Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre (VPAC) is indeed one of the most prestigious dance academies in Mysuru. Most celebrated and an iconic Bharatanatyam Guru Natyarani Shantala Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, being the Director and the guru, has groomed and educated thousands of students in Vasundhara bani. One of her eminent and talented student Sinchana Lokesh presented her maiden solo dance through Rangapravesham (Arangetram) in the presence of her parents, great Gurus and connoisseurs at Jaganmohan Palace on Mar.9.

Sinchana started off with the traditional Melaprapti in chaturashra jaathi along with a shloka dedicated to Lord Ganesha. The vibrant piece was a combination of intricate adavus in fast pace as well as adding the danseuse’s grace brought out a life in the Sabha marking the beginning of the programme.

Next was the pure dance item Alaripu set to mishra chapu thalam blended with the lyrics of Krishnashtakam to bring out a bit of abhinaya in a usual Nritta item. One could say sinchana had the true blessings of the Goddess while depicting the Kruthi on Goddess Durga — Durga Devi Duritha Nivarini. She portrayed pure strength and nerve as the Goddess in the sanchari bhavas of Mahishasura Mardini.

She also dedicated three items in her recital to the spiritual head of JSS, Jagadguru Sri Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji of Suttur Mutt. They were the Varnam, Guru Kauthvam and a Vachana.

In the most intricate and elaborate dance piece, Varnam set in raga Shanmukhapriya and aditaalam which had the vivid Karanas and Angaharas or the Tandava of none other than the cosmic dancer Lord Nataraja.

The varnam tests the strength of a dancer and her expertise in abhinaya. In the sanchari bhavas, there were the stories of Shiva taking the form of Nataraja in thillai, Anandatandava in Kanaka Sabha, Navarasa of Shiva, Bhasmasura Vadam and many more.

Immense stamina and grip to bring out all the extreme postures of Shiva, swiftly moving to abhinaya was commendable.

The beauty of her abhinaya came out in eminent form in the second half of the varnam in the sanchari of ardhanarishwara. She finished the dance item of almost 55 minutes with full grace.

The Guru Kauthvam was the next piece. And then was the famous vachana by Basavanna — Chakorange chandramana chinthe… The bhakti rasa for those 12 minutes filled the auditorium through the young artiste. Then a joyful dance depicting the childhood days of Lord Krishna, it was the devaranama ‘Pillangoviya cheluva Krishna’ by Purandaradasa, Sinchana’s manifestation as little Krishna and Yashoda, both simultaneously, made all the audience to travel back to the days of Krishna’s childhood and his mother Yashoda searching for her naughty son amid the gopals, saints and gopikas.

She concluded her programme with a Tillana which had the lyrics dedicated to Goddess Sarawathi and the mangalam. The programme came to a merry conclusion and presented a budding artiste to the industry of art with such potent talent putting her best step forward in her journey.

The musical accompaniment by veterans like Dr. Vasundhara on nattuvanga, Deepthi Srinath on vocal, Vid. Hanumantharaju on mridanga, Vid. Pradeshacharya on violin, Vid. Rakesh Sudhir on flute and Vinya Rangadhol on rhythm pad added more grandeur and elevated the overall programme.

By Devanaampriya