MUMBAI: The National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), India’s premier arts and culture institution, presents ‘Myriad Hues of the Margam,’ an evocative dance recital by one of India’s finest Bharatanatyam exponents, Urmila Sathyanarayanan on June 2, 2012, at Dance Theatre Godrej, NCPA.
Exploring the many dimensions and colours of the ‘path’ (margam) – the traditional repertoire in classical dance, Sathyanarayanan begins her Bharatanatyam performance with a Pushpanjali invoking the sun god, Surya. This will be followed by the main item for the evening – a Ragamalika Varnam in Telugu, in praise of Devi. Urmila continues with abhinaya pieces, including a padam and a Tulsidas bhajan. In this unusual padam, the Lord is the customer. The heroine (nayika) tells her friend (sakhi) to enquire about the customer at her door. She wonders if it could be Shiva, Vishnu, or Karthikeya. She instructs her sakhi to let him in only upon ensuring that he meets her demands. The concluding piece is a rare thillana in ragam poorvi, exploring the beauty of the seven notes while comparing it to the seven birds associated with each note.
Amrita Lahiri, Head — Programming (Indian Dance), NCPA, says, “Urmila Sathyanarayanan is a remarkable dancer, highly creative and innovative in her presentation of solo, as well as dance ballets. Over the years, she has gained reputation as a professional and talented artiste. We are delighted to have her perform at the NCPA for Mumbai audiences.”
Urmila Sathyanarayanan is one of the brightest among the new generation of Bharatanatyam dancers and has received rave reviews and critical acclaim for her perfection, joy of dance and her captivating presence. She is also highly praised for her precise footwork; the spontaneity and vivaciousness of her facial expressions; her graceful poses and her deep aramandi (half-sitting position). She is also an astute choreographer and has conceptualised, choreographed and presented close to a dozen choreographies.
Since her debut in 1976, she has been performing extensively across India and other parts of the world. She has received training from eminent masters like K. Dandayudapani Pillai and K.J. Sarasa, and won many prestigious awards such as the Kalaimamani and the Nritya Choodamani.
Sathyanarayanan has also founded ‘Natya Sankalpaa,’ a renowned dance school in Chennai that engages in imparting training to aspiring dancers.
Priced at Rs. 50 per ticket, Myriad Hues of the Margam is sure to be a treat for all dance aficionados. Watch the performance by Urmila Sathyanarayanan unfold on Saturday, June 2, only at the NCPA.
Box Office – May 9 (for Members) and May 12 (for the Public)
Call 66223724/ 66223754 to book tickets.
To use the online booking facility simply log on to the NCPA official website
http://www.ncpamumbai.com/buy-tickets or visit www.bookmyshow.com