A mesmeric display of Bharatnatyam

Entering onto stage to perform is the cherished dream of any artiste. Guru-Shishya Parampara is the only way to learn classical dance or music. Kolpotoru guru Amit Chowdhury's eight disciples -- Aviya Khan, Parisa Omar, Tahsin Saba Turshi, Shuddha Srimoyee Das, Anishta Khan, Zuairiyah Mouli, Shammy Akter and Sankari Mridha -- got baptised on stage through Rongoprobesh 2015 at Chhayanaut's main auditorium on July 24. The two-day (July 24-25) Bharatnatyam Festival ended yesterday.

It was drizzling all day, yet the auditorium was full to the brim with dance connoisseurs. The talented artistes set off the event with performing Ganesh Bandana.  They mesmerised the audience with five more scintillating performances titled – “Tisrah Gati Alaripu”, “Jatishwaram”, “Shabdam”, “Natarajan”, “Pranavakaram”, and “Thillana”. Among the featured performances, the dancers were riveting in the parts -- Jatishwaram, Natarajan and Thillana.

The dancers showcased the unity of music, rhythm and movements through their performance of Jatishwaram, set on Raga Saveri and Tala Rupaka. Natarajan, choreographed by Guru Khogendranath Barman, described how Lord Shiva took the form of Nataraja and performed the famous tandava or the dance of destruction.  Thillana stands for expression of joy, dynamism and creativity in Bharatnatyam. The artistes blissfully performed the piece based on Raga Bashant and Tala Adi.

What made the dance display more riveting was accompaniment of live Carnatic music by four Indian artistes -- Rajdeep Banerjee (nattuvangam), Sukumar Kutti (vocalist), N Shankar (mridangam) and Satyavishal (violin). The dancers' fantastically synchronised entering onto stage and exiting were fascinating. The stage, set and light was marvelous too. The organisers placed a metal sculpture of Nataraja on a nicely designed set.  

Following the performances, Lubna Mariam, the director of Kolpotoru, conducted Arangetram (formal convocation ceremony) at the venue where Begum Akhtari Momtaz, acting secretary of Cultural Affairs Ministry, delivered an inspiring speech, pouring blessings to the baptized artistes. She also distributed certificates among them. Little angels of the troupe presented bouquets to the featured artistes while the dancers adorned their mothers' bun with bouquets.