Season’s Dance Award Winners (2009-2010)

B. M. Sundaram to be hounoured with Musicologist Award for his contribution to Carnatic Music by Music Academy

N. S Jayalakshmi to be hounoured  with “Sangita Kala Acharya” for her contribution to Bharatanatyam by Music Academy

Pooja Kumar-’Gutti Vasu Memorial Prize’ from Spirit of Youth Competition held at Music Academy

Narthaki Nataraj- ‘Nrithya Choodamani” from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha

Vijay Madhavan- ‘Balasaraswathi Endowment Prize’ from Sri. Krishna Gana Sabha

Mythili Prakash -’ Nadana-Maamani’ from Karthik Fine Arts.

Vaishnavi Sainath- ”Natya Chudar “ from Karthik Fine Arts

Sonal Mansingh-’Viswa Kala Bharati’ from Bharat Kalachar

Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar-”Acharya Kala Bharati” from Bharat Kalachar

Aishwarya Dhanush, Yatin Agarwal, Gopukiran, Mridula Anand and Lakshmi Parthasarathi Athreya receive Bharat Kalachar’s Yuva Kala Bharati (Bharatanatyam) and Nagai Sriram (for Mridangam in Bharathanatyam) and Smitha Madhav (all rounder in classical Carnatic and Bharathanatyam)

Ramli Ibrahim-felicitated by Natyanjali Trust during Nartaka dance festival featuring male dancers.

Rajeswari Sainath receives Vani Kala Sudhakara from Sri Thyaga Bramha Gana Sabha

Dr. Padma Subramanhyam receives ” Nrithya Kovida” and Pavithra Srinivasan receives ” Nrithya Sevitha” from Nadabramham Music Journal

Compiled from: The Hindu (Friday Features), saigan.com (where you can see the whole list of awards for musicians too),and Personal communication.

Filed under: Balasaraswathi, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatanatyam, Bharathanatyam, C.V. Chandrashekhar, Chennai, Dance, Dance Gurus, December season., Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, Madras Music Academy, Madras Music Season, Madras dance Festival, Padma Subrahmanyam, Sri Krishna Gana sabha, artists, awards, talent , Mythili Prakash, Pooja Kumar, Vijay Madhavan

Music and Dance Season 2009-2010

I will consolidate all posts on the Madras dance and Music Season 2009-2010. For those of you who would like to know what it is like , “The Hindu” had brought out a curtain raiser on the upcoming “Chennai Music and Dance Season 2008″ (PDF version)
This includes an interview with Alarmel Valli. You can download the same at http://www.hindu.com/ms/index.htm

This Season’s Dance Award Winners are listed here

Thematic presentations and dance dramas that are scheduled to be presented for this season are listed here

Madras/Chennai Concerts*

Krishna Gana Sabha’s Natya kala Conference: that is an annual event during the season will be held at the sabha between December 26 and 31, 2009 .This years conference is convened by Ananda Shankar Jayant . The theme is “Dance Matters”.
contact e-mail: anandasj@rediffmail.com

Online Schedules/guides

• The dance concerts we get to know of will be added to our calendar which can be viewed in the middle column of the front page of this blog. I have added schedules from Narada Gana Sabha, Bramha Gana Sabha, Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, Bharat Kalachar, Sri Krishna gana sabha,  Kalakshetra and others (that I came to know o)f. All programs are subject to change.
• A new comprehensive website (http://www.thedecemberseason.com/home.php) has been launched to provide substantial information on schedules and location of concerts, andother related information like lodging and dining.
• Saigan’s Consolidated and updatedMargazhi Season Guide can be found here
• Visit http://artindia.net/madras09/index.html for a listing of  this season’s music and dance performances( Maintained by Sri. G.S. Rajan)
• Mr. Ramkumar’s blog regularly provides Madras Kutcheri  updates (including  the season concerts, esp. for carnatic music concerts)

Updated Sabha/organization Websites

• Madras Music Academy- http://www.musicacademymadras.in/home.php (schedules updated for this year)
• Bharat Kalachar- http://www.bharatkalachar.com/twentythirdmahotsav.html (schedules updated for this year)
• Vani Mahal-http://www.vanimahal.com/isai_iyal_vizha.php (schedules updated for this year)

Tickets Reservation for NRI:
Kartik Fine Arts: NRIs who want to attend the December season concerts can e-mail the sabha Secretary and reserve tickets. Reservation queries must be sent in October. Such people will get preference in issue of tickets. (subject to availability)

KARTIK FINE ARTS[Regd]Registered office address:
New No.16, old no.39,
Bheemana Garden St,
Abhiramapuram,
Chennai- 600018,
Ph:91-44- 24997788.

Administration Office address:
2,Sringeri Mutt Road,
Chennai,
Ph:91-44- 2495 2695.
E.Mail :kartikfinearts@vsnl.net  http://www.kartikfineartschennai18.com/

Swathi Sangeethotsavam is an annual classical music festival celebrated in honour of Maharaja Swathi Thirunal Rama Varma (1813 – 1846) the  poet king of the Travancore dynasty. This seven day festival is held annually from January 6 to 12 at the ‘Kuthira Malika’ palace at Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India where the king himself composed many of his musical gems.This could be a fantastic add- on to your season pilgrimage.Prince Rama Varma who organizes this music festival extends a warm welcome to all music lovers. These amazing concerts are entirely free . The schedule of Jan 2010 festival is as follows:-

Jan 6  Sanjay Subrahmanyan
Jan 7  Balasai (Flute)
Jan 8 Kunnakudi Balamuralikrishna
Jan 9 Varma
Jan 10 Mavelikara P.Subramaniam
Jan 11 Pandit Venkateshkumar (Hindusthani)
Jan12 Seetha Rajan

For more details on this festival visit http://www.aparnaonline.com/princerama.html

Sharing your Schedules

Please feel free to share your performance schedules, reviews and other related info here. Leave it as a comment and I will work on getting it published. Events will be added to our  Event calendar .

Source of Info: Personal emails, Music and Dance Websites, Brochures, Mgazines etc.

*-Please verify program schedules  with newspapers/sabha  as they may be subject to changes

Filed under: A.Lakshman, Anita Ratnam, Anitha Guha, Arts, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatanatyam, Bharathakalanjali, Bharathanatyam, Carnatic Music, Chennai, Chitra Visweswaran, Dance, Dance Gurus, December season., Dhananjayan, Gayathri Balagurunathan, India, Kalakshetra, Kartik Fine Arts, Kavita ramu, Kerala, Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, Madras Music Academy, Madras Music Season, Madras dance Festival, Male Bharathanatyam dancer, Padma Subrahmanyam, Padma.S. Raghavan, Performing Arts, Prince Rama Varma, Priyadarshini Govind, Rajeswari Sainath, Rasika, Shanta, Sheejith Krishna, Shijith Nambiar, Shobana, Sreekala Bharath, Sri Krishna Gana sabha, Urmila Satyanarayanan, Vijayanthimala Bali, artists, awards, choreograhers, choreography, dance drama, dance festival, experiences, learning, leela samson, program, students, upcoming artist , Ananda Shankar Jayant, December, Kuthiramalika 2010, Natya kala Conference, Pooja Kumar, Season, Swathi Sangeethotsavam, Vani Mahal

2008-2009 Madras Season Dance Awards

Season ‘08-’09 Dance Awards

Music Academy: awards Sangita Kala Acharya to Dance Guru Sarada Hoffmann. The awards will be confered at the Sadas on January 1, 2009 . The 82nd annual conference of The Music Academy to be held from December 15 to January 1 .

Kartik Fine Arts: presents the ‘Nadanamamani‘ to dancer Divya Kasturi and ‘Natya Chudar’ to Bavya Balasubramanin and Lavanya raghuraman (Alapana arts, Singapore). The award will be conferred at At the inauguration of the music festival on December12 at Narada Gana Sabha.

Nungambakkam Cultural Academy : awards dancer Rajeswari Sainath the award Nrithya Kala Sironmani.  The award includes a citation, a gold medallion and a cash prize of Rs.10,000. The Nungambakkam Cultural Academy Trust celebrates its 39th anniversary from December 5 at Ramarao Kala Mantap Auditorium, Chennai and the award will be presented on the inaugural day.

The Indian Fine Arts Society has decided to confer on dancer Manjula Lusti Narasimhan the title ‘Natya Kalasikhamani’. The title will be conferred on her at the 76th South Indian Music Conference and Festival of the Society. The award-giving ceremony will take place on January 4, 2009. The event will be held at Balamandir, German Hall, T.Nagar. Manjula Lusti Narasimhan is a Bharatanatyam exponent and a disciple of Sudharani Raghupathy.

Sri Krishna Gana Sabha’s 53rd Art & Pongal Dance festival will be inaugurated on December 12. On the occasion Jayant Kastuar, Kathak exponent, will be presented with the Nrithya Choodamani title along with a citation, a gold medal and cash award of Rs.50,000. Guru Krishnakumari Narendran, Bharatanatyam exponent, will be presented with the Aacharya Choodamani Award along with a citation, a gold medal and a cash award of Rs.25,000.

 Source: The Hindu and Kutcheribuzz

Filed under: Arts, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatanatyam, Bharathanatyam, Carnatic Music, Chennai, Dance, Dance Gurus, December season., India, Kartik Fine Arts, Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras, Madras Music Academy, Madras Music Season, Madras dance Festival, Performing Arts, Rasika, Sri Krishna Gana sabha, artists, awards, choreograhers, choreography, dance festival, talent, titles, upcoming artist

Madras(Chennai) Music and Dance Season (2008-2009)-Dance Program Schedule

I will put in the dance programmes for the 2008-2009 Chennai Music Season that I get to know of (as and when I get to know) … Please visit to the links below for more complete information..  I request readers/dancers to send in info of programs already not listed here . You may send them to me as a comment in this post or email it to me if you know my ID:) The sources of info of the following schedules are based on personal emails received and from websites whose URL’s have been listed below:- (*)

22nd Nov. 2008 : 

Priya Ramadoss(Disciple of Smt. savitri Jagannatha Rao) Performs at Naradha Gana Sabha mini hall under the auspices of Natyarangam at 6:00pm

Navya Natarajan Menon Performs at Naradha Gana Sabha mini hall under the auspices of Natyarangam at 7:30pm

23rd Nov. 2008 :

Lakshmi Ramaswamy demonstrates Prof. Raghuraman’s lecture on “Aham and Puram” of Tamil literature for Natyarangam.(morning lec dem series). Pl check timings

1st Dec. 2008

 Group performance by students of Sri Mudralaya (Disciples of Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy), Mylapore Fine arts.. 7.30-9pm

11th Dec.2008

 Bharathanatyam Solo by Purnima Balasubramanian (Disciple of Smt. Lakshmi ramaswamy) at Meenakshi College, 11am

13th Dec.2008

Bharatanrityam Recital By Bala Devi Chandrashekar, Mylapore Fine Arts,Inaugural Day Concert: “Garland of Gems by Great Composers” ,Time: 7.00 pm

15th Dec. 2008

Dance Drama ” Jagam Nee Aham nee” by students of Sri Mudralaya (Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy),  at P.S. Senior School, 6pm 

16 Dec. 2008:

Rama Vaidyanathan  Nungambakkam Cultural Academy – Rama Rao Kala Mantap, 111, Habbillula Road, T.Nagar, Chennai-600017. Tel:+91-(0)-44-28343252. 07.00pm.

Shilpa Krishnan, Hamsadhwani sabha,  Adayar Youth Hostel in Indira Nagar, Adyar, Madras, evening concert (Contact  R. Sundar – Secretary – phone : 91 44 24915555/ 24901700)

18 Dec. 2008:

Rama Vaidyanathan Institute of Mathematical Sciences, Ramanujan Auditorium, Taramani, Chennai. 08.00pm

 

20 Dec. 2008:

 Rama Vaidyanathan Brahma Gana Sabha – Petachi Sivagami Auditorium, Mylapore, Chennai 600 004. 06.30pm

21 st. Dec. 2008:

 Shruthi and Shalini Srivatsan will be performing at Adayar Hostel under the Hamsadhwani banner. The program is slated for 7:30pm

22 Dec. 2008:

Rama Vaidyanathan Kalakshetra – Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai 600 041. Tel: +91-(0)44-24524057. 06.00pm

23 Dec. 2008

Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan , 2 PM , Narada Gana Saba

Bharatanrityam Recital by Bala Devi Chandrasekhar,Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, Time: 6.30 pm

Kum Sharanya Balaji,(Disciple of Guru Vishal Ramani, USA), Varasiddhi Vinayagar Temple, besant Nagar) for TVG Academy of Indian Music and Arts, from 5-6.30pm

24 Dec. 2008:

Rama Vaidyanathan Bharat Kalachar – No.7, Lake 1st Main Road, Nungambakkam, Chennai 600 034. Padma Seshadri School Auditorium. 06.45pm

Deepti Venkatraman (Disciple Of Ramya Ramnarayan), Kartik Fine Arts Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, 4pm

25th Dec. 2008

Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy presents her dance drama based on the Sangam Literatute nattrinai, titled ” Sangamum Sangamamum” at Narada Gana Sabha Main Hall, 2- 3.30pm

26th Dec. 2008

Bharatanatyam solo by Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan for Kartik Fine Arts at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, 6 pm

29th Dec. 2008

Lecture by Dr S Raghuraman on  ‘dravidaththil Taai deiva vazhipaadu’ (worship of mother goddess in tamil culture). Demonstration by Lakshmi ramaswamy and her students for Katik Fine Arts at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan

Pooja Kumar, Karthik Fine Arts (Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan) at 4:30 p.m.

31st Dec. 2008:

Lakshmi Ramaswamy’s Sri Mudralaya students perform at Guruvayoorappan temple, Mahalingapuram , 7pm

Sharanya Balaji (Disciple of Guru Vishal ramani), Youth Hostel, Indira Nagar for Hamsadhwani Sabha , 7pm

02 Jan. 2009:

Pooja Kumar ( Program awarded to the Winner of Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana ), Narada Gana Sabha Main Hall at 6:30 p.m.

 Deepti Venkatraman,(Disciple of Ramya Ramnarayan)  for Mudra Fine Arts at Old No.10/4(New No.21/4),Shenoy Road, Nugambakkam, Chennai 600 034, 5 pm

Bala devi Chandrasekhar, Bharatanrityam at Vani Mahal,“Shree Krishna Smriti” ,Time: 5.30 pm

03rd Jan. 2009:

Bharathanatyam solo by Archana Mahesh (Dis. of Lakshmi Ramaswamy) for GanaMukunda Priya at RK Swamy Hall at 4.30pm

 Deepti Venkatraman (disciple of Ramya Ramnarayan) Thiyaga Brahma Gana Sabha, Vani Mahal, T.Nagar at 6.30pm

04 th Jan. 2009:

Sadhaa Shanmugham Smaraami”,  Bharathanatyam Solo by Savitha Vankatapathy for Gana Mukundapriya, at R.K. Swamy Hall  at 4.30pm 

06 Jan. 2009:

Solo by Mythili Prakash at The Music Academy , chennai at 11.30 am

07 Jan. 2009:

Solo by Shijith Nambiar at The Music Academy , chennai at 11am

Sri Krishna Jananam Produced by Bharatakalanajli under partial funding from ISKCON. Artistic direction & production co-ordination: Naatyaachaarya V.P.Dhananjayan  Choregraphy: Prof. A. Janardhanan (former Principle artiste and Principal of Kalakshetra, Chennai  Music composition: Mysore S. Rajaram (former Director, Kalakshetra, Chennai. Participants: Bharatakalanjali Artistes & Graduates from Kalakshetra (Pl chk for timings) at Music Academy

09 Jan. 2009:

Pooja Kumar, Bharath Kalachar at 6:00 p.m.

Rama Vaidyanathan Music Academy, TTK Auditorium, 168, TTK Road, Chennai. Tel:+91-(0)-44-2811 2231. 06.00pm

Navia Natarajan Menon, Kartik Fine Arts, Narada Gana Sabha (Mini Hall),Chennai, 6:00pm – 7:00pm

14th Jan. 2009:

Bharathanatyam solo by smt. Lakshmi ramaswamy at Mylapore Fine Arts, 7.30pm.

15th Jan. 2009:

Bharathanatyam solo by Smt. Lakshmi ramaswamy at Bramha Gana Sabha, 7.30pm.

18th Jan. 2009:

Bharathanatyam by Aishwarya Narayanaswamy for Brahma gana sabha Sivagami petachi auditorium, Mylapore, 6pm

 27th Jan. 2009:

Bharathanatyam by Aishwarya Narayanaswamy at Parthasarathy swami sabha, R.K.Swamy hall, Mylapore, 7.15pm

 

*Please confirm the schedules with Local newpapers or sabha guides

To see the list of awardees for the Music Season (‘08-’09) click here

Links for Updates

• Searchable database of concerts from kutcheribuzz
• Season Coverage by Kutcheribuzz
• Mr. Ramkumar ’s blog
• Music Season Coverage By Art India
• Updates from from Carnatic Darbar(includes schedules from lot many sabhas)
• Kalakshetra Schedule from Carnatic darbar
• http://www.musicacademymadras.in/2008-work/2008_schedule.html (Their Dance programs are usually after the Music season in the first week of January or so)
• Here are a few available websites of a few other popular sabhas..
  http://www.krishnaganasabha.org/home.html: The Pongal Dance festival and Nadaswara Isai Vizha, a part of December Art Festival will be held from January 2 to January 19, in which young as well as experienced dancers will be featured.
  http://www.bharatkalachar.com/
  http://parthasarathysabha.com/
  http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/ebrochures/srithyagabrahmaganasabha/
  http://www.kutcheribuzz.com/ebrochures/kartikfinearts/
  http://www.rrsabhamylapore.in/ (Rasika Ranjini sabha)

A few of these may not be updated regularly

Filed under: Arts, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatanatyam, Bharathanatyam, Chennai, Conference, Dance, Dance Gurus, December season., Dhananjayan, India, Kalakshetra, Kartik Fine Arts, Krishna Gana Sabha, Literature, Madras, Madras Music Academy, Madras Music Season, Madras dance Festival, Male Bharathanatyam dancer, NRI, Narada Gana sabha, Natyarangam, Performing Arts, Rasika, Shanta, Sheejith Krishna, Shijith Nambiar, artists, choreograhers, choreography, dance drama, dance festival, experiences, learning, program, students, upcoming artist , Add new tag, Aishwarya Narayanaswamy, Bala Devi Chandrashekar, Hamsadhwani, Navia Natarajan, Pooja Kumar, Ramya ramnarayan, Shilpa Krishnan, USA, Vishal Ramani

A book on adavus

Here is a book on adavus and karanas that I came across. Have a look…

“Dance units in Bharata Natyam

NATANA ADAIVUGAL (Tamil): Natyacharya S. Balachandra Raju; Sivaranjani Publications, 16, Sakthinagar 2nd Street, Choolaimedu, Chennai-600094. Rs. 210.

THE ADAVU (or Adaivu as the author prefers to spell it) is a dance unit called Karana in Sanskrit and is made up of a specific pose, a foot movement and a Nritta Hasta. A combination of Adavus is known as an Adavu Jati. According to experts, there are 10 different groups of Adavus, each having 12 different modes, making in all 120 basic dance arrangements. Dancers, however, generally learn about 40 to 72 Adavus.

Reference to Adavus can be found in Chola inscriptions ascribed to the 12th century and in inscriptions in some Siva temples. This basic unit is adopted in some other art forms like Kalaripayattu, Kathakali and Mohini Attam. Although in other forms also some poses and hand movements are combined, it is only in Bharata Natyam that they are combined to such a perfection as to produce an immense variety of dance patterns with hands synchronising with poses and footwork, embellished by graceful neck and eye movements.

Present day writers on dance try to make a distinction between Adavu and Adaivu. The Tamil term “Adaivu” has no less than 14 meanings while Adavu is used only in dance. The Sangita Muktavali says that Karanas are known as Adu-s (also Adugu and Aduvu) in Telugu.

In the dance section of the Sangita Saramruta of Tulaja (1729- 1735 A.D.), ruler of Thanjavur, a number of Adavus have been described and the Sanskrit equivalent of the term has been shown as Kuttanam which means the striking of the ground with the foot. Most of the Adavus now presented by Bharata Natyam dancers are those enumerated in Tulaja’s treatise.

Natyacharya Balachandra Raju is a prolific writer on Carnatic music and Bharata Natyam with more than 50 publications in English and Tamil to his credit. He is also the director of the Nritya Sangita Niketan in Chennai which teaches music and dance on scientific lines aided by his theory books and model dance compositions.

The book under notice is the most comprehensive account of Adavus published so far and is an enlarged version of the first edition published in 1993. The author has an enviable command over Tamil prose and writes with great clarity and vigour. The general introduction highlights the unique greatness of Bharata Natyam when compared to other styles and the vital role played in it by Adavus. Before taking up a discussion on the Adavus, the author deals with Talas which play an indispensable role in dance. The Suladi Sapta Talas namely Dhruva, Mathya, Rupaka, Jhampa, Triputa, Ata and Eka, are described and the matras of the five Gatis in each of them furnished.

He then takes up the main subject Adavus and discusses at great length Tattadaivu, Nattadaivu, Kattadaivu, Alankara Kattadaivu, Pakkadaivu, Ettadaivu, Simradaivu and others. Photographs (220 in all mostly in colour and not sketches) of Adavus and the 108 Karanas in addition will be found highly useful by teachers and students of dance. For the first time in dance literature, the scientific names of the muscles of the body that are toned up and strengthened by the various Adavus have been furnished. The author has made every effort to make the book useful to dancers by adding chapters on Abhinaya, the 108 Karanas, make-up and costuming.

The book is thus a thesaurus on Adavus and is a bargain for its low price.

Source: An article in 2001 Hindu by Sri.T. S. PARTHASARATHY

Filed under: Arts, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatanatyam, Dance, Dance Gurus, History of Bharathanatyam, Introduction, Madras, Performing Arts, adavus, artists, books, experiences, learning, students, talent

Bharatanatyam guru Chitra Visweswaran is honoured

Small stage, big lineup!

That is what Bharat Kalachar’s opening evening always is.

It was on Dec. 14. About 20 artistes received awards.
There was another standing ovation led by the number of sishyas, when Bharatanatyam guru Chitra Visweswaran was honoured. Chitra who lost her husband recently, has been keeping a low profile.

Lalgudi Jayaraman was the chief guest. Speakers said he was a pithamaha after Semmangudi. Madhuvanthi and Sudha Mahendran, the sabha’s office bearers compered the event and Y. G. Mahendra chipped in with his witty comments.

Source: Kutcheribuzz

Filed under: Bharat Kalachar, Chitra Visweswaran, December season., awards