Being a regular visitor to India, I was very much looking forward To Malavika Sarukkai’s Bharatanatyam Solo inspired by the river Gangees. On stage left were siting four musicians , Neela Sukhanya providing Nattuvangam – playing two cymbals of different metal alloys, Murali Parthasarathy on Vocals, M.S.Sukhi on percussion and Srilakshmi Venkataramani on Violin. The musicians played a haunting melody as the lights dimmed and we prepared for the dance. We heard Malavika before we saw her, heard the tinker and clash of the bells around her feet that would prove a constant reminder of the tinkering of the River Ganges on which the pieces were based.
Malavika spoke to us, in that beautiful way that only Indian English can achieve, about the themes and inspirations present in each dance piece before she danced them – talking about “Liquid Harmonies” and the interplay of young lovers as they met on the rivers banks. These English introductions gave a taste of what imagine was some beautiful poetry sang over the music as she danced, which, alas, was not in English.
As the dances commenced I was struck by the control and efficiency with which Malavika moved, recreating turns and meanderings of the river Gangees from the roll of her shoulders and the flex of a wrist, which, combined with some beautiful lighting and the constant mouth watering music made for a truly beautiful performance.
My only reservation was that at times the pieces felt quite repetitive which I fully admit could be down to my lack of experience with the Bharatanatyam style and it’s subtle intricacies, and indeed not being able to understand the poetry being performed over the dance, a fact that made me want to run to India and take every language lesson going. By the end of the night the audience was mesmerised and after an hour and forty-five of non-stop gorgeous dancing, Malavika received a well deserved standing ovation.
Joseph Coelho
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