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Post your question
July 06 |
Dear Madam,
This question is from USA. Our family has been invited for an Arangetram (neighbour's daughter who must be in 8th or 9th grade). We have never attended any dance program while we were in India. I apologize for being ignorant.
1.When we go to the Arangetram, should we give gift to the dancer? or not?
2.What is the etiquette?
3. If we have to give the gift, how much money should be spent(given). Only two people from our family are going to the arangetram. Please suggest a ball park amount.
4. Please suggest some appropriate gift items, if we have to give it to the dancer.
5.When should we give the gift, at the beginning or at the end of the program?
Your time and advice are very much appreciated.
-A V K
You may give a gift if you wish to. You could present a small make-up kit that includes a pan-cake, rouge, eye make-up and a lipstick. A nice perfume, a small mirror, a pack of wet tissues or toilet-water used for cleansing, would also be useful. Depending on your budget, you may also give a small idol of lord Nataraja, Ganesha, Venkatachalapathy or Saraswathi.
You may give the gift after the performance, when the dancer is more relaxed. It is generally advisable not to disturb an artiste before a performance.
Dear Madam,
I have a question about the pottu for male dancers. Everytime I perform, the type of pottu I should wear is discussed... perhaps an insignificant topic, but a troubling one nonetheless! When I'm doing a few select dances on Vishnu or Lakshmi I accordingly wear a straight namam. When dancing on Shiva or his family I wear a standard vibuthi... what about an entire program, with many different dances? For my arangetram, I wore an arda-chandran for most of my dances... is this the most suitable for general programs? If not, what is best? Is it wrong to wear namam on top of vibuthi (an attempt to merge my own vaishnavite and saivite familial background)?
-Dancer from New Jersey, USA
It is not wrong to wear namam on top of vibuthi. For your info, most of the deities have a third eye. Usually a thilakam may be more suitable and ideal for a whole programme.
Dear Madam,
I have finished the foundation lesson of Bharatanatyam dance through DVD. I failed to search a collection of CD for rhythm of talam. I don't seem to know much about talam. I will appreciate if you could explain what is 'ta ki ta', 'tai um da ta'. It is puzzling to express and find nothing from websites. Where can I buy CD of talam ( if I am right)? Another question is what is an Arangetram?
- Sherryli,
China
'Ta ki ta' denotes beats of three and is one of the 'Pancha Nadai-s' or five varieties seen in the tala system. 'tai um da ta' is the rhythmic syllable used in the second set of adavus called 'Naata Adavu'. Here it denotes beats of four.
Several books and CDs are available on Talas. You may contact Karnatic Music Book Centre in Chennai at kmbc@vsnl.net, Ph: Ph: +91-44-28111716 Website: www.carnaticbooks.com
Dear Madam,
I am writing to you as a writer. I am working on a novel in which my main character is a dancer. It is set in the 30's and 40's in Madras. I am creating a scene in which she (at about 19) does her arangetram. I am trying to capture her feeling while dancing.
Could you talk about what a dancer goes through at a time like this. Nervous. Excited. Fearful. Exhileration. Would she ever go blank? How does she recover? What does she see of the audience?
-Champa, USA
The dancer of the 30's and 40's was very confident. In those days, it was only the very highly accomplished who performed. She may have been a little nervous. That's about it. Excitement - of course, naturally. No chance of going blank, because she would have been very well grounded. And at that time, dance was performed only in temples. It was called 'Pottu Katradhu' and she was a full fledged dancer.
Dear Madam,
Namaskaram. I'd like to include in my daughter's arangetram, songs that a larger number of audience can relate to, like 'Vandemataram' etc. Could you please recommend some other in Telugu or Sanskrit that can be used for a Bharatanatyam arrangetram. Also, could you please let me know if it is proper to do an arangetram with these type of songs.
-Maruthi
Yes, you may include such songs in an arangetram. While choosing the songs, have in mind, the language the audience can understand and also what would be apt for the dancer's age. You can take up compositions of Bharatiyar or Arunachalakavi in Thamizh. If the dancer is older, you can take up Annamacharya's or Kshetrayya's padams in Telugu or verses from Jayadeva's Gita Govinda in Sanskrit.
Dear Madam,
I was very impressed with your explanation through the Taka-dimi-ta programme, that I saw in Malaysia.
Can you help me in getting the right music and choreography of adavus to set the five elements - earth, fire, water, wind, space as a dance. Any books that I could refer to as there are no such reference books in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
-
Vikneswari,
KL, West Malaysia
Many artistes have presented productions on the five elements. One of them is dancer Rajeswari Sainath based in Hyderabad. You may network with her for the info you require: rajeswarisainath@hotmail.com
Dear Madam,
Could you please tell me the significance of Salangai Pooja? I know it is done quite elaborately now, but the students should have reached a certain level I believe.
-Mini
It is held to test the initial ability of a dance student to face an audience, before she presents a public performance. It is also the time when the dancer wears the salangai for the first time. It is a private function and the performance is done before the guru, family and a few friends.
Dear Madam,
Though I am not a dancer, am interested in the art form of
Bharatanatyam. Could you please suggest a book by which I could learn all the adavus and theermanams.
-Radha Durairajan
You may refer to Laghu Bharatham - Vol. 3, a book published by Shree Bharatalaya, which lists all the adavus in Bharatanatyam with stick figures and explanation. Check out this link for more info: http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/ebrochures/laghubharatham
Dear Madam,
What is your take on Devadasi tradition?
- A rasika
The original concept of the Devadasi tradition was absolute surrender
to the almighty. But the human element has marred this concept ...
Dear Madam,
I would like to know what one should give to the guru on their first
day of joining a dance or music class. What takes place when you first
arrive to the class? For example, what I need to know is, do we need
one vethilai and paaku with fruits. Along with guru thakchanai (how
much?). Then do you give all this to the teacher and then get blessing
from him or her? I would like to know what is the proper way to do this
and also, the list of things to take as well as the steps to take.
-Pratheeba Gnane, Canada
It is called as 'Thambulam'. It has some fruits, flowers, more than 2
pakku and vethilai, two coconuts (one as sadruka for drishti and the
other one for neiveidhyam - offering) alongwith dhakshinai (ending with
one like Rs. 11, Rs. 101...), camphor and agarbathi. This is a minimal
offering. You can give more depending on what you can afford. You can
give this to your guru and then take his or her blessing.
Dear Madam,
I will be very grateful if you could kindly help me with the following
questions:
· I see most of the classical dances shown in the movies are Kathak
dance, but not Bharatnatyam. Can you tell me why?
· Is there any conflict if we recommend Chinese students to learn
Bharatnatyam as foundation lesson and Kathak as performance lesson? as most
of the foreign students learn Indian classical dances for the stage
performance purpose, and Kathak seems very popular on the stage
performance, but Bharatnatyam looks more classical and noble. Though it takes 5-8
years to learn either one of the said dance. Which dance is more
suitable for foreign students? Bharatnatyam or Kathak? or both? .
-
Rouhui li, China
While Kathak is more predominantly seen in Hindi films, Bharatanatyam
is seen in Tamil films. Though not in the purest form, but as fusion.
The regional influence of the styles is reflected in the films.
Yes, there will be a conflict in learning Bharatanatyam as foundation
and Kathak for performance, since the basic lessons are different in
both the styles. While we begin with the adavus in Bharatanatyam, the
training in Kathak begins with the turns.
Dear Madam,
My name is Gayatri Patil. I have been a
Bharatnatyam dancer for the past 10 years, I had taken a break from
dancing for 3 years, which made me realise how much I love dancing and want
to pursue it further.
I have completed my arangetram 3 years back and I love being on the
stage .
I reside in the city of Pune and at the moment I am completing my post
graduation, I also wish to continue dancing . I hope you could help me
out by guiding me in the right direction .
- Gayatri Patil, Pune
A very good teacher and a senior artiste in Pune is Ms Sucheta
Chapekar. You may refer the online dance directory on the Narthaki.com website
and contact her. She will be able to guide you.
Dear Madam,
We are from Dubai, and our daughter will be doing her arangetram in April-2006. I wish to know what is the best way to develop stamina, any particular food habits to be followed. Also I wish to know the formalities for Salangai Pooja.
-Sridhars
The best way to build stamina would be warmp-up exercises, practice and post warm-up exercises. A good balanced diet should suffice. A health drink may also help. Just before going to practise or to the stage, put a spoon of sugar in your mouth.
Dear Madam,
I am doing my higher secondary. I am greatly inspired by my friend Varsha Shrivastav who is a Bharathanatyam dancer. I have a doubt whether I can start learning Bharathanatyam at this age.
-S. Deepa / Chennai
Dance can be learnt at any age. It is only the will power and stamina that matters.
Namaskaram,
I have two questions.
-A. Seshan, Mumbai
1. It is generally easy to identify the different styles of classical Indian dance from a mere look at the dancers even without seeing their movements. Thus the hair-do in the case of Mohini Attam and the crown in Odissi dancers immediately tell us about the nature of their styles. But I find it difficult to distinguish between Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers in their dresses or hairstyles or in movements. I do not see any difference between the adavu of Bharatanatyam and the adugulu of Kuchipudi. From the literature on the subject I understand that the former is linear and the latter curvilinear in the limbs. This is not satisfactory because they are not characteristics unique to either. Could you please enlighten me on the subject?
1. Adavu patterns in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam do have differences. For example, the 'Natyarambam' position is stretched in Bharatanatyam while it is shorter and much closer to the body in Kuchipudi. Tapping one leg more often is another common trait in Kuchipudi. Similarly there are many other differences. But if someone performs Kuchipudi like Bharatanatyam, then it is the inadequacy of the dancer.
2. Of the various lecture-demonstrations on Doordarshan on Bharatanatyam shown a few years ago I found yours very educative. Is a video cassette of the entire series available?
2. Regarding the Doordarshan series, for your info, am still awaiting a copy of that!
Namaskar Sudharaniji,
I am a performing artiste. I would like to know,
-Jaya Vittal
1. What are the stages of choreography, what are the points to be kept in mind while choreographing and selecting sahityas for any new choreography?
1. To begin with, you need to have a concept. Then, work a pattern first on paper / graph sheet, according to the stage arrangement. The whole choreography has to be worked in your mind first - the movements, arrangements like space and balance, props, costume colours, scenes etc., Select a theme and the verses can be done later.
2. Many scholars wrote their songs mainly on Bhakthi rasa. But it is not included in navarasas why?
2. Bhakthi is devotion. All the nayikas are based on their devotion to their lord.
3. While performing, unknowingly I open and close my mouth. I don't feel it looks good. How to control it?
3. The opening ang closing of your mouth can be controlled by avoiding it consciously. With constant practice, you can avoid it.
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| This is a new column from KutcheriBuzz.com And your host is the Madras-based and well known dancer, choreographer and teacher Prof.Sudharani Raghupathy. Prof. Sudharani, a recipient of the Padmashri award from the Government of India, has been in the dance field for over five decades and runs 'Shree Bharatalaya', an institution of fine arts in Madras.She invites everyone who has a question on Bharatanatyam in particular or on dance in general, to post their questions. She hopes to cover a range of topics: Styles in Bharatanatyam, choreography, costumes, make-up, stage-decor, jewellery, fitness, dance theory, references, music for dance, arangetrams, planning a recital, themes...The floor is open to you. Yes, you can post issues that bother you. Maybe you just want to know if you should rush through an arangetram. Or you want to know how to prepare for a Salangai Pooja. Or, you want her to suggest a few cassettes that help you train in distant Oslo? Or, you may want her tips on how to present your next recital?This space is yours. Prof. Sudharani will reply to you in a jiffy! |
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