Seher’s annual ‘Ananya dance festival’ at the excotic purana qila. October 19, 2010

SEHER, one of the premier organizations in the area of performing and visual arts, presents Ananya Dance Festival 2010; its annual five-day classical dance extravaganza at Purana Qila which celebrates the beauty of Indian classical dance forms and focuses on group choreography in particular. The festival begins from October 19, 2010 till October 23, 2010 from 7:00 p.m. to 8:15 p.m. daily. The event is an annual feature by the Govt. of NCT of Delhi and SEHER and held in association with Sahitya Kala Parishad. This year, the festival is even more special as it is part of the Commonwealth Games cultural calendar – Delhi Celebrates!- launched by the Govt of Delhi. The entry to the festival is free.
Sanjeev Bhargava, Founder of Seher & Festival Director of Ananya Dance Festival says: “Ananya is an attempt to revive and popularize our intangible heritage of classical arts among the younger generation. Classical performing art is not only the amalgamation of sweetness, beauty and power of our eternal culture, but it is also a prayer and meditation, attracting divine blessings, happiness and peace of mind. Ananya Dance Festival, now in its ninth year, is one such attempt to showcase Indian classical dance in its pure form, packaged sleekly for the younger generation and first time enthusiasts of Indian culture. With Ananya, we have succeeded in democratizing culture by first taking classical dance into public spaces like monuments and parks, and second, by imparting it a mass appeal. The festival will feature only choreographed group performances to match the colossal size of the venue.”
While one the greatest achievements of Ananya have been to discover budding artistes and establish their indisputable talent, it has also maintained high standards by featuring established seniors to perform at this annual dance fest. With the audience always spilling over into the aisles at the venue and even into the far off lawns at Purana Qila, Ananya Dance festival is a much awaited event on Delhi’s cultural calendar.

The five day extravaganza will feature major classical dances from around India. The performances will include Oddisi recital by Sharmila Biswas (Kolkata),Bharatanatyam by Geeta Chandran (New Delhi), Kathakali by Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kerala), Kathak by Shama Bhate (Pune). It will also include anamalgamation of various dance forms by Justin McCarthy, a Delhi based dancer and choreographer.

On October 19, 2010, the festival opens with Sharmila Biswas, a leading Odissi dancer and choreographer, who is noted for her originality in composition, technique and stage design, her versatility ranges from classical Odissi dance to experimental choreographic work. Sinuous forms, supple limbs and rapt expressions frozen in stone tell of an ancient dance performed in Orissa as far back as the 2nd century BC in sacred ritual to the gods.
Seeking diversity within the framework of traditional Odissi presentation, she will presentAbahani, a four part production, commencing with Abahan. Abahan means to invoke, invite and welcome the divine – a practice common to men of all sects. This will be followed by Gativilas inspired by a Sanskrit verse commonly chanted by the rural Mridangam players of Orissa. The next piece Katha Surpanakha, portrays the many contrasting emotions that exist together in a person. In this presentation, the dancers move away from the grossness of Surpanakha’s appearance and mind, and attempt to create a more convincing character. And finally, Murchhana which uses the Mridangam which has always been one of the most popular percussion instruments of not only Orissa but the entire Eastern India.

On Oct 20, 2010, renowned Bharatanatyam danseuse Geeta Chandran, celebrated not only for her deep and composite understanding of the dance form but also for her choreography, pushes new boundaries to reach out to new, and especially young, audiences. In “Revision”, her presentation for the evening, Geeta Chandran and her Natya Vriksha Dance Company present a selection of classical numbers from the Bharatanatyam repertoire. Since a solo dance is transformed into a group experience, the inter-body connections create new contexts for movement. There is also the context of the space in which the pieces are being performed. The grandeur of the dance has been re-contextualized for the Purana Qila monument.

On October 21, 2010, the veteran Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan will be presenting a Kathakali rendition with his troupe from Kerala. The performance is aboutNarakasuravadham - a story taken from Srimad Bhagavatham composed by Karthika Thirunal Maharaja about Lord Krishna’s vitory over the demon Naraka. Says Guru Balakrishnan: “Deepavali is considered as the day of victory over Naraka by Krishna who was given a grand welcome at Dwarka. So, we considered NARAKASURAVADHAM an apt choice for the Diwali season.”

On October 22, 2010, an amalgamation of various dance forms will be presented by Delhi-based Justin McCarthy and his troupe. Incorporating Chhau, Kathak and Bharatanatyam, Lokaalokam tells of a mythical mountain that divides the visible and invisible worlds. This ensemble dance work explores the multiple but overlapping visualizations of the physical as well as the spiritual in ancient Indian thought.

On the final day of the festival, on October 23, Shama Bhate from Pune will present a Kathak performance with her group. A disciple of Lt. Guru Pt. Rohini ji Bhate, Shama has galvanised the artistic scene with her unique institution Nad-Roop, where the best of Indian creative expression finds its own space. Conceived by Shama Bhate, her presentation PARINATI is an attempt to present the heritage, handed down to us by our ancestors and maestros, and its transformation down the ages. That makes Parinati a spectrum ofbandishes from classical composers – with different musical sensitivity and design, various ragas and talas, and a range of emotions and colours.

Special Highlight: A two day interactive seminar on October 21 and October 22, 2010,with the leading artistes of India. This special feature is designed to get a better understanding of Indian classical dance for the foreign delegates visiting India.
PROGRAMME
Ananya Dance Festival at Purana Qila, New Delhi, from 7 p.m. to 8.15 p.m. daily
October 19, Tuesday: Odissi
Sharmila Biswas & group (Kolkata)
October 20, Wednesday: Bharatanatyam
Geeta Chandran & group (Delhi)
October 21, Thursday: Kathakali
Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan & group (Kerala)
October 22 Friday: Amalgam of dance forms
Justin McCarthy & group (Delhi)
October 23 Saturday: Kathak
Shama Bhate & group (Pune)