Dance, drama, acrobatics: This Bharatanatyam recital had it all

Bharatanatyam

dancer

Vyshnavie Yagnesh

proved why she is a class apart with Nritya Vikasam, a recital that was a spectacular blend of classical dance, traditional martial art form

kalaripayattu

and yoga. Featuring multiple dance pieces by Vyshnavie and her 60 students, the recital was an ode to the genius of Lord

Nataraja

. Through the various pieces, which were choreographed to perfection, Vyshnavie and her troupe also drove home a strong message about gender equality and the need for empowering women.

The tone for the evening was set with a presentation that focused on Lord Shiva’s role as the destroyer and his contribution in ushering in a world of new hope. Set to modern instrumentation comprising medleys by popular classical vocalists, the act, high on technical grandeur, showcased strong footwork, flexibility and acrobatic skills of the troupe.

The performances that followed adhered to the conventional structure of a Bharatanatyam recital. The show began with Pushpanjali, set to Gambhiranata ragam in adi talam, featuring dancers of various age groups, paid a floral tribute to the guru, the rasikas and musicians. The dance act paved way for a jathiswaram in Kalyani ragam where performers timed their adavus and mudras to good aesthetic effect.

The fusion twist to the

tillana

composed by Swathi Thirunal in Dhanushree ragam was a welcome surprise. Vyshnavie and her troupe, with their acrobatic moves and statuesque postures, proved that physical strength can truly enhance the impact of a traditional dance performance.

The finale reinforced the magnanimity of Lord Shiva through a piece set to a Shankar Mahadevan number and a combination of other shlokas. The overwhelmed audience appreciated the dancers with a thunderous applause.

Batting for the girl childWith an interesting item that fused kalaripayattu and yoga, the performers threw light on the cause of the girl child, who is still deemed a burden in some sections of the society. Kalari moves and yoga asanas were used as visual metaphors to show how a woman can be empowered, to become confident, self-sufficient and successful.