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In step: Shobana’s performance highlighted her skill as a choreographer too.

Each of the pieces performed by her and her students seemed to emphasise Shobana’s statement that Bharatnatyam could depict any theme or adapt to any kind of music. Her recital also highlighted the effect of ‘ahaarya’ and aesthetic and mood lighting in enhancing a performance.

Without straying from the framework of Bharatnatyam, Shobana and her troupe danced to the beats of the percussion, the flamenco and the strains of A.R. Rahman’s ‘Vande Mataram.’

She began her performance with a pulsating piece that had the dancers keeping time to the rhythm of the percussion. As if to prove that she could also come up with a meticulous, pure Bharatnatyam piece, Shobana performed a solo raga malika of Swati Tirunal that portrayed the 10 incarnations of Lord Vishnu.

Her expressive face, eloquent mudras and abhinaya made it a delight for the audience as she narrated the story of ‘Dashaavataram.’ It was easily the piece de resistance of the evening.

An Ashtapadi in Hamirkalyani had her portraying a lovelorn nayika waiting for Lord Krishna while the Thillana showcased her brisk footwork and sense of thalam.

Yet another piece that stood out for its choreographic merit was ‘Collage,’ a series of snapshots from Krishna’s childhood. Set to the music of the Flamenco, ‘Collage’ was a visual and aural delight that highlighted the versatility of Bharatnatayam and the expertise of the choreographer. Shobhana and her students effortlessly took the audience to Mathura and the familiar stories of Krishna’s childhood.

The concluding piece had the dancers swaying to the music of A.R. Rahman’s ‘Vande Matram.’ Instead of turning it into a piece of synchronised dancing, Shobana chose to use the lyrics and music to draw a picture of modern India – its diversity of culture, religion, lifestyle and people. Images of rural and urban India were portrayed as the dancers depicted farmers, children studying under street lights, cricket, super moms and the BPO boom that is fuelling the dreams of middle class India. As the music reached a crescendo, the dancers portrayed the dreams of a nation on the move.

A superb and fitting finale. The event was organised by AXIS Bank at AKG Memorial Hall in Thiruvananthapuram for priority banking customers. The dancer had also presented a recital in Kochi.

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