Program

The Pushpaanjali is an invocatory dance performed at the beginning of a Bharatanatyam recital. The dancer offers her salutations to Lord Nataraja, the teacher, the musicians, and the audience. This is followed by a sloka, Aindhu Karathanai, a composition in praise of Lord Ganesha. It describes the various attributes of the elephant-faced lord, who is the remover of obstacles and is the son of Shiva and Parvati. 

Next, the dancer presents the Mahaalinga Kavuthuvam, a piece dedicated to Lord Shiva. He confronts angry sages in the Dhaaruka forest, easily grasping the weapons and beings they throw at him such as a deer, axe, tiger, bhoothas, and the demon Muyalaka, successfully conquering them and proving himself the Supreme Lord of the Cosmos.  

The opening piece is concluded with an Alarippu. Alarippu indicates blossoming. It is traditionally performed at the beginning of the recital and has a series of intricate facial, eye, and neck movements. The movements of the Alarippu relax and prepare the dancer's mind and body for the recital.

Lyrics in Tamil: Gangaimuthu Nattuvanaar (Mahalinga Kavuthuvam)

Alarippu composition: Guru C.V. Chandrasekhar

Music: Asha Ramesh (Pushpanjali & Kavuthuvam)

Raagam: Naattai, Kedaaragowla

Taalam: Khandam, Chaturasra Eka

Choreography: Malavika Walia (Pushpaanjali), Mythili Kumar (Kavuthuvam)

The Jatiswaram derives its name from Jatis, drum syllables and Swarams, solfa syllables. The music is characterized by swarams set in varied melodies and rhythmic cycles. Intricate dance patterns are knitted together, depicting nritta — pure abstract dance — in the style of Bharatanatyam.

Composer: Tanjore quartet

Raagam: Hemavathi

Taalam: Misra Chaapu

Choreography: Mythili Kumar

The most elaborate and complex piece in a Bharatanatyam recital, the varnam highlights the best in both nritta (pure abstract dance), and nritya (expressional and interpretive dance). This varnam depicts the anxiety of the heroine, Devaiyanai, while talking to her sakhi, or friend. She is jealous that her husband, the great Lord Muruga, has married another woman, a hunter's daughter named Valli. She begs her sakhi to listen to her as she reveals her secret. She asks, “what trickery did she do to attract him in this manner? So infatuated he was that he forgot his own status and was led astray, neglecting his own duties. What could he have possibly seen in that Valli?" Nevertheless, Devaiyanai is resolved to win back Muruga’s love, saying to her friend, “let him come, I will find a way to win back his love.”

Composer in Tamil: P. V. Subramanian (Subuddu) 

Raagam: Valaji 

Taalam: Aadi 

Choreography: Mythili Kumar 

Verses from the Lalitha Sahasranaamam describing the Universal Mother Goddess are presented. Following this is a composition is in praise of the goddess Kamaakshi, describing her many attributes. She is the lotus-eyed one, the most beautiful of all the three worlds. She has the majestic gait of an elephant, and has gems adorning her delicate feet. She is the mother of  Guruguha, and she is the parrot who resides in the cage inside the heart of Lord Shiva. Oh Kamaakshi, please protect me and remove my miseries! Your face is as bright as the full moon, you are seated in a gemstudded throne, and you are the protector of Manmatha. You sparkle in your golden garments and provide refuge for the devotee. You, whose name can be a single letter or many, are the leader of the universe, who makes happiness flow like a river of nectar. You give lovingly to those who worship you with their full hearts and minds, and you are the consort of Ekamreshwarar in Kanchipuram. 

Lyrics: Lalitha Sahasranaamam from the Brahmaanda Puraanam

Composer in Sanskrit: Muthuswami Dikshitar  (Kanjadalaayathaakshi)

Raagam: Kamalaamanohari

Taalam: Aadi  

Choreography: Malavika Walia 

In this piece, Hanuman joyously addresses Lord Raama upon his return from the search for Sita. “I saw her,” he says, “I saw Mother Sita! I crossed the vast ocean to the golden, glittering city of Lanka and there, I saw Mother Sita, sitting under a tree in the Ashoka gardens pining away for you. On her lotus-like eyes, your form was all she could see, and on her coral lips, your name was all she could utter! Oh Raaghava, how can I relay the state she is in? I saw her, Raaghava, I really did!”

Lyrics in Tamil: Arunaacala Kaviraayar from Raama Naataka Keerthanam

Music: Asha Ramesh

Raagam: Pantuvaraali

Taalam: Rupakam

Choreography: Mythili Kumar

In this piece, a gopi complains and shares stories about young Krishna to her friend. “Such a naughty little boy he is,” she says, “and all of the women of Gokul always suffer at his hands. Have you ever seen such mischief, like the many ways he teases us?”

Krishna torments the gopi, pulling her sari, breaking into her house and eating her butter, eating a fruit he gave and then stole back from her, giving a beautiful flower she wanted to her friend, pulling her hair, throwing dust on her new sari, and putting ants in her mouth as she is listening to his music.

Lyrics in Tamil: Subrahmanya Bhaaratiyaar 

Music: K. S. Raghunathan

Raagam: Raagamaalika

Taalam: Khanda Nadai Aadi

Choreography: Mythili Kumar

The Thillana is a joyous finale in a dance recital. Precise, rhythmic patterns and sculpturesque poses are presented with grace and fluidity. Sanskrit verses in praise of the goddess Ganga are presented to depict her story. Ganga arose from the Himalayas and flows through the city of Kashi, blessing all who worship her with flowers and lamps.

Composer: Balamurali Krishna (Thillana)

Raagam: Brindavani, Taalam: Adi 

Choreography: Mythili Kumar