Articulate Festival has been successfully satiating  the cultural thirst of Mysuru’s discerning dance art lovers. Hitherto the festival focused on classical dances of India and now ventures into bringing on stage folk traditions that has stood the test of time.

In its first festival of the year focusing on the folk tradition, it brings the Karnataka Janapada culture and a visiting Folk ensemble from the European country Lithuania,  to stage and share their respective traditions.  

What generally gets to be   seen in countrysides and street acts, dance-lovers can watch in the comforts of an auditorium and relish the beauty of the rustic and yet simple arts of people of the earth. This is in collaboration with ICCR, Ministry of Culture and Vidya Vikas Educational Trust, Mysuru.

“Ratilio” ensemble from Lithuania,  Europe, will present folk dances and live folk music, while their Indian counterparts, “Adi Dravida Samskrutika Kala Tanda,” based in Mysuru presents our own Dravida culture.

“Ratilio” Folk Ensemble

Vilnius University Folklore Ensemble “Ratilio” was founded in 1968. The name “Ratilio” occurs in some Lithuanian folk songs and is  derived from the word ‘Ratas,’ meaning “circle, wheel.”

Young people studying various  subjects — Philology, Physics, Medicine, Biology, Mathematics, etc. — take part in the ensembles’ activities.  Songs, dances and round dances are learned from folklore collections and from compatriots met during annual folklore expeditions.                                        

One can listen to ancient musical instrument such as ragai (horns), daudyte, skuduciai (panpipes) and kankles (a type of nine to five-stringed zither). A special part of the programme is formed by the archaic Lithuanian folklore genre of multipart harmonious singing the “sutartine” (included in the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage in 2010).

The ensemble has been awarded a traditional Lithuanian award “Aukso paukšte” in the nomination of the Best Youth Folk Ensemble of 2010.

Adi Dravida Samskrutika Kala Tanda

Sreenivas G. Kappanna is a specialist in theatrical and video productions who has dedicated decades of his lifetime in stage lighting, stage design, play production, presentation of folk and classical forms among others. He  has also served a meritorious stint as Chairman of the Karnataka Nataka Akademi.  

Presently, Kappanna is the Artistic Director of Prasidda Foundation, dedicated to performing arts, and of Bhramari, a creative dance troupe. He has mentored Nagari Manjunath and his group in reviving and presenting folk traditions of Karnataka in particular.  Adi Dravida Samskrutika Kala Tanda will be enacting various dance and music that echoes the spiritual, ritual, religious forms of Karunadu bhoomi.

Articulate Festival-Folk  2018 will be conducted at the Premier Convention Centre, Premier Studios Road, Jayalakshmipuram, on Jan. 16 (Tuesday) at 6 pm. Entry is free, according to a press release from Mysore B. Nagaraj, Festival Coordinator [Mob:9341288391].