Kochi to experience bible based Bharatanatyam

US-based Jinoo Varghese is directing Kerala’s first Bible-based Bharatanatyam performance which will be held in Kochi
The students during the rehearsal of Bible Margam | K Shijith
The students during the rehearsal of Bible Margam | K Shijith

KOCHI: Eight years ago, US-based IT professional Jinoo Varghese quit her high-paying job to follow her first love, dance. She started the Soorya School of Dance in Chicago to encourage youngsters to learn classical dance. Since most children who grew up in the US are not familiar with Indian mythologies, Jinoo had to innovate. She taught them various dance forms with the help of stories they were most familiar with. This led to the inception of the ‘Bible Margam’, a Bible-based bharatanatyam performance which brings stories in the Old and New Testaments to life. The event, which is being brought to Kochi for the first time, will be performed by 11 US-based Indian students on July 21 and 22.

Jinoo Varghese
Jinoo Varghese

“I have always believed that bharatnatyam is a a dance form that is based on story-telling. It is not constricted to any religion. I think I made a conscious effort in this regard. We have performed this event at various stages in the US. However, this is the first time, I am bringing it to Kerala,” she said.
Jinoo said, the performance will be presented through Margam, a traditional bharatanatyam repertoire consisting of several dance items. Stuthi will be based on the book of Genesis where the artists will perform the story of the creator and the creation. Varnam, which will be the longest item in the event, will tell the story of the Israelites’ exodus through the Red Sea. It will also loosely revolve around the 10 commandments.The birth of Jesus Christ and the two miracles that he performed and his crucifixion forms the crux of Keerthanam.

The Padam is quite complex in its solo treatment where the artist will take you through the various emotions of Mother Mary as she sees her son crucified on the cross and remembers the various stages of his life. She faces the pain with hope to see him again after three days.  
Thillana is a celebration of the  resurrection. The show will conclude with the Mangalam which will be generally a praise to the creator. The programme will extend upto one hour and 30 minutes and will be performed at the Changampuzha Park and Girinagar.

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