Guru Vasudha Kundurthi and seven of her students – Pranati, Ananya, Mahalakshmi, Riya, Prerna, Vishishtha and Aishwarya - under the banner of Nruthyam Dance Academy, Bowenpally, presented ‘Narthanam’, an evening of Kuchipudi dance at the Lamakaan, Friday last. Beginning as per the tradition of Kuchipudi repertoire with Vani Paruku , students Aishwarya, Prerna and Vishishtha set the mood for the evening with Ganesh Vandana.
Koluvaithiva Rangasai , set to Aadi talam and Ramapriya raag, originally choreographed by Vempati Chinna Satyam, presented by Pranati and Ananya, drew applause from the audience. Guru Vasudha presented Ananda Thandavam, in Aadi talam and Malika ragam, dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Prerna, Aishwarya and Vishaka presented the Jathiswaram, while Pranati, Mahalakshmi and Riya exhibited Tarangam. The young dancers did dance on the brass plate with ease, but many of them were exhausted, probably of over practice. The guru again took the stage to present Ashtapadi, to a composition of Jayadeva, set to Mohan ragam and Aadi talam. Being a Friday, the last dance piece of the evening was Mahishasura Mardhini. This is one piece that will make people sit up in their chairs if executed to perfection. Presented by four dancers, the lead dancer lacked the fearful look of Durga.
The Guru should have allowed somebody else to compere the show and concentrate on the dance. The young dancers knew the mechanics but were unaware of use of the stage space. The space on the dancer’s right and the audience’s left was not used to the maximum. Some of them were touching the hands of other dancers, while one or two forgot their steps and were picking up by looking at the other.
