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  Previews

Artistes work throughout the year for bringing out special dance productions and thematic and innovative concerts during the 'December season'. This section will feature brief curtain-raisers to these new productions!

 DANCE : Masquerade, a dance theatre narrative by Sheejith Krishna
 DANCE : Rukmini Devi's Kutrala Kuravanji is back!
 DANCE : Dancer Neeraja Srinivasan takes up Bharatiyar's poems
 DANCE : Shree Bharatalaya presents 'Mammudha'

DANCE : Masquerade, a dance theatre narrative by Sheejith Krishna


Bharatanatyam has varieties. From the regular margams and thematic performances to dance ballets, dance operas and now a dance theatre narrative.

Sheejith Krishna, a Kalakshetra faculty and a recipient of the Ustad Bismillah Khan - Yuva Puraskar award from the Sangeet Natak Akademi last year, is bringing his favourite English novel to Bharatanatyam thsi year.

‘Masquerade’. It is based on Alexander Dumas’ novel ‘Man in the Iron Mask’.

"The three musketeers appear in his fiction. I started thinking of it out of my own interest like my other two earlier productions." said Sheejith.

He had earlier choreographed ‘Marthyan’ when he was a post graduate student at the Kalakshetra. And ‘Swapna Rag’, a musical dance drama and story was based on seven characters representing seven musical notes.

In this new production, Sheejith is working with the artistes from Kalakshetra. Prof. Raghuraman has done the translation of the original novel for this dance drama.

"When Leela Samson and I were travelling from Mangalore, we discussed this idea. She showed interest in the idea and asked me to do it as a Kalakshetra production. It is a credit for me that she recognised my idea and talent." says Sheejith.

"It has been a busy month with practices for my dance recitals and the rehearsals for this big event." But Sheejith is happy about all the hard work and looks forward to seeing this show on stage.

This show will premier on Dec. 26 at Kalakshetra Auditorium at 6.30 pm. A repeat show will be held at Kalakshetra on the New year's Day at 6.30 pm.

Click here to see the pictures of the performace!

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DANCE : Rukmini Devi's Kutrala Kuravanji is back!

The first dance drama choreographed by Rukmini Devi Arundale, Kutrala Kuravanji is back on the stage this season, with the original vocal and nattuvangam by Adyar brothers K. Rama Rao and K. Lakshman.

Kuravanjis are Tamil dramas of the past. They are called Kuravanjis because a kurati or a sooth sayer is an essential character in them. Kutrala Kuravanji was composed by Melagaram Thirikooda Rasappa Kavirayar in praise of the Lord Shiva and his consort during the 17th century.

This is a dramatic work composed to the accompaniment of live vocal and instrumental music by performers who themselves may act and sing as well as dance.

Music for this Kuttrala Kuravanji was composed in 1944 by Maestro V. Krishnamachari of Bangalore. After four decades, the Kalakshetra Repertory is bringing back the dance drama to the stage this year.

'Kuttrala Kuravanji' with nattuvangam and vocal by Adyar brothers K. Rama Rao and K. Lakshman will be staged at Kalakshetra at Bharata kalakshetra Auditorium on Dec.27 at 6.30pm.

If you miss this show, there is another on Jan.4, 2008 at 7.30pm at the Music Academy.

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DANCE : Dancer Neeraja Srinivasan takes up Bharatiyar's poems

Chennai-based dancer Neeraja Srinivasan starts the 'season' on Dec.8 with a traditional margam at The Mylapore Fine Arts Club.

On January 11, 2008, she presents a recital based on the compositions of the trinity, Sri Tyagaraja, Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar and Sri Syama Shastri At Infosys Hall, T.Nagar.

On January 16, 2008, Neeraja presents for Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, a themed recital 'Bharathamum Bharathiyin Kaviamudhum', a margam composed of poems of Subramanya Bharathi. At 7 p.m. at R.K. Swamy hall, Mylapore.

On January 29, 2008, she presents 'Kalapradarshini' based on saint Tyagaraja’s Pancharatna Kritis on the occasion of Sri Tyagaraja Aradhana, At Petachi Auditorium, Mylapore.

For details contact: 91-44-2498 2432. Neeraja runs the Thaandavam School of Fine Arts in Chennai.

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DANCE : Shree Bharatalaya presents 'Mammudha'
Reported by KutcheriBuzz Staff



Shree Bharatalaya, the Chennai-based dance academy of Sudharani Raghupathy, is presenting a new and unique production.

'Mammudha – from Dust to Life' is the story of Manmatha, the god of Love in Hindu mythology (the counterpart of Cupid / Eros in Roman / Greek mythologies).

According to Hindu mythology, Lord Shiva burns Manmatha and reduces him to dust and later brings him back to life.

This 90-minutes long production has adaptations from the traditional folk of Tamil Nadu – Theru Koothu (street theatre) and the traditional classical dance Bharatanatyam besides steps from modern dance.

Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy takes on the protagonist role of Manmatha with students of Shree Bharatalaya in the cast. She has also provided artistic guidance for the production. This production, promoted as an opera, has inputs from professionals from various fields - namely Dr. Kausalya (retd. Principal of Govt. Music College, Thiruvaiyar) for research, ‘Manna’ Srinivasan for resource guidance, P. K. Sambandham for supervision of Theru Koothu, R. Thenmozhi Rajendran for supervision of folk dance, S Rajeshwari (retd. principal of Govt Music College, Chennai) for music, V V Ramani for costumes, stage decor and props and Mithran Devanesan for lighting.

The production, concept, soundscape and direction are by K. S. R. Anirudha.
The show premieres on Sunday, December 9 at Narada Gana Sabha under the auspices of Karthik Fine Arts during the acclaimed December dance and music festival.


It will be staged at six other venues in December and January 2008. More info at www.thenatyam.com

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