Classical and contemporary

SD Sharma

The North-Zone Cultural Centre (NZCC)- Patiala has planned a three-day festival of classical and contemporary dances starting  August 10 at Tagore Theatre, Chandigarh. Disclosing the concept and details of the prestigious mega event, Saubhagya Vardhan maintained that the festival bears special significance as maestros of international eminence will participate in the festival. Here is a schedule of the events.

August 10: Athirathis’ by Anveshana Society for Performing Arts, New Delhi.                    

With thirty years of expertise in dance and choreography the founder director of ASPA, Sangeeta Sharma, will present a blend of Kathakali, Chhau and Kalaripayato. 

The composition Athirathis is based in the Mahabharata. The choreography depicts Karna and Arjuna, the two valiant warriors, both important characters in the great war of Mahabharta. Sangeeta illustrates their  struggle for supremacy through dance movements and mudras which are an amalgamation of Kalaripayatto, Chhau,  Kathak and contemporary dance.

August 11: Namamey Harihara by Asavari Centre of Kathak

The celebrated doyen of Kathak, litterateur, musicologist, philosopher and administrator, Padmashri Shovana Narayan lives the spirit and ethos of Indian spirituality, classicism and artistic excellence. Her prestigious production Namami Harihara is about 100-shows old. The colourful choreography is a laudation to the mythological gods Lord Shiva and Lord Krishna. The composition depicts how Lord Shiva greets Krishna on His birth on the earth.  

August 12: Namamey Gange by Ganesha Natyalya

Padmabhushan Saroja Vaidyanathan, the director and Bhartnatyam guru, is a talented teacher, performer, choreographer and director of international eminence. Her troupe of Ganesha Natyalya has performed worldwide. Her latest choreography Namamye Gange illustrates the story of sacred river Ganga with a contemporary relevance as why it has been worshipped since ancient times and has been the cultural lifeline of the country. The composition brings into focus certain myths associated with Ganga and her waters. Exploring the contemporary relevance of the river in present times, the presentation depicts how men have polluted the river.

At Tagore theatre at 6.30 pm