New Delhi: The Indian mythological tale of the birth of the North Star (Dhruv tara) will be retold in a German dance-drama through the unique medium of the performing art form of eurythmy on January 29 here.
Organised by city-based Aarambh Waldorf School in collaboration with Zorba the Buddha, an eco-village, the show will see a group of Swiss eurythmists performing the unique art form.
Pioneered by Austrian philosopher and social reformer Rudolf Steiner in the early 20th century, eurythmy is an expressive movement art that uses the human body for its expression.
The form of movement also finds use in the fields of education and medicine where it is believed to enhance coordination and strengthen the ability to listen.
"Eurythmy is an art of movement which can be described as visible speech and visible music. Besides, being a performing art, eurythmy is taught in Waldorf Schools for better balance, co-ordination and concentration. Therapeutic eurythmy as part of anthroposophic medicine is also used in healing," Aban Bana, President, Anthroposophical Society, India said.
The production by Light Eurythmy Ensemble titled, "Bhakta Dhruva" will depict the story of how the North Star came about, while analysing the gradually evolving relationship between human beings and stars.
Dance dramas involving the art of eurythmy usually have major references to nature. According to Steiner, its purpose is "to awaken and strengthen the expressive capacities of children through movement and stimulating the child to bring imagination, ideation and conceptualisation to the point where they can manifest these as vital, moving forms in physical space."
The Swiss team of eurythmists will present the tale of "Bhakta Dhruva" in brand new costumes, enhanced and moulded by the artistic means of eurythmy, interspersed with music composed especially for this form of art.
The central musical instrument used in such acts is piano, in the absence of which the performers usually use an e-piano.
Other attractions of the evening will include a more serious dramatic act with musical compositions concluding with a humorous act titled, "Mr Spoon and Mrs Fork" which will include limericks that characterise the four temperaments of human nature.
