Encores seems to be the order of the day at Shilparamam. First it was the Manipur dance troupe, and this evening it was the turn of Jaya Prada Ramamurthy to be sought out by 'public demand'. Even as the shopping spree continues at the crafts' village, the cultural programs in the evenings add luster to the whole ethnic ambience - ethnic arts, crafts, textiles, folk and tribal dances and also classical music and dance performances. A rich, wholesome carnival, indeed!
And this evening was special, for there was Santa Claus to delight the kids with a bedecked Christmas tree, cakes and chocolates. This young flutist, Jaya Prada Ramamurthy, made another appearance on stage, and performed a solo flute recital (earlier in the festival, Jaya Prada had supported her mother, Prema Ramamurthy's vocal concert). Jaya Prada chose to take to the flute with heavier chords and delve into some base melodies (a much difficult task for women to play to the male level of octaves). Her classical harmonies that took off in a gentle pace and took on mystical dimensions, creating an aura of blustery base echoes.
Jaya Prada has got the distinction of being one of the youngest female flutists of the country. Her sweeping serenade was followed by a disciplined and designed Bharatanatyam dance performance. The disciples of Guru Hemamalini Arni continue to practice the original dainty style of Vazuvoor school of Bharatanatyam, devoid of stylization and melodrama, but epitomizing pure discipline and devotion. Over 10 dancers, supported by the Guru's melodious singing, performed the dances, attributed to Ganesha, Siva and Krishna.
There were also pure melodic and rhythmic dances like Tillana and Jathiswaram. These dancers, who earlier performed ballets like Nalina Haara (based on Sarojini Naidu's poems) and 'The celestial Ensemble' (based on the Navagrahas), with all their grace and balance, showed their evolving maturity in dance and stage presentation. Thanks to Hemamalini Arni for producing such dancers of genuine talent and grace.
{{todos[0].text}}