Nritya Siri –Bharathanatyam Dance Festival

By Gopal Sagar

Kumari Shriya Srinivas from the United States of America, a disciple of International acclaimed artist Guru Sridevi Ajai Thirumalai and the daughter of Mrs. Jyothi & Mr. Pravin Sitaram. She gave her Bharatanatyam recital in a dance festival ‘NRITYA SIRI’ at Bangalore organized by Vidwan Gururaj H N, the director of Sudhindra Nritya Kalaniketana.

She has performed six dance items depicting the range of the Bharatanatyam repertoire, incorporating the three elements of ‘Nritta’, ‘Nritya’ and ‘Natya. The program started with a traditional Pushpanjali, a devotional offering to Nataraja, set to Nata Raga followed by a Thodayamangalam ‘Jaya Janaki Kanta’ in Ragamalika.

This was followed by a Varnam on Lord Rama in raga ‘Ramapriya’. The varnam was notably
unique depicting right from the birth of Rama to many other episodes with subtle abhinaya and firm movement in Jatis. Shriya executed this item with grace and depth of feeling, moving the audience to experience rasa, bhava and abhinaya. The items following the intermission included a Shiva kruthi ‘Pradosha Samayadi’, a Devaranama ‘Harismarane mado’ followed by a Thillana in raga ‘ratipati priya’ concluded with a Govindastakam.

The dance items were presented effortlessly with involved Abhinaya, crisp nritta (foot work) and flexibility in body movement. Bharatanatyam Guru Smt. Seetha Guruprasad and acclaimed Mridangist Vidwan  Sri. V R Chandrshekar witnessed the evening as a chief guests. Well-known art critic Sri.Nanjunda Rao shared the success of the dance festival.