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| Anita Ratnam performs at Gyan Manch |
Sapphire Creations Dance Workshop presented INTERFACE ? the International Festival for Alternative and Contemporary Expressions ? as part of their 10th anniversary from April 18 to 22. The five-day fest organised at various cultural centres across the city was conceived by Sudarshan Chakraborty and Paramita Saha.
The most striking and soul-stirring presentation was Seven Graces, performed and choreographed by Anita Ratnam for Arangham Trust. The solo operatic creation at Gyan Manch depicted Ratnam’s perspectives on Goddess worship and Indian feminism. Using an eclectic array of movements including those from Bharatnatyam, Chinese Wu-Shu martial arts, modern dance and Tibetan Buddhist liturgical dance, the choreographer explored the various manifestations of the Tibetan Buddhist goddess, Tara. The well-researched production reflected the artiste’s imaginative prowess.
The artiste painted a large canvas with different colours to express various emotions. Joy, happiness, optimism and idealism were depicted by yellow while black signified power, mystery, fear and evil. The recitation of jatis by L. Subhashri recreated the rich classical tradition. Lighting by Mithran Devanesen brought out the drama in the production. Anita’s scintillating stage presence made her choreography stark, energetic and smart. It was an open-ended journey towards an unknown space.
Ranan in collaboration with the Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre showcased Rangeeniyan, a choreography executed in kathak style, at Bharatiyam on May 19. Conceived and choreographed by two sensitive dancers, Debasree Bhattacharya and Vikram Iyengar, the production brought together musical genres like ghazal, geet and thumri, evoking the moods of various seasons. Beginning with the restlessness of summer, the presentation moved on to celebrate the advent of monsoon. Dressed in blue and white, the dancers brought to the fore the lyrical mood of the monsoon through graceful and romantic movements. Well-synchronised group compositions and precise footwork were really praiseworthy. The accompanying song, Dhire dhire kali badariya, was simply mesmerising. Love, the predominant emotion of the presentation, blossomed in varied shades, ranging from the joy of togetherness to the pain of separation and the ecstasy of reunion.