Dedicated to the Five Elements
CHITRA SWAMINATHAN
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The theme of `Satyam Sivam Sundaram' revolves round the lotus.
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PHILOSOPHY DEPICTED: Dhananjayan and his disciples at the rehearsal of "Satyam Sivam Sundaram." Photo: S. R. Raghunathan .
The Dhananjayans' Bharatakalanjali dance school reverberates with the music and footsteps of the artistes led by Padmarani Rasiah Cantu from the Fine Arts Society in Yogaville, Virginia. Except for an American accent, everything else about these young NRI dancers matches the classical art milieu. The nritta and abhinaya flow beautifully with the melodious music of "Satyam Sivam Sundaram," the dance production that will be staged today (December 27, 8 p.m.) at the Narada Gana Sabha.
Jointly presented by Bharatakalanjali and Fine Arts Society, Yogaville, the thematic presentation is based on the teachings of Swami Satchidananda - truth is one, paths are many. "And to portray this universal philosophy through dance, I picked up stories heard in my childhood days and songs of great poets and saints," said senior Bharatanatyam artiste Dhananjayan, who has choreographed the production.
The theme revolves round the lotus, the symbol of beauty, knowledge and the temple (called The Lotus) in Yogaville. The dance feature begins with Shakti Prabhavam that depicts the power of Nature, symbolised as `Maata Parasakti' by Mahakavi Bharatiar. It shows how the five elements of Nature — Earth, Water, Air, Fire and Ether emerge from one power and converge into another. Padmarani's association with the Fine Arts Society (founded by Swami Satchidananda) began when she started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of six at the society in Kandy (Sri Lanka). Later she trained under the Dhananjayans and Adyar K. Lakshman and is now the artistic director of the Fine Arts Society in Yogaville.
"The participants of this dance production have learnt the art at the annual Natya Adyayana Gurukulam (summer camps) started by the Swamiji in 1989, who believed that art and divinity should coexist for harmony in the world. And Shantaji and Dhananjayan Sir have been conducting the camp for the past 17 years. Students who attend the camp stay at the gurukulam for a disciplined approach to the art," said Padmarani.
"Satyam Sivam Sundaram" was originally produced to celebrate the tenth natya adyayana gurukulam and was staged in the U. S.
"My mother, Rukmini, who is the president of the Fine Arts Society desired that the production be presented at Swamiji's birthplace. Besides Chennai, it will also be staged in Coimbatore and Kochi," said Padmarani.
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