Past to the Present

“Let the children surprise you,” says Kaushalya Reddy of the 30-odd students from the Reddy’s Natya Tarangini who will present five pieces at the India Habitat Centre on May 4. Among the highlights will be a critically acclaimed piece that Radha Reddy had choreographed on a Tarana that sitar maestro Pt Ravi Shankar had gifted on her 72nd birthday.

Narayan’s school,called Asavari,has been holding performances by students for the past 20 years “but I still look nervous at every show,” she says wryly. This year,there will be 60 students,from eight-year-olds grappling with complicated nuances to graceful 20-somethings who have already performed professionally in the past. The festival will be held at the Ashoka hotel on May 3.

Geeta Chandran presents the Natya Vriksha Dance Festival,a platform for young dancers. “The space for young artists is shrinking and Natya Vriksha has been resolutely showcasing their efforts,” says Rajiv Chandran. The two-day festival began on May 2 and featured a Bharatanatyam performance by Ragini Chander Shekar,followed by a Kuchipudi recital by Arunima Kumar. Jayaprabha Menon will present Mohiniattam today,before Vidha Lal takes the stage with Kathak. Entry to all performances is free.