A rangapravesam that surprised with a mature elegance

Energetic performance delivered with grace — that sums up Salena Chowdri’s rangapravesam. Not faltering once, the 16-year-old held the audience’s attention from the moment she stepped onto stage. A disciple of Kuchipudi exponent Deepika Reddy, Salena began with an invocation, Ganadhipam. She then moved gracefully to the nattuvangam beats by her guru. It was, however, with the ballet depicting Lord Krishna’s life, Veekshekada Devadevam that the young dancer really won over her audience of dance-enthusiasts, socialites and filmy folk, as she moved seamlessly playing the roles of both Yashoda and Krishna.She then followed it with Thakkuvemi Manaku — a Ramadasu keerthana, Nee MaataIe Maayunura — a jaavali by Pattabhiramayya, to finally end with a customary thillana in Dhanasri ragam. And as the curtains fell, thunderous applause greeted her final namaskaram.