Slow waltz to rhythm
Photo: Sampath Kumar G.P.
PATIENCE PAYS The dancers moved ever so slowly
Dance or movement is a way of celebration for us. Pathos is generally depicted in the form of abhinaya, with apt music to suit that mood. So, the performance by the Holistic Theatre of Movement, Lithuania, came as a surprise to the Indian sensibility.
The dance, Adaptatio, presented by Zita Vilutyte with Emilija Macyte and Leva Saunoriute, was organised by Soul Art Society. The dancers moved to a fusion of Indian and Western music.
There was flute, mridanga, khanjira and violin blended in with synthesised music by Zita. The dance was presented in three parts — Eyes, I Keep Your Heart In My Palm and I Hear My Way.
The music was so good that one wanted to get on stage and just move. The Lithuanian dancers did move too, but in real slow motion. In fact, they moved so slowly for the first piece that you really had to concentrate hard to see that they were actually moving.
The three women take almost eight minutes to enter the stage, form a circle, and demanded great patience, both for the dancer and the audience. That's when you recall Zita's warning: "It is not dance or drama but just movement".
The second item had some fast paced steps, where there was movement in three levels — one on the floor, the other just stood the whole time with her head held low and her back to the audience, while the third one did some excellent movement that matched the brilliant rhythm provided by Chandra Babu on the mridanga.
The third piece was again a repeat of the inaugural piece. They used their flared skirts and moved vigorously, but did dull into a monotony. Surprisingly, the dancers wore a grim expression through the performance. When asked about the sadness in their performance, Zita asks: "Such is life isn't it?" And the movements presented to us on stage were created at that moment. "We do rehearse with the musicians to get a sense of the rhythm. But what we do on stage will never be repeated anywhere else," explains Zita.
The white dancers trapped in black outfits with some brilliant lighting added to the visual impact.
SHILPA SEBASTIAN R.
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