A season to dance
LASYA VEMPARALA
|
Rama Devi's `Rutu Ravali', performed by the students of Sri Sai Nataraja Academy depicted the six different seasons.
|
PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar
ENTHRALLING ALL Young dancers present the best of the Kuchipudi displays .
Sri Sai Nataraja Academy of Kuchipudi Dance recently celebrated its 16th anniversary and as part of the celebrations it presented `Rutu-Ravali', a complete instrumental music ballet on six seasons. The Kuchipudi dance that was held at Ravindra Bharati, was choreographed by guru P. Rama Devi and the music was given by Ravi Kiran.
Kuchipudi's theatrical sensitivity came alive to the fleeting agony and ecstasy of the changing seasons, and the daily lives of farmers whose existence depends on the order of the heavens. Rama Devi's ballet is a culmination of a well thought out choreography with racy character and high-pitched emotions depicting seasons. After the traditional salutation to Ganesha, the ballet began with Sharath Rutu that depicted the modest manifestation of autumn life alluding to an ascetical bleakness.
And then with the onset of Hemanta Rutu, every life form longs for warmth and company. In Sisir Rutu the performers enacted freezing cold using all the varying moods from desolation to expectation. The caressing rays of the sun in the ensuing scenes were especially portrayed brilliantly, which was followed by the appearance of the Sun God galloping on his seven white horses.
The celestial couple, Rati-Manmadha's joyous love dance in Vasanta Rutu was coupled with sensuous abhinaya. But the snake dance by the duo failed to impress but, definitely, the deer dance and the peacock dance by the pairs was a delight.
The highlight of the show was certainly the enactment of Grishma Rutu with Sun God raining embers (agnivarsham). His rudra rupam was portrayed through complex patterns of footwork, hastaabhinaya with fiery facial expressions and dynamism of extreme emotion. The aharya needs a special mention here, as every care was taken to infuse samanvaya between the presentation and the intent.
What is important in a dance drama is not just the virtuosity of choreography, but the effortless ease with which it is coordinated on stage. The unique blend of folk and classical dance exhibits greater eloquence, fluidity, finesse and freedom.
Though replete with sincerity, the project somehow fell short of accomplishing the daunting task of managing a team of young performers. Otherwise, the sparkling choreography, lithe movements, crisp nritta and abhinaya were totally evident in the more mature performers. The ballet was layered with rich imagery and light effects and the ballet music adapted itself intelligently to the orientation.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Friday Review
Bangalore
Chennai and Tamil Nadu
Delhi
Hyderabad
Thiruvananthapuram
