Redefining traditional dance forms
MOHAMED NAZEER
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Kalamandalam Latha Edavalath seeks to portray contemporary issues through the traditional structure of classical dance.
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NEW OUTLOOK: Latha Edavalath expresses her solidarity with the exploited and the downtrodden through dance.
It is one thing to strictly adhere to the framework of classical dance and quite another to experiment with an art form. Dancer Latha Edavalath seeks to relate classical dance to contemporary issues and themes. As a teacher, Kalamandalam Latha, as she is known, advocates the essence of classical art. But the artiste in her enjoys experimentation and she fulfils this by selecting socially relevant themes.
New concepts
`Kanyabhoomi,' a widely appreciated and frequently staged `nrithashilpa,' exemplifies her urge to use the traditional form to take up contemporary issues.
`Kanyabhoomi' is an attempt to tread a new path of creativity in the genre of classical dance. While stories from mythology and the Puranas provide the thematic content of classical dance forms, Latha takes up issues such as environmental pollution and gender discrimination, among other things, to choreograph new pieces.
"Instead of relying only on the Puranas and mythology, I am trying to use those stories to convey a messages that are relevant to our lives," says Latha. She wants her dance performances to convey her visions of a clean environment and gender equality. Through dance, she expresses her solidarity with the exploited and the downtrodden.
`Kanyabhoomi,' scripted by Karivellur Murali and choreographed by Latha in the Bharatanatyam style, was presented by students and teachers of Lasya College at Pilathara in Kannur. Through mythological characters such as Panchali, Sita and Kannaki, `Kanyabhoomi' portrays the gender discrimination suffered by women over the ages.
She has redefined `Karuna,' a lyrical narrative poem by Kumaran Asan, into a beautiful dance performance. Her dance form `Ganga,' which won widespread appreciation, highlights her concerns about environmental pollution by juxtaposing the mythical origin of the Ganga with its pollution in the modern age. In yet another piece in Mohiniyattom, Latha recreates the fight against feudalism during the period of the struggle for Independence.
Choreographing a poem
"My next venture is to choreograph a dance form on a poem by Vallathol on the story of Mary Magdalene,'' says Latha. It will highlight social oppression, poverty and injustice, she adds.
Latha was initiated in classical dance by Kambrath Madhavan Master, a local dance teacher. She then went to Kerala Kalamandalam to master the dance forms of Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattom and Kuchipudi. She has composed, choreographed and presented several classical dance performances in and outside Kerala.
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