Rukmini Kalyanam By Geeta Ganesan & Group

Getting Rukmini was a stupendous feat that only Krishna could pull off - and enacting it through Bharatanatyam is a similar one that perhaps only Geetha Ganesan can. Get set for another treat from SICA tonite!

The South Indian Cultural Association (SICA) is organising its monthly program of Carnatic classical music at Ravindra Bharathi, on 5th June. Tonite, Geetha Ganesan, along with her disciples, will perform a 90-minute Bharatanatyam dance ballet Rukmini Kalyanam, at 8:00pm.

The ballet is about the love marriage of Lord Krishna with the daughter of King Bheeshmaka, Rukmini. The events leading to the marriage, like Rukmini's message to the Lord about her forceful marriage with the king of Chedi Sishupala, the kidnap drama of Rukmini, Krishna fighting the army of Rukmi and Sishupala, and ultimately the marriage ceremony in Dwaraka, will be depicted through the ballet.

Ganesan is a disciple of Guru V S Rama Murthy and Guru Manjula Ramaswamy. She is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, who with her innate talent and years of experience has matured into one of the finest exponents of Bharatanatyam. She has toured countries like USA, UAE, Norway, Spain, Portugal and Sri Lanka, and has performed to packed audiences. She is also a good choreographer, having designed several solo and group ballets.

She obtained a Master's degree in performing arts from the University of Hyderabad. She has also been acclaimed as a good vocalist known for her melodious singing, and is also adept at Nattuvamgam. Along with Jayaprada Ramamurthy, a renowned flautist, Ganesan runs an institution called Uttaraa Centre For Performing Arts in Hyderabad, where they impart flute and Bharatanatyam classes to their students.

SICA was founded in 1959 by Dewan Bahadur Aramuda Iyengar, the Finance Minister of Hyderabad's Nizam and a great patron of Carnatic music. The association has since organised more than 1,000 concerts. It has provided a basic platform for upcoming artistes like U P Raju and Nagamani, Mandolin Srinivas and the Malladi Brothers. It conducts workshops, felicitates artistes, and provides both moral and financial support to upcoming artistes. Dr S Chakravarthy, IAS, former Chief Secretary to the Govt. Of AP, is the present President of the association, and R Chakrapani is the General Secretary.

The entry to the concert is by invitations for members - the general public need to buy donor passes of Rs. 25 and Rs. 50 per head. Please contact V Ramachandran at 92461-61420 for further details.