Mysuru: While the Mecca of Dance, Chennai, was busy witnessing series of dances in the great season, Mysuru, Medina of Culture, spared no efforts to have an evening of classical dances. Articulate Festival on Sunday, the 17th December, 2017 celebrated the cold season with Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi at the Premier Studios, Jayalakshmipuram, Mysuru. Festival was co-ordinated by Mysore B Nagaraj.

Three Artistes from Nrutyayana Odissi Dance Academy, Smaranika Jena, Debashree Panda and Ankita Arpita Mohanty, invoked Lord Ganesha through the composition “Vakratunda” before elaborating on the Shiva Tatvas through Shiva Panchakshari Stotra. Megha Pallavi and a dance on the presiding deity of Mysore Durga followed. The Odissi dance befitted to be opening act with its measured delicate movement and attractive freezes, apart from its sensual gaits. The three artistes were well synchronised in all the repertoire presented and oozed spiritual fervour.

Bharatanatyam by Nitya Narasimhan included “Shankarabharanam” a dance describing the form and formless aspect of Shiva, The Kshetriah Padam “Chudare” commenting on dalliance of a married women with a man not her husband and “Ranjani Mala” extolling the Godness and greatness of mother Goddess. Nitya Narasimhan’s performance was crisp in her movements and dignified though the padam was full of reference to sensuality.

Somashekar Chudanath and Sowmya Somashekar, Founders of Nirantara School of Dance, joined hands with  Karthik B. Shetty, Akshatha Amin, B.R. Raksha and Anusha Udupa, disciples of Mysore B. Nagaraj of Articulate Dance Studios in presenting Kathak. An ode to Ganesha through the composition “Ganganganapathy” was followed by technical execution of the rhythm in 16 beats and concluded with description of Shiva’s dance responding to the Hara kara sound of the Damaru he played in the item “Damaru Harakara Bhaje.” The group dressed colourfully engaged the attention of the audience with the brhmaris and pada kriyas. Sanjana Prasad began her Bharatanatyam recital with a traditional pushpanjali in raga Nagaswaravali and a kannada composition “Aaduhodale Makkalu” where Krishna complains to his mother about him not included in the games played by other boys of the village. She concluded her performance with a Thillana in raga Sumanesha Ranjani. The performance was neat, unhurried and geometrically precise that the art form demanded.

Spoorthy School of Dance, represented by Suma Rajesh, Priyanka Bhargav, G. Sampada and Rachana Gurudath, presented series of compositions in Bharatanatyam. While “Kapalini” was invoking the cosmic dancer Shiva, “Thanigai Malai” was on Lord Subramanya. A devi stuthi, “Kanjadalayathakshi” written by   Muthuswamy Deekshitar followed before closing the evening with a Meera Bhajan. The entire ensemble of dancers displayed a confident group choreography that made the viewing journey a great joy.

Articulate Festival series 19 closed for the month with a sense of euphoria of watching Indian Classical Dance.