Aayana Dance Firm’s present was a mix of the previous and the brand new

‘Dhruva and Ellige’ had been introduced at Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai
| Photograph Credit score: Courtesy: Aayana Dance Firm

Artistes continually have to reinvent and adapt themselves to the altering sensibilities of the viewers. Aayana Dance firm from Bengaluru has completed so, efficiently.

‘Dhruva and Ellige’ two works conceptualised by Aayana Dance Firm was introduced on the concluding day of the Yagnaraman centenary celebrations at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha.

From the outset, the group packed in sufficient vitality into the efficiency, which was a pleasant mixture of color, gentle, music and motion. It started with a Valmiki Namana and a Vayu pushpanjali in raga Nattai, with a strong imagery of actions to evoke the dynamics of wind. 

Lighting performed an important function within the present.
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: Aayana Dance Firm

Seated underneath two spotlights at both aspect of the stage, two artistes by way of intense abhinaya drew parallel between Hanuman and Tyagaraja — the 2 ardent devotees of Rama. The chosen line was ‘Vegara karuna sagara’. They’re quickly joined by a bunch of dancers and collectively they discover the kriti ‘Vandanamu Raghunandana’. However the fixed presence of a giant group of dancers on stage made for a monotonous viewing. Entries and exits ought to be streamlined in group productions. 

Hanuman Chalisa was noteworthy for the group formations and highly effective footwork. The traces within the Chalisa that talks about preventing concern had been highlighted to apt lighting and make up.

Group formations lent an edge to the choreography
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: Aayana Dance Firm

‘Ellige’, which offers with the essential questions — Who’re we? What are we doing? The place are we going — was divided into three choreographic items. The panchakanyas — Sita, Draupadi, Ahalya, Tara and Mandodari had been explored by way of related stotras addressed to the 5 males by way of a panchajathi alarippu. The dance moved past the narrative to focus girls empowerment. This concept was apparently woven into the alarippu.

The group ended with the mangalam ‘Pavamana’.

Conventional choreographic design was given a recent contact.
| Photograph Credit score:
Courtesy: Aayana Dance Firm

Aayana Dance Firm must be lauded for his or her initiative in increasing the scope of Bharatanatyam by incorporating modern thought. All through the efficiency, lighting design by Surya Rao was an intrinsic a part of the choreography. It confirmed why curators of group productions ought to give equal consideration to each facet. Because of the lighting, watching the presentation was a pleasant expertise.