SUTRAFOUNDATION25@MAIL.COM
03-4021 1092
SUTRA FOUNDATION
Presents
Presents
Songs
of the Cowherd – Gita Govinda (Odissi)
performed by
performed by
Geethika
Sree, Tan Mei Mei & Thrisherna Moorthy
Guest Dancer Vickneshwaran
Artistic Direction Ramli
Ibrahim
Lighting &
Technical Direction Sivarajah Natarajan
Audio-Visual WeiJun
27, 28, 29 July (Fri,
Sat & Sun) 2018 | 8.30pm
28 July 2018 (Sat) @
7.00pm dinner & show package
With specially designed cuisine – MELAYANG – prepared by Chef Isadora Chai (Bistro a Table)
To be savoured with ‘Pallavi’ An Exhibition of Paintings and
Drawings by
AV Ilango and Sivarajah
Natarajan.
Following the euphoria of Odissi on High, Sutra presents three
senior dancers – Geethika Sree, Tan Mei Mei and Thrisherna - in a lyrical but
intensely erotico-mystical medieval poem, the Gita Govinda - Songs of the
Cowherd. This literary masterpiece composed by Odisha’s medieval saint poet,
Jayadeva, has fascinated rasikas for
centuries and has become a major inspiration for Odissi dancers. The three
girls interpret the various complex moods of Radha-Krishna carnal-divine
pastoral love, exploring the various layered sweet-painful ‘rasa’ of love, in
separation.
Program
Sritakamala
O Hari! You rest on the circle of Sri’s breasts,
wearing gorgeous earrings, wreathed in forest-flower garlands. May You triumph, O Krishna!
Lalita Lavanga
Soft sandal mountain winds caress quivering vines of clove.
Forest huts hum with droning bees and crying cuckoos.
Forest huts hum with droning bees and crying cuckoos.
Radha’s confidant tells
her: When spring’s mood is rich. Hari
roams here
To dance with young women.
Friend – a cruel time for deserted lovers.
To dance with young women.
Friend – a cruel time for deserted lovers.
Chandana
Charchita
From a secret place, Radha’s
confidant draws her attention to Krishna’s dalliance and flirtation with other
gopis. She describes Krishna’s yellow silk garments and wildflower garlands
against his dark sandal-oiled skin. She adds to Radha’s dejection by saying “Hari
revels here as the crowd of charming girls revel in seducing him to play.”
Intermission
Rati Suka Sare
Radha’s
confidant tells her:
He ventures in
secret to savour your passion, dressed for love’s delight.
Radha, don’t let full hips idle! Follow the lord of your heart!
In woods on the wind-swept Jumna bank, Krishna waits wearing wildflower garlands.
Radha, don’t let full hips idle! Follow the lord of your heart!
In woods on the wind-swept Jumna bank, Krishna waits wearing wildflower garlands.
Priye Charushile
Krishna placates sulking Radha:
If you speak, moonlight gleaming on
your teeth, dispels the dread darkness of fear.
Let your moon face lure my nightbird eyes, to taste nectar from your quivering lips!
You are my ornament, my life, my jewel in the sea of existence!
Place your foot on my head – a sublime flower destroying poison of love!
Let your moon face lure my nightbird eyes, to taste nectar from your quivering lips!
You are my ornament, my life, my jewel in the sea of existence!
Place your foot on my head – a sublime flower destroying poison of love!
Radha, cherished love, abandon your
baseless pride!
Love’s fire burns my heart – bring wine in your lotus
mouth.
Dasavatar
Dasavatar
initiates the devotee to the immortal Gita Govinda invoking the ten incarnations
of Krishna. Hindu believes that when there is imbalance of Dharma (Righteousness), when evil is rife, Krishna will incarnate
himself in one of his avatars to restore balance and order, thus saving
humanity from the clutch of evil. In previous occasions, Krishna has appeared
in his incarnations - as Matsya (The
Fish), Kurma (The Tortoise), Varaha (The Boar), Narasimha (Half Man-Half Lion), Vamana
(The Dwarf), Parasurama (the Warrior
Brahmin), Rama (Hero of the
Ramayana), Balarama (Weilder of the
Plough and brother of Krishna), Buddha
(The Compassionate One) and the last - Kalki,
who is yet to come, will ride a white horse, sword in hand, bringing the world
to its ultimate end.
Dancers
Geethika
Sree started
bharatanatyam under her mother, Sudha Sasikumar, founder of Nritya Kalanjali Dance School (Ipoh, Perak) and then commenced odissi with
Sutra Dance Theatre. With inherent angasuddha (perfection of body pose), Geethika excels in
both classical styles. At eleven, Geethika was first featured in Sutra’s Alarippu to Moksha and now, she is already a seasoned dancer
performing internationally in Sutra’s major productions. Geethika was assistant
to artistic director for Sutra’s latest productions, GANJAM (India Tour 2016, the prestigious Konark
Dance Festival 2017), and Amorous Delight (2017). She took solo stage in Penetrating the Goddess (2017) and recently performed in Odissi on High. She was chosen as one of
the ‘Top 10
New Generation Malaysian
Cultural Dancers–2017’ by Top 10 Malaysia. She has partnered Ramli Ibrahim in several
performances of odissi for heads of states at international gatherings.
Tan
Mei Mei was
introduced to odissi by Sooraj Subramaniam, a senior Sutra dancer, and
continued to pursue this dance style with Sutra. A seasoned and dynamic
performer in control of her technique, Mei Mei made impact in her first
performance The First
Awakenings (Alarippu to Moksha 2005). She was subsequently featured in all
of Sutra’s major odissi productions such as Spellbound, Vision of Forever and contemporary modern productions, Titiwangsa!, Transfigurations, Into the Centre, Tarikan, River Sutra, She Ra, Quintessence and
most recently, Odissi on High. Mei Mei has participated in Sutra’s international
tours taking in U.S., Europe, Oman, Singapore and many cities of India, which
include New Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Mumbai, Ujjain, Bhubaneswar etc
and at the prestigious Konark Dance Festival in 2011 and 2017. Mei Mei runs her
family business and also teaches odissi at Sutra.
Thrisherna Thasunamoorthy, trained in odissi and bharatanatyam, is one of the
brightest stars of the new generation of Sutra dancers with a remarkable
aptitude for movement. In top form, Thrisherna has an impressive understanding
of movement and invests whatever she does with energy. She has performed in
Sutra’s national and international tours and was featured in Spellbound,
Vision of Forever, Odissi Stirred, Krishna-Love Reinvented, GANJAM, Amorous
Delight, Sensation and contemporary modern productions such as Into the Centre,
Quintessence and most recent
Sutra’s production, Odissi on High. A born dancer she continues to develop her talent and artistry
and is currently pursuing her degree in Food Science & Nutrition at the
Memorial University of Newfoundland, Canada.
Vickneshwaran, one the fresh talents to have emerged from the ranks of Sutra dancers,
is a highly musical and intelligent dancer. An engineer by profession,
Vickeshwaran took up odissi only five years ago. Due to his natural aptitude
for dance, hard work, dedication and prodigious talent he is able to catch up
in both expressive and technical proficiency and dance along with Sutra’s
senior dancers. He was eventually chosen to dance in GANJAM during Sutra’s recent tour of Konark Festival
and Uttar Pradesh. Vickneswaran proved his mettle in Serentak and
most recently, in Odissi on High. He has now joined the ranks of Sutra’s regular
male dancers.
Acknowledgement:
Sumithra Sekaran
Santosh Ram & Samir Panigrahi (Rudrakshya
Foundation, Bhubaneswar)
Wei Jun
Sutra
Foundation
Sutra Foundation, a bastion of traditional and contemporary arts,
based in Kuala Lumpur, is bequeathed to Malaysia by one of its most celebrated
sons, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, who is also awardees of ‘Padmashri’ from the
Government of India. The Foundation carries into the future the thread of his
vision and contribution to the Malaysian arts scene. Sutra Foundation strives
to develop the breadth and depth of Malaysian performing and visual arts
through stimulating the creative spirit of cross-cultural Malaysia. Tonight’s
program for Independence Day of India is dedicated to odissi which Sutra
Foundation has helped establish in Malaysia.
Contact:
Sutra House, No 12, Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
Sutra Dance Theatre T 603 4021 1092 | W sutrafoundation.org.my E sutrafoundation25@gmail.com
Sutra House, No 12, Persiaran Titiwangsa 3, 53200 Kuala Lumpur
Sutra Dance Theatre T 603 4021 1092 | W sutrafoundation.org.my E sutrafoundation25@gmail.com
**************************************
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
 |
| Add caption |
No comments:
Post a Comment