali movie 'Putul' directed by Indra Dhar
Mukherjee.
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AWARDS
 Aditi Mangaldas has
been nominated by the CRITICS NATIONAL AWARDS 2023 UK, in the category
of Outstanding Female Modern Performance for 'Forbidden,' danced at
Sadler's Wells Theatre in 2023. Close on the heels of this nomination
came the announcement that Aditi has been selected as a finalist for the
Eastern Eye ARTS, CULTURE, AND THEATRE AWARDS (ACTAs), UK.
Costume designer Sandhya Raman (Desmania Design) received the
BUSINESS WORLD FUTURE OF DESIGN '24 AWARD on May 16, 2024 in recognition
of her work in sustainable recycled clothing and fabrics.
Dr.Vasanth Kiran's Bharata Kala Grama Gurukulam presented GURU SATKARAM
NATYA KOUSTUBHAM award to Bharatanatyam dancer Alarmel Valli and
Kuchipudi Guru Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry on May 18, 2024 at Bangalore.
The KALASAGAR AWARDS for excellence in traditional performing arts were
presented on May 28, 2024 at Kalamandalam Nila Campus, Kerala, on the
occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Kalamandalam Krishnankutty
Poduval, legendary Kathakali maestro and the founder of Kalasagar.
- Kathakali - Vesham: Kalanilayam Gopi, Music: Kalamandalam Sukumaran,
Chenda: Kottakkal Vijayaraghavan, Maddalam: Margi Ratnakaran, Chutty:
Margi Ravindran Nair
- Bharatanatyam: Saritha Kalakshetra, Mohiniattam: Kalamandalam Kavitha
Krishnakumar, Kuchipudi: Kalamandalam Sreerekha G Nair, Ottenthullal:
Ranjit Thripunithura, Chakyarkoothu: Kalamandalam Kanakakumar,
Koodiyattam: Saritha Krishnakumar
-Thayambaka: Arangottukara Sivan
- Panchavadyam - Thimila: Kalluvazhi Babu, Maddalam: Kallekulangara
Babu, Idakka: Thuravoor Vinish Kammath, Ilathalam: Kattkulam Jayan,
Kombu: Sivan Thrippaloor
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QUOTE
These days, we make much of
collaborative productions between dancers and artists from different
genres. But every dance performance, in my view, is in fact a
collaboration, even if it's not marketed as such and even if some of the
streams of synergy between the many collaborators are not visible, or
obvious.
The success of a dancer, whether performing solo, or in a group, depends
on the quality of interactive support she receives and the contribution
of many - parents and gurus, muses and musicians, poets and scholars,
patrons and sponsors, costume designers and technical crew. No matter
how brilliantly gifted, without good gurus and a rich dance language or
tradition, our art would be impoverished. Without enrichment and
discerning guidance from parents or mentors we would flounder when faced
with difficult choices. Without fine poets, scholars and translators to
give us the key to powerful and poignant poetry, we would be hard put
to enrich our repertoires. Without sensitive composers to give eloquent
aural form to the poems we select and gifted musicians to translate our
visions into music that inspires, we cannot aspire to write our own
dance poetry. And, without skilled costume and lighting designers, it's
not easy show to advantage on stage.
All these invaluable "collaborators" and more, whether behind the
scenes, or on stage, play important roles in our creative expression and
performances.
- Alarmel Valli
(In conversation with Akhila Krishnamurthy in 'Co-travellers in my Artistic Journey,' May 15, 2024)
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FROM THE ARCHIVES
 Gender equality in Kuchipudi
- Ashish Mohan Khokar
So how, when and why did girls come to dance Kuchipudi? This is no
ancient history, as with most things Indian in classical dance history!
This situation happened just over 75 years ago. Thanks to a politician,
no less.
 Culture tourism or tourism culture?
- Lakshmi Vishwanathan
The most beautiful aspects of Balinese dance which leaves an
unforgettable impression on visitors are the locations and spaces where
dances are performed every day of the year.
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