Shambavi Jagadeesh
| Picture Credit score: Courtesy: Satyajit Dhananjayan
Numerous dancers from totally different elements of the world aspire to carry out in Chennai, however there aren’t sufficient platforms. On this situation, a dance competition for promising children is greater than welcome.
‘Jharna’, curated by Bharata Kalanjali, encourages dancers to strike a stability between upholding conventional values and pushing the boundaries. The road up is determined after a range course of. The dancers need to submit their concepts or ideas and the very best ones make it to the stage. This yr out of 88 functions 12 have been chosen and requested to create new works.
Unfold over six days with two performances on every day, the 2023 version of ‘Jharna’ was held just lately at Bharata Kalanjali auditorium within the Spastic Society Campus, Chennai.
Among the many performers was Shambavi Jagadeesh, who, impressed by saint-poet Akka Mahadevi, had choreographed a bit round a dialog between Ganesha and Parvati. Aside from portraying Ganesha’s playfulness, he’s proven as being upset over his mates physique shaming him. Parvati motivates him to know his strengths and are available to phrases along with his bodily options. There have been parallel references within the narrative to Akka Mahadevi’s life.
Shambavi is a dancer with a powerful stage presence and a capability to precise and talk her concepts with competence. Although the efficiency started on a vibrant observe, her penchant for velocity usually marred the affect. It will be significant for a dancer to take time to determine the characters nicely earlier than elaborating on the thought and story.
That mentioned, Shambavi’s depiction of Akka Mahadevi’s conversations with Chenna Mallikarjuna and her expressions of affection for him, have been captiviting. The thillana made a joyous finale.
Shobhit Ramesh
| Picture Credit score:
Courtesy: Satyajit Dhananjayan
Shobhit Ramesh
The Adi tala, Behag jatiswaram composed by Lalgudi Jayaraman was the opening piece of Shobhit Ramesh’s efficiency. The melodic passages and swara patterns got here by means of within the seamless movement of his actions.
Shobhit explored Sufism in a Thana varnam (raag Jog) that had verses by Amir Khusro, Bulleh Shah and Kabir. A devotee’s quest for peace and happiness was expressed nicely by the dancer. Nevertheless, the jathi interludes generally have been overstretched. The round movement with outstretched fingers just like the Whirling Dervishes was an attention-grabbing inclusion that went nicely with the theme. Shobit might have used this chance to discover this motion in better element, which might have lent an modern contact to the theermanams.
The poem ‘Raah bataye’, the place the moonlight guides souls misplaced in darkness right into a meditative mode earlier than reaching the ultimate state of give up, was danced with sensitivity and depth.
It was heartening to see younger dancers take the time to create their very own work. Regardless of the failings, these concepts can evolve over a time period into f