Natyanjali Opens in Chidambaram

10 a.m. February 20. In the sannidhi of Lord Nataraja Temple, Chidambaram.

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Dancer Nartaki Nataraj from Chennai, happy with a darshan of the Lord readies to dance. This padam wil be her anjali. K P Nandini stands by to sing and the milling crowd of devotees stop, look and move on. This is Mahasivaratri morning and the flow of pilgrims to this famed temple is on the rise.

It is also the opening day of the annual Natyanjali dance festival here. Groups of dancers, teens, youngsters and seniors follow in Nartaki's steps. And they offer their anjali quietly.

But we wonder - why aren't the dancers also heading to the sannidhi of Sri Urdhva Tandavam Nataraja, the Lord with that fantastic posture of the right leg upright. The sannidhi, close to the main one is rarely visited.

A new backdrop for the Natyanjali stage greets us. The Trustees hired a Bangalore artist to create Plaster of Paris mould sets of the interiors of a temple. "We are the mother Natyanjali so we must keep raising the bar," says Trust secretary Sambandam.

The outer eastern yard fills up as the dance-students from the Fine Arts Department of Annamalai University go on stage.

The highlight of Day One is a special varnam conceptualised and directed by Nandini Ramani featuring six dancers - Priyadarshini Govind, Braga Bessel, Manjari, Sushama, Sailaja and Srekala Bharath. Premiered in Chennai, the 25minute piece works.

Watching them is Nandini and a writer from the New York Times, Alastair Macaulay who is touring India to write on dance and sculptures in India.

But the biggest applause goes to 77 year old dancer and guru C V Chandrasekar who presents a Shiva astapadi. Chandru, as his close friends him stuns even the uninitiated with his abhinaya.

When we pack up for the night, the heavy dew has soaked the yard and many people are in deep slumber while many others are glued to the recitals on stage.

Day One closes at about 5.30am.

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Thanjavur Big Temple hosts Natyanjali Fest

The annual Natyanjali dance fest at Thanjavur will be held for a week, from February 20 to 26 at the heritage Sri Brihadeswarar Temple.

Recitals are held at the base of the giant Nandi image in the inner yard of this World Heritage Site. They start at about 6 pm and end at about 11 pm and are open to all.

Muthukumar, part of the Brihanatyanjali team which hosts this annual event says that dancers from across the country will perform here.

Every evening, at 8 pm there will be a dance drama for about an hour.

Dance teams of Gayathri Balagurunathan, Vijay Madhavan, Padmalakshmi and Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala will perform.

You can contact Muthukumar at 0-9842455765.

Evening of dance-dramas at Chidambaram

Dr C V Chandrasekar, Kathak dancer Jayant Kastaur from Delhi and Kerala-based Mohiniattam dancer Neena Prasad star at the fest here on Day One.

Sambandam and Natarajan of the Natyanjali Trust who draw up the timetable here say that they chose to pack the final evening ( Feb.24) with dance-production extracts to add a spectacular touch to the fest this year.

So we have Renukabali and troupe from Bangalore, Nilalaya Nritya Kendra from Tumkur, Sheela Unnikrishnan and co. from Chennai, Padmalakshmi Suresh and Co. from Chennai and Kalapradarshini's team led by Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, Chennai on this evening.

Sangeet Natak Akademi support

Thanks to sizable funding and support by the Sageet Natak Akademi, dance troupes from across India get to perform at the temples in Tamil Nadu at Natyanjali time.

This year, Kathak, Chau, Manipuri and Odissi artistes will perform at Chidambaram and also do the rounds of other temples.

For rasikas in these towns, the recitals are specials to look forward too.

Natyanjali in many more TN temples

The Natyanjali fest took root and shape in the Chidambaram temple over 27 years ago. But the example has been emulated in many other towns and spaces.

Thanjavur's Brihanatyanjali is also special - dancers get the opportunity to perform on a stone stage around the base of the giant Nandi inside the temple campus. This is a five day fest that ends close to 11 p.m.

Fests also take place in Thirunallar, Nagapattinam, Sirkali, Thiruvarur and Tiruchi.

There are also fests at Sri Kapali Temple, Mylapoe.

(Brief outlines of the fests at other venues will be posted here shortly.)

Priyadarshini Govind, 4 dancers to star on Day One

Dance guru and writer Nandini Ramani is choreographing a new piece for the opening evening at Natyanjali 2012.

Senior dancer Priyadarshini Govind and 4 other dancers are featured in this production which is scheduled soon after the formal inauguration.

The dancers include Bragha Bessel, Sushama Ranganathan, Sreekala Bharath, Manjari and Sailaja.

Former DG of Police in Tamil Nadu, Natarajan and the editor of the Tamil daily, Dinamani, Vaidyanathan have been invited to be the chief guests at the opening ceremony on stage on Feb.20 evening.

Natyanjali Dance Fest from Feb.20 to 24

The famed dance festival at the Lord Nataraja Temple in Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu will be held this year from Feb.20 to 24.

Dancers from across the country are expected to perform here to pay their respect to Lord Nataraja, who is also considered to be the lord of dance.

Sangeet Natak Akademi has been sending troupes from the far corners of India and their recitals here add colour and vibrancy to the fest and also expose rasikas here to the performing arts of other regions.

The most exciting day here is on Day One, Feb.20 this year, the Sivaratri evening when rituals will be held throughout the night and till daybreak inside the temple while dance recitals go on till dawn.

The dance recitals are held on a stage in the eastern, outer yard of this temple and admission is open to all.

If you are travelling to Chidambaram for this fest, ensure you book accommodation in advance since the town has only a few good hotels.

(Updates on the Fest will be posted here in course of time)