Program Schedule for Utsav2004

UTSAV 2004

The closing event at the 4 day long Utsav 2004 is Joyce's Bharatanatyam recital. For the hour and twenty minute long recital, Joyce has the great privilege to have the following accomplished artistes accompany her.

VOCALS - IMMANENI ASHOK

Immaneni Ashok, Ph.D. is highly accomplished in both Engineering as well as Carnatic (South Indian Classical) music fields. He holds doctorate degree in Computer Science from University of Washington, Seattle. In 2003, after working for nine years in the Software field, he decided to dedicate the rest of his life to Music and Yoga. For the last five years Ashok has been experimenting with effective teaching techniques. Ashok's approach to music is holistic and includes development of physical and subtle bodies to enable the music to flow naturally. He employs the use of Hatha Yoga, Breath control techniques, Mantra and Geometric Art in the music curriculum to make the training holistic. Ashok has created the "Sound Laser" program to give opportunity for non-music/non-Indian students to learn and benefit from the powerful sound healing techniques based on Carnatic music.

NATTUVANGAM - SUBHASHINI VIJAY SANTHANAM

Subhashini is an upcoming Bharathanatyam dancer who has had the good fortune of training in the Kalakshetra style under different Gurus primarily in Prasannalaya, Chennai. She had her arangetram in 1988 at the age of 12 and has since continued learning, teaching and performing in Chennai and Delhi. In 1998, Subhashini had the unique opportunity to train under the disciples of Shri. Kittappa Pillai in the Pandanallur style in Tapasya Kala Sampradaya, Chennai. She has also trained under Smt. Rajalakshmi in the Vazhavoor style of Bharatanatyam.

She moved to Seattle in 2000 and has since started her dance school – ‘from within’ and received the Washington State Apprenticeship in 2003 to expand her repertoire under master artiste Dr. Jayanthi Raman, Portland. She is currently working with local schools in the Seattle area to promote knowledge of this art form and describes her attempts as a small way to help bring joy and peace to her audiences, students, co-artists and dance school parents. Subhashini has trained in Carnatic vocal music and also had a short stint in Kathak with Smt. Preeti Ghosh.

MRIDANGAM - GANESH SHANKARANARAYANAN

Ganesh Sankaranarayanan started learning mridangam at the age of ten from the renowned guru Sangita Kala Acharya Sri Kumbakonam Rajappa Iyer in Chennai, India. He has given many performances in Chennai and Chidamabaram before moving to US in 2000. Since then, he has accompanied several artists in US and has played for dance concerts, as well. Ganesh has also learned carnatic vocal music from his mother Smt. Saraswathy Sankaranarayanan and he is currently undergoing training with Dr. Immaneni Ashok. With his knowledge in vocal music, he seeks to provide a sensitive and sahityam-based accompaniment. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in Electrical Engineering at the University of Washington.

VIOLIN - HARI HAMPAPURAM

Hari is a cool guy who loves to play the violin and he refuses to get his picture taken :-)

Program Details

1. NATESHA KOUTVAM [3min]

Ragam - Hamsadhwani Talam - Adi Music composition - TBD Dance choreography - TBD

Natesha Koutvam is a salutation to the Lord of Dance Shiva. A fast brisk paced item, it combines aspects of pure dance that complement the meanings of the lyrics that describe the grandeur of Lord Shiva.

2. VARNAM [35min]

Ragam - Todi Talam - Adi Music composition - Ramaswami Dikshitar Dance choreography - Rukmini Devi Arundale

The word Varnam literally means colours and this item truly showcases the colours of Bharatanatyam. The centerpiece of any Bharatanatyam recital the varnam gives equal emphasis to both pure dance and expressional dance.

In this varnam, the poet beseeches the Lord: "My heart fills with joy when I see your wondrous form. With love in my heart I come to you. Why are you angry with me? I have heard that you once opened your third eye and burnt everything to ashes. Oh Lord, why do you harbour so much anger? You take away the sorrows of the world. Oh Lord Thyagaraja, why do you deny me? Your form is like that of a thousand Manmathas. Little bells on your anklets dance in a divine rhythm. The flower laden arrows pierce my heart and increase my longing for you. How could I at such a time have hidden my love for you? I have brought my sweet memories to place at your holy feet. Oh Lord Shiva, why do you show me such anger?"

MUSICAL INTERLUDE [7min]

3. PADAM - Daaari joochu tsunnadi [10min]

Ragam - Hamir Kalyani Talam - Misra chaap Music composition - TBD Dance choreography - Rukmini Devi Arundale

A completely expressional piece, this item pivots around the lovelorn heroine or vasaka sajjika nayika who adorns herself and waits for her lover. However, the communication to the lover takes place through the dootika or messenger, in this case a friend of the heroine.

The messenger tells the hero: "My young naive friend keeps waiting for you. She peers down the street, looks out of the window, and keeps opening the door. She dolls up, wears silk garments, adorns herself with sandalwood and jasmine flowers, freshens the house with rose water. Since her mind is full of your thoughts, every sound she hears is mistaken for you and she repeatedly adjusts her veil in anticipation. But then, so intense is her love that she is not willing to reveal it to the world.

4. PADAM - Idaivide innum [7min]

Ragam - Saveri Talam - Roopakam Music composition - Sabhapati Iyer Dance choreography - Kalanidhi Narayanan

A timeless piece this poem talk about an emotion that has existed since man became a social animal. Anger and betrayal are the core emotion of this piece and about the cheating hero returning to his lover's house only to be thrown out by her.

5. KEERTANAM [10min]

Ragam - Kedaragoulam Talam - Adi Music composition - Ponnaiya Swami Dance choreography - Shri V.P. Dhananjayan

A keertanam as the name suggests is a song written in praise of a character who in this case is Nataraja or the dancing aspect of Shiva. The poet describes Shiva thus, "When the divine song emanates from him, my heart fills with the joy of sublime knowledge. The deer and the drum dance in his hands; the moon and snake sway in his matter hair; his feet spark across the firmament and his tiger skin loin cloth merge and dance with him in this cosmic dance."