Of art and music: Understanding Natyadharmi, a form of stylistic dance
She is an innovative dancer and choreographer, an outstanding deviser of operatta style dance dramas, and winner of many awards from abroad. She has been indoctrinated in the ‘Divine principles of Natyam’ by stalwarts of the world famous institute Kalakshetra, known for its traditional and contemporary arts. She is known other than Mahalakshmi Aswin, founder of Tapas Cultural Foundation Trust which supports and espouses Bhakthi oriented fine arts.
Through Natyadharmi a form of stylistic dance drama. Mahalakshmi introduces upavarnam, a description of a new piece, preceding varnam, as a possible alternative to shabdam or Javali in a repertoire. We are aware that in shabdam (Bharathanatyam) the expressions are introduced for the first time in the reportorial. The sahithyam is usually separated into stanzas and between each, there is a simple korvai. Essentially, the whole item is about one prson and one theme.
The artiste is categorical in stating the upavarnam, a description of a situation, person or scene, is neatly dovetailed with a varnam. This is done so that the entire margam outfit as a story connected with bhava raga or sahithya, and every piece in the sequence doesn’t appear to be a collage of different items. The artist who is also a trained carnatic singer, is emphatic when she says, “it is important to be trained performing artist of caliber, keeping up the academic touch along with practical knowledge of the genre of dance”.
Conveying that she stays within the frameworks of tradition endorsed by Kalakshetra she says “I have five productions to my credit that are choreographed by me – kannan Thiruvilayadal, Lava Kusa,Bhaktha Prahlada, Anadal Thiruppavai and Utsava Prabhandam. It’s certainly evident that she has a natural flair for understanding the structure and strength of the art with her pliable frame and expressive face, which portrays all emotions.
“I look forward to pass on the legacy to the next generation,” she says candidly, adding that she is presently enjoying the fruits of her alma mater. Doubtless, she has been a thorough seeker of knowledge and has taken a vow to impart culture and divinity of the art she learnt at Kalakshetra . Mysenior students like Saisruti, Manasa sriram, and kritka saran trained by Tapas Academy are shining in the firmament ,upholding the tradition of kalakshetra. She concludes by affirming that her relationship with the institution has an unconquerable richness of spirit. She further emphasises the underlying devotion of knowledge, essentially with an unparalleled excellence of inspired teachers. ‘I would sell the entire world’s possession to be a part of this great institution again,” she says.
