There’s an underlying unity in audiences at Indian classical dance recitals. Heads gently sway to the tala of the music and a synchronised cringe is let out when a performer falters. But for an upcoming performance, even the uninitiated are welcome.
A Medley of Folk and Classical Dance has two facets: the classical meeting folk, and unleashing one’s inner child. The performances will be by the faculty and students of Dr. Tushar Guha’s dance academy, Nrityanjali, and Jhelum Paranjape’s school, Smitalay.
Guha believes love is the strongest emotion that binds people. Echoing the sentiment, Nrityanjali’s theme is love and their repertoire is titled, Anurati . Thirty performers will open with an introductory dance and the rest of the recital will alternate between Kathak and Bharatanatyam performances, including Madhurashtakam , verses composed by 15th century poet Sripad Vallabha Acharya in praise of Krishna. “Krishna’s role, played by me, will be portrayed using creative movement,” says Guha. “There will be two gopis: one who will perform Bharatanatyam and the other Kathak.”
Hand-picked from the traditional repertoire, the Kathak portions will showcase the fine nuances and the energetic side of the dance form. There’s the Thaat : various standing postures coupled with subtle neck movements; gat: a stylised gait; parimelu : performing to bols or sounds inspired by nature; and thumri: a lovelorn song. As for Bharatnatyam, the audience will witness the mallari : seeking blessings from a deity; shabdam : a devotional abhinaya; and the Natesha Kauthuvam, a natya presentation (combination of expressions and dance) which is an ode to Shiva.
After this lively segment, Nrityanjali will end their recital with Kummi: a tribal dance from Tamil Nadu, where dancers uses short sticks as props, and the Mangala Gaur from Maharashtra: a festive dance performed usually by married women. “ Mangala Gaur is really playful,” says 12-year old Riya Mane, who is part of the troupe. “It is beautiful because it is very easy to understand.”
Smitalay will tread a rather different path. In Farm to Jungle: An Animal and Bird Song-Dance Revue, American folk music will be their medium of storytelling. “The movement has the basic Odissi structure, because that is what comes naturally to me,” says Odissi doyenne Jhelum Paranjape.
“However, the choreography mostly uses free body movement.” American folk songs will include the ever-popular Old MacDonald and tunes composed by city-based artist — and the dancer’s son — Bunkim Paranjape. “We have also used songs composed by musical greats like Pete Seeger and Bob Dylan,” says Paranjape.
The recital will begin with I Had A Rooster , which will show how man learned of the existence of wild beasts in the jungle. “The last three songs are Will You See the Tiger , Forest Calls and Will You Save The Tiger ,” says Paranjape. “After the transition to jungle animals, I found it necessary to convey to the audience our need to save the endangered animal.” Paranjape, who was able to embrace her inner child during preparation for the show, is certain the recital will be a great opportunity for grown-ups to unleash their inner child. The event will provide dance enthusiasts a rare combination: a balance of technical know-how and innocent childlike wonder.
A Medley of Folk and Classical Dance, May 19, at 7 pm at the Experimental Theatre, NCPA. Tickets: Rs. 200 and Rs. 300.
The writer is an intern at The Hindu
