REPORT ON MOHINIYATTAM DANCE PERFORMANCE ORGANISED BY SPIC MACAY IN THE ASIAN SCHOOL, DEHRADUN

On the morning of 19 th February 2013, a scintillating dance performance, under the aegis of SPIC MACAY by Padmashri Smt. Bharti Shivaji left the Asianites enthralled, here at the White House Court. She was accompanied by Shyamla Bhaskar on Veena, Sreekumar on Edakk, JyanatDas on Mridangam and Rajgopalan on Vocal.

If ever the history of Mohiniyattam is written, the contribution of Bharti Shivaji to this exquisite and graceful dance form of Kerala would certainly be a special chapter. The rare combination of performer, choreographer, author and Guru, Padmashri Smt. Bharti Shivaji’s name has today become synonymous with Mohiniyattam. The finesse and the immaculate rendition was a conscious effort to appraise the Asianities of the profundity of the Indian Classical Music and Culture, and it deservedly evoked the admiration for the performance of the classical artists. The Dance Performance was preceded by the Lighting of the Inaugural lamp by the guest artist and Mr. A.K Das, Principal, to the accompaniment of the Vandana by Manisha Jha and Shristi Badola of Class XI F.

In the Interaction Session between the students and the artist that followed the Dance Performance, the students’ interest and curiosity was abundantly reflected in the questions that they put before the Classical Dance Performer. She informed the students about the difference in the various Indian Classical Dance forms viz the Mohiniyattam, the Odissi, the Kucchi Pudi and the Bharatnatyam. The students also learnt about the various musical instruments which are used in the Mohiniyattam Dance performance; the Mridangam is an indigenous instrument from Kerala, the Saraswati Veena is parallel to the sitar played in North India. The Edakka is a small yet the most interesting musical instrument which has a lot of melody and rhythm. It is the only instrument which is permitted inside the temples in Kerala and is played when devotional songs are sung.

Mr. Gaganjyot Singh, Director, Mr. Mukesh Nangia, Co-ordinator Middle School, members of Spic Macay, students of Ecole Globale International Girls School, students and the teaching faculty of The Asian School attended the function. It was jointly compered by Rubi Joshi XI B and Samyukta Singh XI A. The programme came to a close with the souvenir presentation and a Vote of Thanks