Andhra Natyam By Nataraja Nrithyaramam Of Hyderabad: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR ANDHRA NATYAM BY NATARAJA...

It's hard to feel encouraged about anything resurrected - Telugu films are doing it all the time with their scripts. But Andhra Natyam will provide succor to your hurt soul.

Andhra Natyam is a classical dance form of Andhra Pradesh. Originally called Lasya Nartana and practised only by temple dancers it derived from the general soup of South-Indian dance forms. Therefore, it shows strong similarities to such forms as Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam, as well as the older forms of Dasi Attam, Kacheri Attam, Chinna Melam, and a host of others.

It is a style that became extinct but was revived in the 20th century by renowned guru Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna. He is considered the most vigorous proponent of this dance form, and worked tirelessly to give Andhra Natyam a style distinct from Kuchipudi. It was only in 1982 that the form was officially recognised and a formal syllabus created by experts.

Andhra Natyam in its reconstructed form contains items in the following order. First is the Kumbha Hariti which contains recitations of churnika or hymns, followed by Pushpanjali, a pure dance item and expressional nritya. Then the program continues with abhinaya dances from the court repertoire called Kelika, and concludes with the performances of daruvus from Parijatam. The last item contains Navajanardana Parijatam, relating to temple dances performed in the Sri Vaishnava temples in the East and West Godavari districts of Andhra Pradesh.

As you've read ad infinitum now, on the occasion of the 28th anniversary of Kinnera Art Theater, a 28-day dance festival is being organised at the Thyagaraja Gana Sabha. On the 3rd day of the festival, Andhra Natyam will be performed by students of Nataraja Nrithyaramam. Nataraja Nrithyaramam is a dance academy in Meerpet of Hyderabad, and is spearheaded by Nataraja Srinivas, a disciple of Dr. Nataraja Ramakrishna. Under his tutelage, Srinivas has mastered the art of Andhra Natyam and gave it distinction not only in AP, but also in India and abroad. He, alongwith his students, will be performing Andhra Natyam in themes like parijatas, kalapas and bhagavatas.

The entry for the dance festival is free. Please contact M Raghuram on 98660-57777 or Usha Gayatri on 98663-47367 for further details.