Expressions of joy

An artist and activist,for Sarukkai,dance is not just a career,rather it is a lifetime occupation. Her journey into classical dance started at an early age. Through years of rigorous practice,she has now found herself one with the art form. “We have convention and grammar,but once we master it,we can create whatever we want,” says Sarukkai. Her passion for classical dance is well writ on her face as she performs,and the thoughts let go of their hold. Emotions are in a freefall as the dancer brings to the audience another realm of reality. “Art heals and this world could use a lot of healing,” she adds.

Another famed dancer,Swapnasundari,has beheld the attention of audiences the world over. A pioneer of temple dancing,she provided an impetus to this ancient dance form. She revived the traditional art of the temple and court dancers of Northern districts of Andhra Pradesh,and adapted it to a concert format for Vilasini Natyam. “Temple dance is performed in rituals of worship and it became a non-existent tradition after 1947. In 1996,I reinstated temple dances in the rituals of worship and have since been performing these every year in the 400-year-old Ranganatha Swamy temple in Hyderabad,” she says.

The dance festival,held for the third year,was organised by city-based Kalavardhini Charitable Trust. Held over two days,November 27 had performances by disciples of Guru Sucheta Chapekar,a noted Bharat Natyam exponent and secretary of the trust. There were also performances by Lalan Desai and Pandit Suresh Tawalkar. On November 28,a symposium was held wherein Malavika Sarukkai,Swapnasundari,Aparna Matange and Jayashree Rajgopalan spoke on issues related to classical dance in present day environment. The veteran dancers then took to the stage in the evening.

Having performed in the city before,Sarukkai says,”The city is rich in terms of music and theatre,but classical dance is yet to reach a zenith in Pune.” Swapnasundari,who spent some years in Pune as a child,finds it to be a “culturally aware city,where Pune-based musicians and dancers are sensitising people towards traditional arts.”