HYDERABAD: T he city of Hyderabad was graced by dancer Bhavana Gowri Penubolu’s presence for her mesmerising dance recital recently. The event was organised at the Shilparamam Ampitheater. The function was inaugurated by Bharatnatyam dancer couple Chetan Gangatkar and Chandraprabha Chetan. Bhavana’s recital was so alluring that people from all around the city had come to witness her in action. Her performance was followed by Kathak Dancer Ashitha Rajeshkumar and Ranju Praveena, who excelled in Kuchipudi. Under the open air ampitheater, the dancers had truly put a trance with their amazing dance routines.
Bhavana is currently working as a dance teacher and performing artiste with the Padmini Ravi Dance Academy in Bangalorhad. She has gained a lot of knowledge and skills by studying under teachers like Prabin Villareesh, Guru Padmini Ravi and Guru Rajeshwari Sainath. Her sole focus is on the presentation of new movement vocabulary in Bharatnatyam – an experience of ‘Poetry in Motion’.
While completing her diploma in Movement Arts from Attakkalari, she was also training in other movement arts like Capoera, Ballet, Kalaripayattu, Chau, Contemporary Dance and folk theatre. She had also dedicated her time working for her alma mater, Christ University by heading the Culturals and producing a piece for the University Dance Day – Nritta 2016.
She had to direct and coordinate a team of 100 dancers. Bhavana has also done her bit in theme based ballets under the guidance of her guru Rajeshwari Sainath. The shows have been staged all over India at different venues and festivals. Along with her plethora of talents, Bhavana is also a skilled yoga practitioner and a contemporary dancer.
She was clearly the star of the evening as she opened her segment with a pushpanjali dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Her movements were so nimble and her posture stark and correct. With the setting sun, and the multitude of hues that the sky turned into, Bhavana looked no lesser than an apsara.
Followed by her pushpanjali, she proceeded to draw the audience more as she performed a part from ‘Verna’ and then finishing off with an ‘ Abhang’, a Marathi devotional dance. Her charm and grace were high among the talks of the audience long after the recital was over. We wish to see Bhavana more, hoping to be entranced again with her dance.