The ancient temple dance art of South India was offered in devotional
ritual as a part of worship. It mapped the human heart through
exploring the dynamics of vipralambha (separation from) and
sambhoga (union) with the Divine. Falling into colonial disgrace under
the British, the dance was revived in the 20th century and flowered into
neo-classical splendour through generations of contemporary Indian
dancers.
Introduced by: Shobhana
• Nataraja Tandavarn - Malavika Sarukkai
• Tevararn and java/i - Lakshmi Vishwanathan
• Navarasa - Leela Samson
• Tiruppugazh - Shanta Dhananjayan and VP Dhananjayan
• Ti/lana - Alarmel Valli
• Ashlapadi - Yamini Krishnamurthy
• Ashtapadi - Kalanidhi Narayanan
• Pavai Nonbu - Choreographed by Dr. Padma Subramanium
• Nauka Charitarn - Choreographed by Rhadha
KATHAK (Available on VCD)
The exciting meld of a folk tradition of dance-drama in the ‘Krishna
Belt’ of Brijbhumi in North India with the court dancing favoured by
later Muslim rulers, Kathak (literally the Dance of the Storyteller) is
renowned for its rhythmic virtuosity.
Introduced by: Pt. Birju Maharaj