P 2 | OCTOBER 2017 Contents Volume 2, Issue 4 | October 2017 Editorial Team 04 Beacons of Light 24 Anupama: Editor’s Note 05 The Unparalleled Cultural Bulletin 06 Dance in India 10 Reviews 35 Sai Nrityotsav @ 100 A Magical Evening with Palpable Excitement A Confluence of Impressive Nritta - Tribute to Legendary Guru Narmada Rays of Hope 28 10th Anniversary Rita Andrade: Vysakhi Nrithyotsav 2017: Torch Bearers 14 Passion A Decade of Classical Personified Dance Cover Story 18 Reliability Reports 46 Then and Now Scholarly Corner 60 Augmenting Brain with Indian Music Kindled Spirits 62 Frozen in Time 63 Arangetram 64 Celebrations 31 Tributes 65 Reformer of In Sight 66 Kuchipudi Natyam Classifieds 67 P 3 | OCTOBER 2017 Editorial ‘The Dance India’- a monthly cultural magazine in English is our humble "If the art is poor, attempt to capture the spirit and culture of art in all its diversity. the nation is sick." Articles may be submitted for possible Editor-in-Chief publication in the magazine in the following BR Vikram Kumar manner. Executive Editor • Send in your articles to [email protected] Paul Spurgeon Nicodemus Please include your full name, contact Associate Editor information (address and telephone number) and a short bio data. RMK Sharma • Articles are published in the magazine only Assistant Editor on the condition that the author agrees to UNS Vijayshri the terms of the Copyright Statement and Policy Sub Editor D Praveena Regd. Office: Trivikram Publications, Feature Writer D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Seethammadhara, Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. Ch Nikhitha Coordinators (News, Advertisements & Tel: 0891-2525656 Editorial Advisor Subscriptions) The opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the various writers in the articles and B Ratan Raju Sai Venkatesh Karnataka reviews do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of the editorial team or Contributions by Kashmira Trivedi Maharashtra official policies of The Dance India. All rights reserved. © October 2017 - Dr Sunil Kothari Alaknanda Noida The contents published in The Dance India Cultural Critic magazine are an exclusive copyright of Lakshmi Thomas Chennai Trivikram Publications. No part of the magazine Avinash Pasricha may be reproduced in whole or part without Gayathri Gopi Vellore Photographer the written consent of Trivikram Publications. Parinithi Gopal Sagar All disputes are subject to the exclusive Administration Manager jurisdiction of competent courts in KV Lakshmi PSB Nambiar Visakhapatnam only. Sooryavamsham Kerala Circulation Manager V Srinivas GV Chari New Delhi Communications Incharge Dr. Kshithija Barve Edited, Published and Owned by Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar, K Bhanoji Rao Goa and Kolhapur Mobile No. +91-9848137445, on behalf of Trivikram Publications from D.No. 50-01-50/1, ASR Nagar, Seethammadhara, Dist. Visakhapatnam - 530 013, A.P. and Technical Advise and Graphic Design Follow us on Printed by K. Ram Naidu, Vizag Art Printers, D.No. 30-5-21, Krishna Gardens, Dabagardens, Visakhapatnam - 530 020, A.P. thedanceindiamagazine Editor: Bathina Ranga Vikram Kumar P 4 | OCTOBER 2017 The system is greater than the individual. The birth of an idea in a person, to be transformed into a system, has to withstand many tensions. He was the one who endured everything and swam against the tide. At a time when Kuchipudi dancers were haywire, Dr Vempati Chinna Satyam must be credited with bringing them together, under one big tree. Thanks to his efforts in reforming Kuchipudi art form, dancers would be drawn to BR Vikram Kumar Editor-in-Chief Kuchipudi dance for the next few hundred years. His efforts to research and consolidate all the Kuchipudi dance styles in different modes are incomparable. He is a pioneering personality who laid the foundation to a new era of Kuchipudi Natyam, inspired by tradition and science. Today there is no doubt that 75 percent of Kuchipudi artists worldwide are following his style. He brought revolutionary changes in Kuchipudi tradition for more than half a century. He worked hard to provide classical dance status to Kuchipudi with the recognition of the central government Sangeet Natak Akademi. Even after being born in a remote village, he was a genius who promoted Kuchipudi dance victoriously in various continents. His birthday on October 15, which is celebrated as the Andhra Pradesh Dance Day is not only justified but also a historic necessity. Jai Hind! BR Vikram Kumar Editor’s Note Editor’s P 5 | OCTOBER 2017 Vice President releases He further said that Dr Subbulakshmi's music is Commemorative Coin on MS immortal and everyone in this country was influenced Subbulakshmi and thrilled by her music. Music acquired a divine dimension when she lent her voice to various r MS Subbulakshmi was a legendary and compositions. She was the first musician to be iconic figure who mesmerized everyone awarded Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian from Mahatma Gandhi to the common man, D honour, and first Indian musician to have performed at said the Vice President of India, M Venakaiah Naidu, the United Nations General Assembly, he added. while addressing the gathering after inaugurating an exhibition on her. Minister of state for culture (I/C) and Dr Subbulakshmi was called the 'Nightingale of India' environment, forest and climate change, Dr Mahesh by Sarojini Naidu and 'Tapaswini' by Lata Mangeshkar, Sharma and other dignitaries were also present on the while Ustad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan described her as occasion. "Suswaralakshmi Subbulakshmi. Apart from UN, she performed at the Edinburg International Festival and Earlier, he released a Commemorative Coin on Bharat for Queen Elizabeth-II at the Royal Albert Hall, Ratna awardee Dr MS Subbulakshmi and inaugurated London. She mostly sang in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada an exhibition titled "Kurai Onrum Illai - MS: Life in and Meera Bhajans in Hindi. Music" on the occasion of her Birth Centenary Commemoration. She made a huge contribution to popularizing Annanmacharya Kritis. She also undertook more than The Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu at the Exhibition on the legendary Carnatic Vocalist, Dr MS Subbulakshmi, on the occasion of her Birth Centenary Commemoration, in New Delhi on September 19, 2017. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr Mahesh Sharma is also seen. P 6 | OCTOBER 2017 CULTURAL BULLETIN The Vice President, M Venkaiah Naidu inaugurating the Exhibition on the legendary Carnatic Vocalist, Dr MS Subbulakshmi, on the occasion of her Birth Centenary Commemoration, in New Delhi on September 19, 2017. The Minister of State for Culture (I/C) and Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Dr Mahesh Sharma and other dignitaries are also seen. 200 charity concerts and donated the royalties she 'National Tourism Awards, had earned on devotional albums to the Tirumala 2015-16' Presented temple. Her Venkateswara Suprabhatham is played in The President of India Ram Nath Kovind presented Tirumala temple daily as part of the ritual. the "National Tourism Awards, 2015-16" to various In his address, Dr Mahesh Sharma said that Bharat segments of the travel, tourism and hospitality Ratna Dr MS Subbulakshmi performed in the 50th- industry at a function organised by the ministry of anniversary celebration of the United Nations and it tourism on the occasion of "World Tourism Day". was a very moment for all Indians. Mahatma Gandhi Minister of state (I/C) for tourism Alphons Ji asked her to sing "Prabhu Tum Haro Jan Ki Pir" and Kannanthanam presided over the function. Tourism she had sung it with full dedication. Dr MS ministers of states, central and state government Subbulakshmi was not only a singer but was an officials, members from the travel and hospitality encyclopedia of singing. It is a proud occasion for us industries, including leading hoteliers, travel agents to celebrate her anniversary from 16 September 2016 and tour operators, students from tourism and to 16 September 2017. India is known for its rich hospitality institutes, mainstream and travel media cultural heritage and our new generation should try to attended the function. preserve our rich and diverse cultural heritage. The President launched the "Incredible India 2.0 The title of the exhibition draws from an iconic song Campaign"; 'Adopt A Heritage' Project and new composed by Rajaji and rendered by Dr MS Incredible India Website on the occasion. "Incredible Subbulakshmi, perhaps only by her. The song tells India 2.0 Campaign" marks a shift from the present God that she has no complaints about life, about him. generic promotions being undertaken across the The exhibition looks at the life of Dr MS Subbulakshmi world, to market specific promotional plans and from her early years to the people who moulded her product-specific creatives, with a greater focus on the composers and songs she immortalized, her digital presence and social media. 'Adopt A Heritage' contribution to the freedom movement, her Project plans to entrust heritage sites to the public magnanimous charity work, her role in films and the sector and private sector companies and individuals many awards and accolades world decorated her for the development of tourist amenities. They will with. become 'Monument Mitras' and adopt the sites. The P 7 | OCTOBER 2017 "New Incredible India Website" is an advanced version India into one of the most preferred destinations for of the website with more useful features. travellers around the world. He said that India's foreign tourist arrivals and domestic tourist visits are Speaking on the occasion, the President said that on a growth trajectory. India's ranking in the Travel tourism is one of the largest industries in the world. Its and Tourism Competitive Index 2017 of World evolution can be estimated from the fact that the Economic Forum moved from 65th position to 52nd number of tourists all over the world has increased position in 2015 and now India's position has moved from 2.5 crores in 1950 to 123 crores in 2016.