The events below are open to all staff and students at the University.
10:00–11:00 | Classical Bharatanatyam dance workshop – Harshita Koushik, supported by Mitisha, Neha, Laura and others
Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India, regarded by many as mother of many Indian classical dance forms. Bharatanatyam is a combination of words meaning expression, music, rhythm and dance – hence the performance includes all these elements. It traces its origins to the Natyashastra (the scripture of classical Indian dance between 500BC to 500AD). This intricate dance form uses the elements of hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions (abhinaya), footwork (adavus), and body postures (araimandi) to convey emotions, narratives and traditional tales.
11:00–12:00 | Classical Hindustani and Karnatak vocal – Harshita Koushik and Laura Partha Sarthi
Harshita will present Hindustani classical music and will introduce the main characteristics of the rāga, similar to Western Mode and including notes in a pattern with ideational elements and even emotion, and then develop it further with improvisations within the framework of the rāga. It will be a 25-minute performance along with a presentation going on in the background giving some more insights into the traditions, and the rāga. It is a beautiful afternoon rāga in Hindustani Classical Music commonly associated with the spring and summer seasons expressing romance and love.
Laura will perform a famous Tamil Carnatic song composed by A R Rahman called Chinanjiru Nilave sung in the rāga Dhirasankarabaranam. It is the 29th Melakartha rāga in the system of Carnatic Music. The song is actually from the movie Ponniyan Selvan, which is originally a classic Tamil historical novel written by Kalki Krishnamurthy. The novel and movie are both set in the Chola dynasty period during the famous/infamous reign of Rajaraja Chola I and his son Rajendra Chola I, in the 10th and 11th centuries AD. The story revolves around the power struggles, political intrigue and personal relationships within the Chola dynasty.
12:00–13:00 | Bollywood dance workshop – Sushmita Gandhi and supported by other students Neha and Mishita
Bollywood dancing is a colourful, dynamic and highly theatrical dance style seen in Indian films. It combines classical forms of dance including traditional Indian, folk, salsa, and freestyle while also incorporating more contemporary Western forms such as hip-hop, jazz and funk.
13:00–14:00 | Bhangra dance workshop – Sushmita Gandhi and supported by other students
Bhangra is an energetic folk dance and music form that originate from the Punjab in India. It is traditionally associated with the harvest, but now is a key part of many other festive celebrations like marriages, New Year celebrations etc. The lyrics accompanying the lively dance reflect the long and often tumultuous history of the Punjab. In recent time it has become a hugely popular phenomenon making its way to America’s Got Talent, the London Olympics and even the White House. It continues to be enjoyed in its traditional form or as fusion with genres such as hip-hop, and reggae or as a means to fitness, as the audience will discover.
