Vadhini Indian Arts Academy presents Nritya Alankaaram – uplifting the soul through dance at Artscape next month.
Nritya means the expressive element of the classical art forms of India – the application of physical movements in conjunction with the mind and soul. Alankaaram is to adorn or beautify. So, Nritya Alankaaram means to beautify and so uplift the soul through dance.
The Athlone school of classical Indian arts will this year feature not only their bharatanatyam dancers, but also dancers in the kathak style. Darshana Rama, the school principal, said their academy is home to as many of the classical arts as they can sustain, so they are happy to start on this journey to bring kathak into their repertoire.
They will be joined on staged by Manesh Maharaj, one of South Africa’s most skilled kathak dancers, who has been teaching their students the dance form.
He will perform a solo and alongside some of the dancers who are becoming proficient in the dance.
Rama says that even audience members unfamiliar with classical Indian dance forms will be able to point out obvious differences between the two forms, since one is from the north of India and the other from the south, so different costumes are used.
“You also pick it up in the motions,” she said. The kathak dance form traces its roots to the north of India, with the form today still containing traces of temple and ritual dances. “So, the Brahmins who performed kathak – the word comes from kathakar, the storyteller – they’d tell the stories,” said Rama.
Bharatanatyam draws its influences from the south and is known for its grace, tenderness and expression and is typified by sculpturesque poses.
The dancers will in one of the dances incorporate both styles – “it’s a bit more of a humourous dance, a conversation,” said Rama. Altogether 18 dancers will perform on the night.
All proceeds from their first performance will go towards the new Open Door Centre in Ocean View, an initiative that provides a safe haven for abused women and children. The academy is supporting this particular charity in conjunction with The Rotary Club Cape of Good Hope.
“You have to be soulful to be an artist and you need to connect with humanity and find avenues for your art.
“Part of being uplifting is that people can come and watch you, but we thought, ‘what about the people who can’t come and watch you, you have to find a way to help them’. “If we get the opportunity, it is something we would like to repeat if we can,” said Rama.
• Nritya Alankaaram – uplifting the soul through dance runs at the Artscape Theatre from April 9 to 11 at 7.30pm. Tickets: R120 from Computicket or Artscape Dial-a-Seat at 021 421 7695.