Performing a Bharatanatyam duet is demanding. Both the performers need to be equipped with extraordinary skills and matching expertise. The dancers should be able to connect with each other as well as with the audience.
The Bharatanatyam duet held on Friday at the Ravindra Kalakshetra by Nitash and Bianca ----the Radhakrishna Sisters---was captivating. The show was full of energy. Efficiently and effectively trained in Bharatanatyam by veteran Guru Radha Sridhar, the delightful duo entertained and wowed the audience with music and dance. The interaction between the music and dance components was incredible.
It was graceful and energetic. Nitash and Bianca undoubtedly put their best foot forward at the event. They were subtle, lithe and emphatic. The strong physical charisma, coordination, fluidity, exquisite balance and fleetness of the foot were lauded.
A pure dance(nritta) item Mallari opened the programme. Intricate jathis were translated into a fine dance vocabulary. The sankeerna alarippu showed that their angikas are precise and perfect. Dikshitar’s Sri Mahaganapathe Ravathumam (Gowla) with a shloka prelude was used beautifully to salute Lord Ganesha. The chittaiswaras were used for nimble nritta.
The sisters were truly outstanding. The varna celebrated the ecstatic feeling of being together, of overcoming fear and inhibitions, and learning to trust each other. It was packed with passion, poetry, grace, vitality and dance. Making it a feisty and lively performance, the vintage navaragamalika varna, Saami Ninne Kori Naanu, Tanjore Quartet depicted a virahothkhantitha nayika, who while proclaiming her love for the magnificent Lord Brihadeeswara Shiva of Tanjavur temple, promotes her own case as the ideal match for the Lord. In the lively 30-minute rendition, the sisters’ presentation with varied interpretative elaborations of each musical line and bristling nritta interludes, with stage-filling movements drew instant applause. The entire exposition showed excellent technique and attention to detail without detracting from the artistry. There was total concentration throughout.
After this expansive centrepiece, a popular Marathi composition Ruseela Madhav Ruseeli Radha (Yaman), revolving around an angry Radha and a comforting Krishna with an end result of joyous reunion of the two, was portrayed by Bianca. Baby Krishna’s pranks were endearing in Nitash's abhinaya for a Dasa-pada Kadagola tarenna chinnave.
The musical ensemble led by KRV Pulikeshi(nattuvangam), D S Srivatsa(vocal), Mysore R Dayakar(violin), Narasimhamurthy(flute), Lingaraju(mridanga) and Prasannakumar(morsing etc)complemented the dance.
Excellent tandava Excellent choreography and beautiful costumes were the highlights of this performance.
All four dancers were phenomenal and it was a very well balanced show. The Tandava group comprising talented, seasoned and energetic dancers Ananth Nagaraj, Somasekhar Chudanath, Karthik S Datar and Srinivas Rajendran enthralled the audience. Undoubtedly, the group members are accomplished artistes, who delivered the performance with grace and prowess. The presentation of Thyagaraja’s magnificent krithi Naada tanumanisham set to Chittharanjini raga brimmed with exuberant confidence, synchronicity and fluidity of movement. The piece bewitched dance enthusiasts at ADA Rangamandira.
They explored laya well. Also, their interaction with the mridanga made the nritta of Bharatanatyam more lively. It was a powerful performance by the young dancers.
Grace, agility and stage presence were their plus points. While depicting the traits of Lord Shiva, the quarter won the hearts of the rasikas with their innate abhinaya talent.
They set a fast-paced tone and the dance was filled with strong and intense movements, including jumping, upper body gestures and poses. The way the stage was utilised was not only a visual delight but also elegant. The enthusiasm of the dancers added colour to the evening. The recorded numbers were played beautifully which transported the gathering to a magical world. The delineation of the line sa rig a ma pa da ni, in particular, was remarkable.
Earlier, Shama’s students performed some of the Marga items in groups and impressed the audience with their talent.