This Swan Wears Ghunghroos

The Black Swan is dancing her way to Delhi. As are the beautiful Odette and Siegfried the good protagonists of Pyotr Tchaikovskys Swan Lake.

The Black Swan is dancing her way to Delhi. As are the beautiful Odette and Siegfried the good protagonists of Pyotr Tchaikovskys Swan Lake. In a rare initiative,this tale of good vs evil will play out in Kathak,Classical Jazz dance and Flamenco this evening at Azad Bhavan. Titled Swan Lake Revisited,the show is being presented by ICCR.

Almost five years ago,we realised that there was a lot in common between Classical Jazz dance and Kathak. The similarities in postures,presentation,style and attitude are uncanny, says Kolkata-based Kathak dancer Mithul Sengupta who got together with Classical Jazz dancer Ronnie Shambik Ghose to explore the common points of these dances through Swan Lake. Adding Flamenco steps is French choreographer,Gianin Loringett,whose son Yorma plays Prince Siegfried.

Swan Lake has the elements of modern social life as well. There are characters you will recognise from todays world, says Gianin. Hence,Swan Lake Revisited is set in a coffee shop instead of a 19th century ballroom to place it in a modern context. Love,passion,jealousy and greed,the main themes of Swan Lake,are true in todays society as well, explains Sengupta,who will play the dual roles of Princess Odette and Odile. Natalie Portman had played this role in 2011s Oscar winning film Black Swan.

In the classical ballet,Princess Odette has been transformed into a swan by an evil sorcerer. Only if a young man proves his eternal love for her,can this spell be broken. Prince Siegfried vows his everlasting love,but is seduced by Odile,in the disguise of Odette.

Sengupta is excited about the similarities between the dance forms in the production. The influence of Kathak on Classical Jazz dance is expressed best in scene six,which is an intense question-and-answer session between Odile (the Kathak dancer) and Seigfried (the tap dancer). This is where the mix between the two dance forms seems to be at its peak, explains Gianin.

Swan Lake Revisted will be performed today at Azad, Bhwan. Contact: 9811423444

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This Swan Wears Ghunghroos

The Black Swan is dancing her way to Delhi. As are the beautiful Odette and Siegfried  the good protagonists of Pyotr Tchaikovskys Swan Lake.

The Black Swan is dancing her way to Delhi. As are the beautiful Odette and Siegfried the good protagonists of Pyotr Tchaikovskys Swan Lake.