Alarmel Valli's Poetry in Motion

Photo: Ridwan Adid Rupon

Vidushi Padmabhushan Alarmel Valli needs little introduction to anyone remotely aware of classical dance as an art form. One of the finest artistes of Bharatnatyam in the world, Valli was the first featured artiste on the second day of the Bengal Classical Music Festival 2013. On stage, the danseuse said she believed that the people of Bangladesh have great understanding of poetry, and her performance would predominantly be poetry based, focusing on Padam and Javali. The former is characterised by small steps, and expresses melancholy and yearning for the beloved. Javali is more upbeat and sensuous, a dance to please the beloved.
Her first presentation was a Surya Vandana, titled “Aditya Namastuviyame”. The sun is considered a symbol of power, beauty and the eternal force of nature. As the presentation -- based on a Sanskrit poem by the great Tamil poet Kambar -- began with Valli offering her pranam to the sun, it was almost like the sun was rising on the rectangular stage, and rays of light were washing over the artiste.
Her second presentation was “Alarulu Kuriyaga”, a Javali-piece written by Annamacharyaga -- a 15th-century Telegu devotional poet, who is said have composed 36,000 sankirtana, one-third of which are now available. In the performance, Valli portrayed a lively, energetic Devi Alamelu Mangai at the best of her youthful beauty trying to win over her lord, Venketeshwara (Vishnu). Her youthful demeanour, swift-footed and excited spring and spinning were absolutely infectious.
Her next presentation was based on a Sangam-era poem -- over 2000 years old, and considered the most ancient of modern, secular poetry. The poem speaks of the psyche of a worried mother looking for her daughter who has eloped with her lover. She meets a holy man in the desert, whom she seeks advice from. Valli portrayed characters of the daughter, mother and the holy man; such multiple-character piece is called 'ekahari' dance, this one in the Padam genre. The artiste was magnificent in her expressions in this piece; the sadness, longing, disbelief and regret of the mother, the daughter's restlessness, intelligence and love were all displayed in fine nuances.
Her final presentation was a “Swaralap”, a Shuddha Nritta on Raga Hamsanadam (the call of the swan). The performance was characterised by Jathi and nimble footwork -- on complicated Jathi (beat count) of tisra (three beats), chathusra (four) and khanda (five).
Dance is poetry in motion. Every posture, if done right, can be like a painting, and Alarmel Valli turned the stage at the Army Stadium into a perfect canvas with her incredible performance, in front of a Dhaka audience who can sure be proud of standing witness to it.

The writer is a Gaudia dancer-scholar, and a disciple of Professor Mahua Mukherhjee.