Pune Awaits Dancer Ananda’s ‘Tales from the Bull and the Tiger’

PUNE:
Widely hailed for its riveting choreography that is a lesson in precision and aesthetics, Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant’s power-packed production featuring Bharatanatyam with elements of Kuchipudi will be staged at scenic Kolwan in this district on Friday.

The 82-minute ‘Tales from the Bull and the Tiger’ retells the stories of lord Shiva and Parvathi, as told by the godly couple’s vahanas Nandi and Simha. Brilliantly employing the two classical south Indian dances, the Padma Shri awardee brings to life centuries of knowledge, wisdom, philosophy, poetry and music.

“So what are these tales? How do the narratives progress? It’s all there as you watch it,” says the Hyderabad-based exponent, about her recent production that is to be staged by a vibrant ensemble cast of 20 dancers at Sudharma Auditorium of the Chinmaya Vibhooti Ashram, 40 km west of this city, on February 7 at 6.30 pm. Well-known Bangalorean dancer Mithun Shyam leads, as a guest artist in this acclaimed production.

Choreographed by the danseuse herself, ‘Tales from the Bull and the Tiger’ has its musical soundscape composed by Sathiraju Venumadhav, and I V Renukaprasad. Costumes are by renowned designer, Ganesh Nallari, lights by National awardee Gyandev Singh, digital design by young creative artist Gunjan Ashtaputre and voice by Jayant Dwarkanath.

Dr Ananda, is the Artistic Director of Shankarananda Kalakshetra, a renowned institution for Arts in Hyderabad, with 26 path-breaking dance productions to its credit and performances across five continents. “This week, it is indeed a blessing to perform at the sacred space of the Chinamaya Naada Bindu,” says Ananda. “I am so honoured to be back at this festival, having performed here for the very first edition a decade ago!”

Dr Ananda, who is an alumnus of Chennai’s Kalakshetra, is also a recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar (2009). A sought-after motivational speaker who actively engages with young India on a wide range of topics, Ananda has been an invited to leading corporate entities, leadership programs, hospitals, universities and schools.

The February 7-9 ‘Naada Bindu’, presented by the Chinmaya Naada Bindu Gurukula, has grown to become one of India’s noted performing arts festivals, this time commemorating the birth centennial of renowned classical sitarist Pt Ravi Shankar. Bhajan Sopori (santoor), Pt Ulhas Kashalkar (Hindustani vocal) and Carnatic violinist A Kanyakumari accompanied by Patri Satish (mridangam) and Pt Abhijit Banerjee (tabla), besides a specially-created dance offering by Ramaa Bharadwaj, are the other, renowned artistes performing at this festival.

There will also be art conversations on music and its effects, and a musical discourse by Vedanta master Swami Tejomayananda.
Registration is via http://bit.ly/NBF2020
Further details can be obtained by calling +91 7720829000 | +91 7720839000 or writing to nbf@cvv.ac.in