Dasavatharam by Bharati Sivaji and her troupe

It was a nice way to begin the month with a dance festival at Krishna Gana Sabha on sankhya. The festival began with the representation of number ten (dasa) in Mohiniyattam by the renowned mohiniyttam exponent Bharati Sivaji and her troupe. The ever popular Dasavatharm or ten incarantions of Lord Vishnu were presented by the dancers in a simple format with the added grace of the dance form. The unique representation came in later with the depiction of Dasapushpam or the ten flowers which was indeed like a fresh bloom; a rare treat. It was an interesting choreography with the dancers transforming themselves as ten different flowers that are commonly used in Kerala during the Thiruvathira month considered auspiscoius for ladies. On the final day of Thiruvathira, ladies get together for a few rounds of Thiruvathirakali or Kummi.

The show once again proved that it is difficult to have synchronised movement in mohiniyattam since each dancer has varied degree and inherent style of bending; the charactersitic move of the dance form. The eyes looking for perfection might turn away but the hearts looking for some graceful moments could stay on watching mohiniyattam, the classical dane form of Kerala.

Surupa Sen

I got a call from my aunt informing me about an Odissi workshop conducted by Surupa Sen of Nrithyagarm being held at the renowned Bahratanatyam artsite Priyadarshini Govind's house. The name Surupa Sen caused a stir within me as she is one of the eminent dancers that i truly admire. To my eyes she is poetry in motion on stage with her delectable fluid movements; a treat to watch. How could i resist myself from seeing her when she is in the same city as me and conducting a workshop. Though the workshop had already started and despite my 14 month old daughter i decided to join. It would be a double treat, to meet Priyadarshini Govind and ofcourse to know Surupa Sen. The first day i spent looking for the place and the second day i was well in time for the class. And there i meet both the artistes. Yes Surupa Sen is petite but full of authority.

As my aunt said, she is brilliant. Her love and dedication for the art form is commendable. She taught us a few basic stretching exercices, scientifically. Scientifically i mean because all what she was doing: making us do, was by visualising the anatomy of the body. one realised how important it is for a dancer to understand the body.

The upper torso movement along with the neck and head movements in Odissi that looks very graceful and simple is indeed difficult to master. She had lot of tips for us. She insisted on the chest going soft, with a certain humility that a dancer should possess. Also a very uselful tip for me was to always keep in mind that the body is kept behind the arms for that perfect posture. It ensures that you dont hunch and also attain that soft look which otherwise you may not because one has the tendancy to put ones chest out for that imposing and confident look which is not the real look for a dancer.

The workshop taught us valuable lessons on the technique of dancing as well as the right stretching exercies. She had an open invitation for all to Nrityagarm and i am hoping to catch up with her there, at the idyllic dance village.