Kee Hua Chee Live!: DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM'S "SONGS OF THE COWHERD---GITA GOVINDA (ODISSI)" DANCE SHOW AT SUTRA HOUSE IN LAKE TITIWANGSA WAS A MESMERISING EXPERIENCE AND A JOY TO WATCH. MORE SO WHEN THE OCTAGONAL STAGE WAS IN HIS GARDEN FLANKED BY LUSH GREENERY AND A SLAP-UP DINNER COOKED BY CHEF ISADORA CHAI IN DATO RAMLI'S KITCHEN!

KEE@FSWMAG.COM

WWW.SUTRAFOUNDATION.ORG.MY

SUTRAFOUNDATION25@MAIL.COM

03-4021 1092

SUTRA FOUNDATION
Presents

Songs of the Cowherd – Gita Govinda (Odissi)
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.

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.

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.

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!

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

MALAYSIA'S GREATEST AND FINEST AND MOST SUCCESSFUL PLUS GOOD LOOKING CLASSICAL ODISSI DANCER, FEMALE CHEF AND SUPERBLOGGER

DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM, ISADORA CHAI AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE

SEXY CHEF ISADORA CHAI PRESENTING HUNKY HANDSOME ODISSI CLASSICAL DANCER DATO RAMLIOBRAHIM

ARTISTIC SOULMATES

CHEF ISADORA CHAI AND SUPEREST BLOGGER DATO KEE HUA CHEE

VICKNESHWARAN AS KRISHNA

DATO KEE HUA CHEE WITH THE 4 DANCERS

GEETHIKA SREE AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE

VICKY AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE

TAN MEI MEI AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE

THRISHERNA AND DATO KEE HUA CHEE
**************************************

DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM WITH DATO ROSE GANENDRA AND HER KIDS

VIP GUESTS

DATO KEE HUA CHEE WAS FINALLY ASKED TO BE IN PHOTOS

ZUCCHINI FLOWER FRITTER WITH RICOTTA AND SALMAREJO

SMOKED GOLDEN SNAPPER AND SQUID CONSOMME

SHOW'S STARTING

SUTRA FOUNDATION HOUSE IN TITIWANGSA

WAKAF LIKE IN KELANTAN

OCTAGONAL STAGE IN THE GARDEN

DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM WELCOMING GUESTS

I DUNNO WHAT HAPPENED BUT THE EFFECT IS QUITE DAZZLING LIKE ME

PERFORMANCE BY SUTRA DANCERS GEETHIKA SREE, TAN MEI MEI AND THRISEHERNA

LOVE THE BLURRY, SURREAL EFFECT CAUSED BY GRACEFUL MOVEMENTS

SEE HER 2 FACES!

LIKE A HINDU GODDESS

LOVE THE EFFECT

INTERMISSION

Add caption

CHEF ISADORA CHAI

SUPER CHEF ISADORA CHAI AND SUPER BLOGGER DATO KEE HUA CHEE

INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCER DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM, CHEF OSADORA CHAI AND BLOGGER DATO KEE HUA CHEE

DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM AND CHEF ISADORA CHAI

I REPLACED HER SINCE WE LOOK ALIKE ANYWAY LIKE TWINS

DATO IBRAHIM HUSSEIN

ISADORA CHAI MAKES AN APPEARANCE

DATO IBRAHIM RAMLI AND HIS 2 YOUNG ACOLYTES

SIFU AND TUTI

SHOWING OFF WHAT THEY LEARNED

DATO RAMLI IBRAHIM EXPLAINING THE 10 INCARNATIONS OF KRISHNA BEFORE THIS KALPA COMES TO AN END

THE LAST AVATAR OF VISHNU/KRISHNA CALLED KALKI WHO WILL RIDE A WHITE HORSE WITH SWORD TO USHER IN THE END OF THE WORLD!

THE FEMALE VERSIONS

SPECTACULAR PHOTO OF THE GOPIS THROWING PETALS INTO THE AIR AS HOMAGE TO THEIR DANCE GURU AND AUDIENCE! TAKEN WITH MY TRUSTY LITTLE CANON POWERSHOTSX710 HS!