Bharatanatyam By Meenakshi Chittaranjan: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR BHARATANATYAM BY MEENAKSHI CHITTARANJAN

It takes a certain evolution to realize that with great talent comes the great responsibility to pass it on. Meenakshi does not perform much these days - she only teaches. Here, then, is a rare opportunity.

The Kathak Kala Kshetra, in association with the Department of Culture, is organising The Deccan Dance Festival from 6th to 8th March, at Ravindra Bharathi. The 3-day festival will feature some of the best classical dancers of the country, like Susmita Chatterjee, Bimbavati Devi, Pallavi Krishnan, Meenakshi Chittaranjan, Dr Shobha Naidu and Sujata Mahapatra, sharing the stage.

Today, the second day, Meenakshi Chittaranjan, an exponent of the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam, will perform. Meenakshi trained under Chokalingam Pillai and Subbaraya Pillai. She is one of the most sought-after dancers of Bharatanatyam for her portrayal of the versatile abhinayas, and is a trendsetter for many young dancers, motivating them to take up this art form seriously.

She has performed at various dance festivals under the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi at various parts of the country, like the Konark Festival (Orissa), the Mahabalipuram Festival (Chennai), the New Choreographic Festival of Impresario India (Delhi), the Doverlane Festival of Music & Dance (Kolkata), the Soorya Festival and the Nishagandhi Festival. She has also conducted various dance workshops around the globe.

She has received numerous awards, Nritya Choodamani and Kalaimamani being the most prominent of them. Limiting her stage performances, she is at present devoted to teaching her style of Bharatanatyam at her institute Kala Diksha, where many students from the country and also overseas learn the dance. One of her Hungarian disciples, Ildyko Gulyas, is already creating waves with her performances.

The Kathak Kala Kshetra was started by Pandit Anju Babu, a Kathak dancer, choreographer and percussionist, in 1980. He himself was a popular dancer, having performed in countries like USA, France, England and Japan. Pandit Babu teaches many students in this institute, and has even conducted international training programs with Anjali Papa, Director of the Anjali Centre of Houston, where he trained many Indian and American children in Kathak.

The entry to the festival is free. For further details, please contact 98492-59133.