Nightingale - A Dance Ballet By Bharat Sharma

Nightingale, a choreographic tribute to Sarojini Naidu based on her book Golden Threshold, is being presented by the Sarojini Naidu School of Performing Arts, Visual Arts And Communication, University Of Hyderabad, on 30th October, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, King Koti.

Sarojini Naidu was an artist, social commentator and astute politician who identified her destiny with that of a free India. She was christened the 'Nightingale' by Mahatma Gandhi for her eloquent voice and poetry.

Golden Threshold is a collection of poetry written by Sarojini Naidu that was first published in 1905. In her anthology, she reflects upon the cosmopolitan nature of Hyderabad and the city’s heritage; the progressive leadership of the Nizam; people from different walks of life; dancers and singers; love, death, ill-health and motherhood; an emergent India; myth and religious diversity; and her inner world as a sensitive woman.

Choreography by Bharat Sharma, the ballet is based on this book, and combines movement, color and sound to make 'Nightingale' an impressionistic ballet to mark the 60th year of Indian Independence.

Bharat Sharma is currently a Reader in Dance at the Sarojini Naidu School Of Performing Arts, Fine Arts And Communication, University of Hyderabad. Born in a family of dancers, and with a professional career spanning more than 35 years, Bharat's interventions as choreographer and performer have cut across dance, theater, music and arts administration.

Trained in eclectic styles like Mayurbhanj Chhau and Kathakali in India, and Modern Dance, Jazz, Classical Ballet and Choreography in USA and France, he spent his formative years as a member of Bhoomika Dance Company in New Delhi under his father Narendra Sharma, a direct disciple of Uday Shankar.

As a soloist and choreographer, he has performed and presented his works at major national and international festivals, including the American Dance Festival, USA; La Danse A Aix, France; the Festival of India, Russia; East-West Encounters, Nav-Nritya Festival and Sangeet Natak Akademi's contemporary dance festivals, India. His major dance works include Jataknama, Swapnakosh, Utthaan, Pathik, Kalaasham and Teesra Paksh.

Bharat's wide-ranging experience includes teaching contemporary dance across disciplines, developing dance/theater for children, writing, composing music, lighting design, films and research on infrastructure for performing arts.

The entry is by invitation passes, available at the venue. Please contact Bharat Sharma at 98490-20867 for further details.