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!

Narada Gana Sabha's R. Krishnaswami

was straight and cold on two issues when he spoke at the finale of the Natya Kala Conference on Friday on ' Funding the Fine Arts'..

That we had to deal with the mushroom growth of sabhas and that dancers should focus more on their art and not demand 60 spotlights for a performance which increased the sabha's expenses. He said there were only 15 registered sabhas in the city who followed the government regulations in toto and that all others were illegal and one way of cutting them to size was for artistes/ rasikas to stop performing for / patronising them.

He said that the Federation had written to the state government and sought a serious debate on the issue but soon thereafter, a leading light of a 'mushroom sabha' got the minister over for its function and the debate was snuffed out and the issue got buried.

He said that many fly-by-night organizers popped up only in December and even managed to get funds from public sector undertakings who were given 100/200 tickets for their well-wishers but almost all these reserved seast remained vacant in a hall that can seat 300.

Krishnaswamy was also hard on dancers who rushed in and made big demands for their recitals. He said 60% of the monies went to pay for artistes and 25% on advertising the season’s fest and little was left for the sabha.

He was also indignant of a new culture - of artistes bringing in their own audio systems, saying what was provided was not good. He said some rasikas told him they left the concert hall midway because the audio levels were too high and it hurt the ears.

A. Sambandam, secretary of the Natyanjali Trust

suggested that it was time an Arts Fund be created by seeking donations from corporates.

He said just like the Gates Foundatiion, a concept like this would be useful to fund the growth of dancers and provide for their recitals, if the Fund was managed by professionals.

Sambandam was critical of the ways in which state bodies dealt with event organizers.

He cited the case of the Govt, of Tamil Nadu's Tourism Dept. which got Rs.5 lakhs every year from the Centre for the Natyanjali.

" They gave us only one lakh and said they used four lakhs to advertise the dance fest and never showed the accounts so Delhi stopped that funding."

He also cited the wayward ways of the South Zone Cultural Centre based in Thanjavur when it came to funding and keeping accounts.

"We are given a mere Rs.35,000 for such a huge dance fest ( five days) so we use it to meet the travel bills of the artistes," he added.

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Having showcased the dance traditions and the dance educational practices the past five days, the Natya Kala Conference held at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha chose to debate an entirely different theme on Friday morning.

On 'Funding of the Fine Arts.'

The speakers for this session were an eminent lot.

Princess Gowri Parvathi Bayi from Thiruvananthapuram who is active in the arts and social field there and is involved in the two unique music fests that are held in that town, Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, a patron, S. Krishnaswami, secretary of Narada Gana Sabha ( and a key leader of the Federations of Sabhas in Chennai), A. Sambandam, secretary of the Trust that hosts the annual Natyanjali Dance Fest at the Chidambaram Nataraja Temple, Anmol Vellani who heads the Bangalore based India Arts Foundation, Dr. Uttara Asha Coorlawala, dancer and dance teacher, Rajappa of the Chennai office of ICCR ( Indian Council of Cultural Relations), a govt. body which facilitates foreign tours of artistes.

The issue of funding the arts and of remuneration of artistes has been dominating many forums this season. That thread ran into this session too.

Princess Bayi said that as the organizer of two fests - the Navaratri Music Fest at the Sri Padmanabha Swamy temple and the Sangeetotsavam inside the place grounds in January every year, there were many issues that she and her team faced - sponsors seeking to put banners on stage, sponsors who also suggested artistes of their choice, sponsors who made all kinds of demands.

She also said that demands of artistes had changed, that Chennai-based artistes who got paid a certain amount here asked for a fee many times over when they were invited outside though there were also some artistes who agreed to perform for the sheer passion and for the ambience the festival provided.

Anmol Vellani said that his Foundation based in Bangalore offered a range of services that a variety of artistes could make use of but they would have to understand the scope and rules that governed the grants and that applications must be well prepared and meet the calls that Foundations like his made.

"Often we find applications just do not meet the guidelines we specify. Enough homework is not done when seeking grants, " he said. 'Artistes and funders would do well to collaborate on ventures." He had a tip for artistes seeking funding - come up with great ideas rather than seek money for recitals and tours. Nalli Kuppuswamy Chetti did not touch on what could have made this session an interesting one.

He is one of the biggest patrons of music and dance in Chennai and had he elaborated on his experience in dealing with artistes and the guidelines he followed to sponsor fests and then shared views on them, the Conference would have stood to benefit.

He merely said that he saw the need to support many young dancers.

ICCR's Rajappa merely outlined the policies of his state-run body while Narada Gana Sabha's Krishnaswami and Chidambaram-based Sambandam made some sharp points on this theme.

Uttara shared her experience in the UK and USA. Curiously, the head of the Tamil Nadu Culture Dept. did not attend the meet although he was a invitee.

Though the audience was limited the debates and issues ran an interesting course ( reportage in the Jan.1, 2011 issue of KutcheriBuzz)

Post your comments at www.kutcheribuzz.com

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The banyan tree and Bharatanatyam dance have much in common. And that commonality guided the dance production 'Aalam' that spans the history of the famous dance.

With Aalam, the Singapore-based Apsaras Arts takes a look at the evolution of Bharatanatyam through the centuries.

The dancers perform various compositions depicting the styles of Bharatanatyam through the ages. Presented at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha yesterday night, under the artistic direction of the veteran Neila Sathyalingam who studied at Kalakshetra decades ago and is a Chennai season regular, it had Aravinth Kumarasamy's creative direction, choreography by Shankar Kandasamy and Karana training by Vinosree Shangar

The guest artistes were Shanta Rati, Jeyanthi Kesavan, Gayathri Balagurunathan, V Balagurunathan, Anjana Anand and the narrator was Shobha Vadrevu.

E-mail contact - apsaras_arts@pacific.net.sg

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The annual Natya Kala Conference is one of the high points of the December season calendar. Held at the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, the meet focuses on classical dance and has a theme as its central topic for academic discussions.

This year's conference is themed on 'Abhyassa Sampradaaya' and it opened on Sunday. It was a morning that shocased Kalakshetra.

Leela Samson, its Head divided her presentation into two parts - on the training methods at Kalakshetra and on the repertoire. Leela touched on how Rukmini Devi had adopted the Padanallur style to make it the mainstay of the syllabus and education.

She also mentioned how Rukmini must have been the earliest of people to choreograph pieces based on the compositions of the Trinity. The morning's session was well planned. After every reference to the Kalakshetra history in dance education, there was a short demo by the students to illustrate the presentation.

Leela took the audience through the time when Rukmini Devi invited Mylapore Gowriammal to teach at Kalakshetra, of the time when she collected a lot of material on India's folk and tribal music and dance and incorporated it into her productions, of the contributions that were made by great gurus like Lalgudi Jayaraman to the Kalakshetra repertoire.

Many young male dancers featured in the demos - rarely seen on sabha stages and they received a huge round of applause. Leela herself said that she was seen to be partial to male dancers.

Three young students also presented a gist of the research papers they had worked on as part of their studies.

Leela said that this is an essential part of the education of senior students and all of it was original.

Jayachandran, who heads Kalakshetra's Research Department introduced this part of the presentation, saying that his team provided updates, inputs and training to their own teachers and students besides their other functions. The session showcased Kalakshetra, which had been chosen by its convenor Shanta Dhaaanjayan to be the representative of developments that had taken place in Bharatanatyam.

The discussions though were colourless. Four questions, insignificant in nature indicated that when it comes to informed debate and discussion the standard is poor. The Natya Kala Conference is on till Dec.31. Each session is devoted to the different forms of classical dance. On Dec.28, it is Kathakali, on Dec. 29 - Kuchipudi and on Dec.30 - Kathak.

The discussion on Dec.31 is devoted to an Open House on 'Funding the Fine Arts'.

<< If you wish to email observations on the NKC conference please send them to editor@kutcheribuzz.com >>

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Does it really serve a purpose when you have two academically-inclined conferences related to dance at the same time?

Natya Darshan is organized by Kartik Fine Arts and its three-day conference opened on Christmas day with three senior gurus being recognized on this occasion ( they were K J Sarasa, Chitra Visweswaran and Radha ).

The convenor of this conference is Shobana and the venue is Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore.

The audience was thin on the first morning and it must have given the hosts a hint of how important it is to programme such events.

So why cannot two sabhas work out mutually suitable dates to host such seminars if the intention is to benefit dancers and dance students?

Kartik's team member says the dates had to be changed to accommodate the performances of some senior dancers who perform in the evening.

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Dancers Sonal Mansingh presented for the first time in Chennai her Krishna Ranga Rachee Natya katha Rachee at Asthika Samajam Alwarpet Chennai on 23.12.2010.

She narrated the mythology through abhinaya covering episodes from birth of the lord to the Krukshetra war ending with Gitopades in her inimitable style.

The 45th and 46th Ahobila Mutt Jeers swamijis graced the occasion and delivered benedictory addresses. It was a nice event.

Side-note - The president of the Saraswathi Trust mixed up the two episodes - gopikas' manasamrakshnam with Draupadi's vastra apaharanam. He looked a tad excited.

- Reported by A. Ramanathan

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Bharathotsav - Colours of Dance - is the theme of the annual dance fest that Kartik Fine Arts is hosting from Dec.25 to 27 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore. There will be lec-dems and dance recitals.

At the opening session at 8.45 a.m. on Christmas day gurus K J Sarasa, Chitra Visweswaran and Radha will be honoured by the sabha’s chairman L. Sabaretnam. The morning lec-dems are on Poetry, Rhythm and Music.

People like Kanimozhi, DMK MP and poet, and dancers Rama Vaidhyanathan and Neena Prasad, Urmila Satyanarayanan, Meenakshi Chittaranjan, Nirupama and Rajendra, The Kirans from Bangalore, Padma Subrahmanyam and Lakshmi Vishwanathan.

The evening recitals ( there are two daily) are by Shridhar and Anuradha and by Alarmel Valli on ( 25th), Nirupama and Rajendra and by Swapnasundari (26th) and by Sheejith Krishna and by Madhavi Mudgal ( 27th).

The lec-dems and recitals are open to all.

<< If you attend these events and want to write on them, KutcheriBuzz welcomes such reports and pictures too >>

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Dance guru Shanta Dhananjayan is sending out a final call to all dancers, artistes, rasikas and scholars who wish to attend the annual Naatya Kala Conference at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T. Nagar to register.

Registration is free - though there was a debate on This will enable the organisers to plan ahead with notes, facilities and snacks during the break.

The academic meet is to take place from Dec.26 to 31 and the theme is Abhyaasa Sampradaya - evolutionary developments in the system of Naatya training and presentation.

Contact 24911125 for more info.

Or email tulsibadrinath@gmail.com.

Tulsi has edited all the papers which are to be presented at the conference and will be published as a book to be released at this event.

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Abhinaya Sudha is a themed dance festival showcasing the expressional aspect in solo dance traditions of South India It is presented by Kuchipudi Dance Centre in Delhi run by Swapna Sundari.

Here is the schedule.

22 Dec 2010 6:30 to 7:10pm N. Srikanth (Chennai) - Bharata Natyam

7:15 pm Swapnasundari (Delhi) - Vilasini Natyam

23 Dec 2010

6:30 to 7:10pm P.N. Krishna Kumar (Thrisur) - Mohini Attam

7:15pm Bragha Bessel (Chennai) - Bharata Natyam

24 Dec 2010

6:30 to 7:15pm Yashoda Thakore (Hyderabad) - Vilasini Natyam

7:15pm Gopika Varma (Chennai) - Mohini Attam Venue: Chandra-Mandala:1, Elliot's Beach Road, Besant Nagar.

Festival co-ordinator for Chennai is V.V. Ramanee Contact - 9840238356

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Anjaneya Veera

Directed by V. Balagurunathan and Gayathri Balagurunathan

This is a thematic dance production on Lord Hanuman. Features V. Balagurunathan and Gayathri Balagurunathan, Mayura and Hamsa

Dec.23 - For Tapas Academy, Valasarawakkam

Ainkaran

Directed by V. Balagurunathan

Thematic dance drama on Lord Ganesha featuring Balagurunathan, Thamarai Krishnan and Gomathy Krishnan.

Dec.24, 7.30 p.m. - For Vipanchee Academy at R K Swamy Hall, Mylapore.
Dec.26 evening - For Hamsadhwani at Youth Hostel, Adyar.

The stirring lyrics of the Nayanmars, the Saivite saints of South India, harnessed in the original Pann murai will form the content of Namashivaye Vazhge. Chitra Visweswaran will be accompanied by the senior professional dancers Sukanya Ravindhar, Umaa Nambudripad - Sathyanarayanan, R Jai Quehaeni, Chindumathy Karthik, Ku. Meenu Pandian and Gayathri C

Dec.18 - Kartik Fine Arts at BVB

deals with Devi in her manifestations as Durga ,Lakshmi and Saraswathi. A varnam composed by Rajkumar Bharati is the central piece of this production and is preceded by a dynamic number on Durga and followed by an evocative piece unfolding the story Mooka Sankara. Umaa Nambudripaad Sathyanarayan, Sindu Shyam, Arupa Lahiry, Chindumathy Karthik, Jai Quehaeni, Jayanthi Sundar, Meenu Pandiyan and Rupali Roy are the dancers in this production. .

Dec.28 - Bharat Kalachar

will feature professional young dancers of Chidambaram Dance Company with Chitra Visweswaran donning the role of researcher, choreographer and artistic director. First presented in 1986 it has gone through various avatars and is one of this dance company's most loved productions. It is unique and evergreen in many ways. Today, it is entirely run on the young shoulders of its professional dancers - Sukanya Ravindhar, Anusuya Banerjee, Umaa Nambudripaad Sathyanarayan, Asmitha Aravindan, Sindu Shyam, Arupa Lahiry, Chindumathy Karthik, Jai Quehaeni, Meenu Pandiyan and Rupali Roy Jan.5, 7.45 p.m. - The Music Academy

Jan 3 evening - The Music Academy

Dec 11 6:45 PM Kartik Fine Arts, Narada Gana Sabha Main Hall - Bharathiku Anjali
Dec 19 7:30 PM Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Main Hall) - Valluvarum Vedaneriyum
Dec 26 6:45 PM Bharat Kalachar - Dance Drama
Dec 30 7:00 PM Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust --Meenakshi Kalyanam
Jan 1, 2011 7:30 PM Narada Gana Sabha Main Hall
Jan 4, 10 am - The Music Academy Jai Sri Krishna

22 Dec : Krishnamari Kuravanji - a dance-drama Kalakshetra Repertory
23 Dec : Charishnu - A coming together of six major dance forms, a martial form and drums of India ñ ideated by Leela Samson
24 Dec : Choodamani Pradanam, - a dance-drama by Kalakshetra Repertory
25 Dec : Maha Pattabhishekam - a dance-drama by Kalakshetra Repertory
28 Dec. : Panchali Sapatham - a dance-drama by Kalakshetra Repertory
30 Dec : Nala Charitham - Kathakali

At Other Venues

Jan.4, 7.45 p.m. - 'Spanda' - The Music Academy by Kalakshetra Repertory

VARIETY PROGRAMME

Thursday 2nd December 2010

- at I.I.T, Chennai. BHARATANATYAM

Tuesday 7th December 2010 - 4.30 to 6.30 p.m. - at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai for Karthik Fine Arts.

RUKMINI KALYANAM

Thursday 16th December 2010 - at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.

VARIETY PROGRAMME

Friday 17th December 2010 - at I.I.T. Chennai.

KANNAPPAR KURAVANJI

Monday 20th December 2010 - at Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai

Jan.6, 10 am - The Music Academy

Jan.6, 7.45 p.m. - The Music Academy

Dec.18 - Bharat Kalachar
Dec.21 - Sri Krishna Gana Sabha

Jan.7, 10 am - The Music Academy

The Dhananjayns' Bharatakalanjali, Chennai & KalaBhaaskara ( of Reunion Island) host a joint production PARINAAMAM ( a new dance drama choreographed by Sheejith Krishna and music by Jyothishmathi Krishna).

Jan. 19, 7 p.m - The Music Academy

Bali brings back a previous production which looks at the three stages in the life of Sita as in the Ramayana Jan.8, 10 a.m. - The Music Academy

Keechaka Vadanam - dance production by this famed institution.
Jan.8, 7.45 p.m.- The Music Academy

Jan.9, 7.45 p.m. - The Music Academy

Bala Devi Chandrashekar presents a unique Nritya Margam this season. - based on the favorites of the legendary Carnatic maestro - M L Vasanathakumari.

This suite include items that will traverse myriad themes through creative expression., integrating the physical and spiritual dimension whilst displaying the complex rhythmic patterns specially created by Karaikudi Sivakumar and representational components of the dance form set to mellifluous music.

4th Jan 7.15 p.m. - Mylapore Fine Arts
7th Jan. 7.30 p.m. - Sivagami Petachi Auditorium.

presented by violinist-vocalist Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi and dancer Ramya Ramnarayan. Dance compositions composed by Lalgudi G. Jayaraman. Vijayalakshmi will sing on this occasion, with Swamimalai Sri. K. Suresh - Nattuvangam, Dananjayan - Mridangam, Padma Shankar - Volin, T. Sashidar - Flute

Dec.28, 7.30pm - Sri Krishna Gana Sabha

Dec.29, 2 p.m. - Narada Gana Sabha

1. December 13th, 2010--Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan-Group- Prapatti Marga.
2. December 19th, 2010--TTD, Tirupathi- Group- "Om Namo Narayana"

Dominique Delorme will present 2 bharatanatyam recitals during the festival. Choreographies of Guru Sri V.S. Muthuswamy Pillai and Smt Kalanidhy Narayanan.

Narada Gana Sabha (Main Hall): December 30th at 2 pm
Music Academy : January 9th at 6:30 pm

AADAL KAANEERO

AADAL KAANEERO - Dance tribute of Dr.M.L.Vasanthakumari
January 11th 7.30 pm at Sivagami Petachi Hall for BRAHMA GANA SABHA

MUTHAMIZH MAALAI

Conceived, Choreographed and Directed by Radhika Shurajit.

Tamizh, the Semmozhi is one of the Ancient Dravidian Languages which spans over 2500 years. It is a language that has broad influence till date, on the culture, heritage of the country, and is spoken by millions of people.

It has a rich body of ancient literature.

The poetic intrepretation of Tamizh is very unique and distinct.

This production MUTHAMIZH MAALAI is a Celebration of Tamizh. The beauty of the lyrics highlighted with appropriate music, is given Bharatanatyam dimension in this project..

The ever green and popular songs from Tamizh literature are strung together as a colourful garland. The flowering of the language in all its Grandeur, the usage of the Mozhi to highlight the mood is the core of this work.

This will be performed by Disciples of Radhika Shurajit and will be presented by well known Actor and Anchor Ms.Revathy Sankkaran.

DATE:
January 1st 6.30 pm at Vani Mahal for THYAGA BRAMHA GANA SABHA
January 4th 7.30 pm at Bharatiya Vidaya Bhavan for KARTIK FINE ARTS
January 9th 7.30 pm at Nalli Gana Vihar for KRISHNA GANA SABHA

1 . KURALIN KURAL - A Thematic Presentation based on the Kural created for the World Thamizh Conference in Coimbatore.

Date Time Venue

29 11 10 19:15 hrs Sri Y.G.P.Auditorium
02 12 10 19:15 hrs Mylapore Fine Arts
05 12 10 19:00 hrs Sri Ramarao Kala Mantap
21 12 10 19:00 hrs Tanjavur Dance Festival
24 12 10 19:00 hrs Mamallapuram
27 12 10 18:30 hrs Ksheerasagara Hall
12 01 11 19:15 hrs Sivagami petachi Auditorium

2 . JANANI JAGATH KARANI - Dance Drama

04 12 10 19:00 hrs Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala
01 01 11 19:00 hrs Shiv Shankar Baba Ashram
02 01 11 19:15 hrs Balamandir German Hall, T Ngr

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The 5th century epic, ‘Silappadigaram', a dance production by dancer-musician Madurai R.Muralidaran and his dancer-wife Chitra Muralidaran marked the 30th anniversary of the duo's Nrithyakshetra Dance Academy.

It has a good run on many stages across the world and in Chennai.

It has a cast of about 30 artistes, some well-known and Muralidharan has put in much effort to produce it.

Here is a schedule -

Dec.12 - Kartik Fine Arts at Narada Gana Sabha hall
Jan.4 - Bharath Kalachar
Feb.12 - Narada Gana Sabha

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The dance festival hosted by The Music Academy for the season will be from January 3rd to 9th.

Each day features 4 events, two in the forenoon, two in the afternoon.

Very senior dancers are to be featured in the opening shows of each day and this will be followed by solo recitals by established dancers.

The 6 p.m. slots are for the recitals of well known dancers while the 7.45 p.m. slots are for dance productions which includes 'Spanda', choreographed by Leela Samson and presented by the Kalakshetra group.

All the shows are ticketed.

More info is on the Academy's web site link at http://www.musicacademymadras.in/dance_schedule.php

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Chennai-based dance group Bharathanjali will be staging the ballet Mahadevam Mahasenam Bhaje, which was presented a decade ago. It narrates the exploits of Shiva and Muruga. Guru Anitha Guha has conceptualised and choreographed the production.

The lyrics and music for the ballet have been composed by PR Vekatasubramanian. Over fifty young dancers find a place in the ballet.

Guru Anitha Guha is the brain behind Bharathanjali and she has choreographed and directed lots of productions these past years and receivedt much appreciation.

The first performance this season is scheduled for 5 December for Kartik Fine Arts at Narada Gana Sabha.

There will be 12 other performances in various sabhas in the city. Mahadevam is being presented for Kala Sagaram in Secunderabad on 28th November 2010.

Dec 19 7:00 PM The Indian Fine Arts Society
Dec 26 7:00 PM Brahma Gana Sabha
Dec 28 6:30 PM The Mylapore Fine Arts Club (Dance Ballet)
Dec 30 7:30 PM Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Main Hall)
Jan 2, 2011 6:45 PM Bharat Kalachar (Bharathanatyam Group Performance)

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