19
Sep 2024
6:30 PM to 8:00 PM
Uncovering Urban Legacies: Stories of Bombay's Precincts - Mazagon
Coomaraswamy Hall, CSMVS, Mumbai - 400001
Travel back in time to the Treta Yug to witness the Ramayana unfold in Lanka. Unmasked is a dance-theater dramedy, that takes the audience on a unique journey through the eyes of some, often overlooked yet, pivotal characters of the Ramayana, leaving one to question age-old definitions of good and evil.
The production has been directed by critically acclaimed Bharatanatyam artiste and choreographer, Jyotsna Shourie and produced by dancer-producer Aneesha Grover. The music has been created by award-winning composer Daniel B George and vocals by Carnatic maestro OS Arun.
The production is a mélange of Bharatanatyam and contemporary dance, comedy and theater, mythology and fiction. This is a unique production you don’t want to miss!
Jyotsna Shourie is an internationally celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher and choreographer, who has remained committed to the art form for over 6 decades. Shourie has been known to push the boundaries of classical dance, and has conceived several critically acclaimed dance productions that have been well received in all corners of the world.
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Nandita is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher known for her technique, poise and rhythm. Having performed all around the world since she was a young girl, Nandita has a stage presence that captivates audiences. An award winning performer, she has won international awards such as “outstanding dancer at the New Prague Dance festival” in Czech Republic. Nandita is now training students to learn the complex art of Bharatanatyam and is known for her unique and experimental approach to teaching. An accomplished interior designer, her creative endeavours span multiple disciples.
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Aneesha Grover, is a New Delhi based Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher known for her grace and agility. She has been performing internationally since the age of 8, and has the privilege to be invited to perform at distinguished venues around the world. Aneesha also produces, writes and choreographs for Jyotsna Shourie Dance Company’s productions. A storyteller at heart, Aneesha’s creative trajectory has been dynamic as she has spearheaded award winning television campaigns. She has won over 13 international awards including two GOLDS at the New York Film and TV awards.
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Amrita Sivakumar is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher from New Delhi. A post- graduate from Rukmini Devi Arundale's 'Kalakshetra', Amrita has had the privilege of performing, choreographing and teaching Bharatanatyam for the past 13 years. Amrita Sivakumar is the HOD of Performing Arts Department in a full time school, and runs her own Bharatanatyam dance school "Kalamrita - School of Bharatanatyam" in Dwarka, New Delhi. Her motivation has always been to pass on the knowledge of Bharatanatyam to future generations.
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Himanshu Srivastava is an established Bharatanatyam dancer based in Delhi. Known for his unique choreographic vision alongwith his command over ancient Indian texts and scriptures mythology , gives a new dimension to his presentations. A recipient of Ministry of Culture fellowship 2013-14 & state fellowship Sahitya kala Parishad 2022 , he has many wards and accolades to his name. He has been representing Bharatanatyam dance form both India and abroad.
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Benjamin Jacob, is a renowned contemporary artist from Delhi. He spent his early years of training under the guidance of Ashley Lobo. In 2017 and 2019 he received a scholarship to study dance in Germany and London under the mentorship of some of the finest teachers in Europe. He has over a decade of experience in performing, teaching and choreography composition. He is also the artist director of Jacob’s Dance Company which was set up in 2020.
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Reuben Israel is a renowned theater and TV personality. Known for his performances in Yerma, Metamorphoses, Mamma Mia, People like us, he has worked with stalwarts such as Feisal Alkazi and Kusum Haider. Israel made his Bollywood debut with the film Highway in 2014 and has been a regular on platforms such as Netflix and Star since then.
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Dhruv Raj Gupta, 32 has been acting since he was 11, and holds a grade 8 certification from the Trinity Guildhall college, London, in Speech and Drama. He has performed in over 22 different productions at the leading venues in New Delhi. He also successfully ran a production house, At Rise Productions, taking 8 productions to stage from 2010 to 2014.
Read moreIndian Classical Dance
Natya Shastra is regarded as the sacred text in Sanskrit for all performing art forms. The art forms are classified into three major categories Nritta, Nrtiya, and Natya according to the Natya Shastra. ‘Indian classical dance’ is the broader term used together for eight other dance forms originating from the Natya Shastra. Technique and style are the most significant elements of every classical dance form. These dance forms aim to depict ‘Rasanubhuti’ comprising of nine emotions called Raudra, Bhayanaka, Sringara, Veera, Hasya, Karuna, Adbhuta, Bibhatsa, and Shanta. The different classical dance forms include Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Mohiniyattam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Sattriya, and Manipuri.
Bharatanatyam
The term Bharatanatyam is a combination of ‘Bha’ from Bhava which means emotions, ‘Ra’from Raga meaning musical notes, ‘Ta’ from Taal meaning Rhythm, and Natyam is the Sanskrit word for Drama. Bharatanatyam traces its lineage to the Devadasi tradition and dance form called ‘Sadir Attam’ popular in the Temples of South India. The history of the origin, techniques, mudras, and body movements involved in the dance form is based on Abhinaya Darpana, written by Nandikeswara. This dance form is based on Tandava and Lasaya mentioned in the Natyashastra. The two main elements of Bharatanatyam are Nritta which involves pure dance and rigorous footwork and Nritya, a combination of footwork with abhinaya meaning to express.
Banis of
Bharatnatyam
Banis is the term used for various styles of Bharatnatyam. These styles emerged as the dance traveled from the cultural center of Tanjavur to other places in South India. Every Guru/teacher modified and altered the art form in a unique way creating multiple styles of dance. The Tanjavur Style is one of the oldest bani styles with the Gurus being descendants of the Tanjore Quartette, Pandanallur Style is attributed to Guru Minakshisundaram Pillai and the name is derived from the name of the village Pandalanur in Thanjavur where she resided, Vazhavur Style focuses on the concept of Lasya and the Srirangara rasa founded by Ramiah Pillai, Kalakshetra Style focuses on the Abhinaya style and was created by the founder of Kalakshetra Institute in Chennai, Rukmini Devi, and Mellatur Style are various Banis of Bharatnatyam.
Ramayana
Ramayana is India’s most well know epic greatly influencing the art and culture of the Indian subcontinent and South East Asia. It comprises 24000 couplets divided into seven books composed in Sanskrit by the sage Valmiki in roughly around 500BCE to 100 BCE. The story of Rama, the hero in the Ramayana epic, an incarnation of the God Vishnu has been transformed into various poetic and dramatic versions by various authors and we also see its representation in sculptures of the temple walls. Dance-dramas, village theatre traditions, shadow-puppet theatre, and the annual Ramlila performance across the country use the story of Ramayana as the primary script.
