Bharatanatyam By U V L Ananda

A refreshing vision in turquoise blue floats on to the stage. The slight frame and a serene face that suddenly breaks into a charming smile wouldn't make you think she has tucked away so many years of journalistic experience. Where does she find time to practice dance? U V L Ananda, a copy editor of The Times of India, Hyderabad, presented a Bharatanatyam recital that revealed to you that one always finds time for one's first love.

"It has been a passion right since childhood," says Ananda, speaking of her interest in dance. "But I am performing after a long gap, and I'm a little out of touch." It didn't show. The command over the art form and the dedication have brought her a long way indeed, and while she may not be in the professional league, this winner of many awards as a child artiste has matured into a competent dansuese.

The first half of the program had the slokam 'Yaa kundendu tushara…' followed by Ganapathi Kauvtham, Varnam etc. The tempo was slow and the choice of items could have been better. Swetha, the teenage vocal accompanist, was very good, and carried the whole show on her shoulders with a confidence rare in one so young. Little wonder, though. She is the grand daughter of the late C Nagabhushanam, stage and film actor. Genes!

The intermission saw a briskly conducted 'Sabha'. Dignitaries were brought on to the dais and honored appropriately, but why was the dancer made to sit on the same chairs and honored along with the gurus? Vegirahu Narasimha Rao, President, Navya Nataka Samithi, cleverly avoided giving a speech, stating, "Sometimes silence is more eloquent." Lakshmi, his daughter, conducted the Sabha proceedings with poise and in a respectful manner.

The program continued with a change of costume and tempo. 'Adade Asangade...' was a beautifully executed piece. 'Javali' gave Ananda a chance to show her skill in abhinaya, which was nice and cute, though some of the expressions were more in keeping with the modern times. 'Tillana' was a true Bharatanatyam item, performed with precision and brisk footwork.

Ananda had the staunch support of well-wishers, it seemed. Seema, the gracious lady in white and wife of Anil Kumar, General Manager, The Times Of India, Hyderabad, lit the lamp at the opening. Many peer dancers, VIPs, critics and art lovers came to gauge the girl - would she dance as effectively as she wielded the pen? I think she does the balancing act with aplomb.

SU