Bharathanatyam by Layakshethra Dance Academy enthrals audience at music festival

The students of Bala Nandakumar (Jatayu Moksham fame) of the Layakshethra Dance Academy presented a colourful bharathanatyam at the Lakshmi Sundaram Hall on the seventh day of the 74th anniversary celebrations, music and arts festival of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Samajam.

They commenced with Pushpanjali in raga gambira nattai, an invocatory dance and sought the blessings of the Almighty. This was followed by a krithi on lord Ganesha,”Aanai Mugava”, composed by Ambujam Vedantham. 

Then Alarippu in Misrachaapu tal, the traditional rhythmic opening piece (exhibiting the movements of eyes, hands and legs), offering respect to God and audience was performed.

They paid respects to Guru, Sri Sringeri Bharati Tirtha Mahaswami, through “Garuda Gamana Tava” .

Arunagiri Nathar’s Tirupugazh Pathikam on Siruvapuri Murugan was performed in quick succession.

Madurai Sri Muralidharan’s varnam, the main item, in praise of Goddess Meenakshi, in Simhendramadhyamam and Tala Adi, portrayed the incidents that happened during the construction of “Pudu mandapam” through “Maye manamkanindarulvaye,” Goddess Meenakshi’s birth viz.,“ Thaye kadambavanam tanil udittaye malayadhvajan magal”, Mahishasura Samhaaram through “ Thaye mahishasura vadam purindaye “ and the apt recital of Adi Sankaracharya’s “ayi girinandini nanditamedini visvavinodini nandinute (embodying the divine feminine energy)” received applause from the audience.

Other numbers include selected verses from Purandara Daasar (by Praveena Mukundan), a solo presentation of Nivetha Mohan for Ambujam Krishna’s “konjum silamboli ketkudamma” with a Virutam “ Pangayak Kannan Enpom”, came in for appreciation from the rasikas.

Next came the song “Konji konji vaguhane” by Periyasami Tooran, in khamas set to Adi and Andal’s Thirupavai” Chitram chirugale “ were presented with precision by the artists.  The dancers Bhaava, quick changeover for subsequent episodes, blending intricate pure dance (Nritta) with expressive storytelling (Nritya/Abhinaya) was adorable. 

The orchestra consisted of vocal by Archana Praveen, Mridangam by Srigokulnath, Violin by Srichandru, special effects by Harikrishna and flautist Master Sai Sree Krishna, provided the essential melody, rhythm, emotional depth and acted as the dancer’s musical counterpart.

The artists include Akshaya Senthil Kumar, Koushika Vivek, Gayathri.S, Narayani Sankara, Sornalakshmi, Shamvardini R, Selvathiruvasuki, Kavishasri Ramji and Gurulaksha Kannan.

The dance choreography was done by Dr. Bala Nandakumar, Aishwarya Shyam Sundar and Nivetha Mohan, faculty members of Sri Sathguru Sangeetha Vidyalayam College of Music.

In lieu of vocalist Ramakrishnan Murthy, the students of Bala Nandakumar staged the performance.