BENGALURU:Curator Dr Veena Murthy Vijay, a renowned danseuse, choreographer, director of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Kala Niketan, Guru Kuchipudi and Bharathanatyam, tells City Express that present day dance practitioners need to be educated about different traditional pedagogy.
"The creative lab is a free academic and demonstrative session where Gurus from different dance forms all over India will be teaching on one platform. On 14 April, there will be an interactive lecture demonstration on Basis of Bharathanatyam, " says Dr Veena.
" The next day, the Samanvaya Arts festival, which I have been organising for over 37 years, will have a creative lab session on interrelationship of south Indian classical dance forms, their similarities and influences on each other," she adds.
The demonstrative sessions, including theory, will be particularly be useful to dance practioners believes Murthy, as they can learn from stalwarts of Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Bhagavata Melam, Mohiniyattam and Kathakali.
The performances will be the show stoppers of the entire festival. Dance professionals and poetry lovers must look out for Dr KV Satyanarayana's performance, Dr Veena tells us.
"KV Satyanarayana will be showcasing poetry by Nayakulus (heroines) of Andhra Pradesh, in the form of Kuchipudi choreography. Another interesting innovation is use of Karanas (key transitions) from Natyashastra in Kathak choreography by Nirupama and Rajendra. This is something that has never been done before," Murthy reveals.
The Bharatanatayam dance performances include Lalitha Srinivasan's group and Sridevi Nrutyashala group, dancing to excerpts from Leela Taranga Margam, a thematic presentation choreographed by Sheela Unnikrishnan
Murthy's students will be staging a performance choreographed by her, under Samanvaya dance company, which will be a Kuchipudi reportorie. Karangam, which is a dance balancing pot and plates will also be performed. Murthy maintains that the lab will be the highlight of the festival, providing great value to dance patrons.
The festival will be held at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on April 13 and 14 starting 6:15 pm, with the creative lab on April 14 and 15 from 10 am to 1 pm.