HAMSADHWANI
Time to break free
ANJANA RAJAN
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Well learnt, obediently recited, but one hunts in vain for Jyotsna's individual expressions.
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Photo: Shaju John.
NEAT: Jyotsna Vaideeswaran.
Jyotsna Vaideeswaran gave a neat Bharatanatyam performance at the NRI festival. Currently based in the U.S., she has learnt the dance from a number of teachers including Aravindan. Currently she is under the tutelage of Sailaja in Chennai, though in Berkeley, California, she trains at the Kalanjali institute of Katherine and K.P. Kunhiraman.
The dance pieces chosen for the programme reflected the range of gurus under whom she has studied. Jyotsna began with a `Chidambaresa Kavuthuvam' preceded by a Natesa sloka, with choreography by the Aravindans. This was followed by Papanasam Sivan's `Idadhu Padam' in the raga Khamas, choreographed by the Dhananjayans. Opening with a nice flute alapana by Ramana, the composition made use of an attractive overlay of rhythmic patterns on the pallavi line.
The varnam in Sankarabharanam, depicting the heroine pining for her lord followed. Later there was Arunachala Kavirayar's `Yaro Ivar Yaro' in Bhairavi, choreographed by Bragha Bessel.
Now that the basics are on the whole worked out, the dancer needs to let herself free. Currently she seems to be repeating her lessons. Well learnt, obediently recited no doubt, but still within the bounds of the school. One hunts in vain for Jyotsna's individual expression. Once she finds it, her own enthusiasm for dance (and no one practises classical dance for years without enthusiasm) will reach out to and kindle excitement in the audience, and there will be a chance for rasa to be created. Jyotsna was accompanied, besides Sailaja who competently conducted the recital, by Roshini (vocal), Hari Babu (mridangam), M.S. Kannan (violin) and Ramana (flute).
The sabha, which organised the concert, should have considered the aesthetics of the stage before putting up that pitiable backdrop. Wrinkled, faded, it neither covered the back wall completely nor was it centred. Neither purple nor blue, with a few variegated patches, it did not match or contrast with the front curtain. One wondered what purpose it served and how it reflected the glory of Indians, resident or non-resident.
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