NCPA Utkarsh: In Reverence to the Maestro

Lecture demonstration by Bala Devi Chandrashekar on Exploring the Sculptural Repertoire, Karanas, and Rasa Sutra of the Natya Shastra

Bala Devi Chandrashekar is an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent, research scholar, and educator known for her distinctive scholarly approach to classical dance. Rooted in extensive research and collaboration with eminent scholars, her productions draw from ancient Indian texts and philosophies while presenting them in a contemporary, globally resonant context.

Born into a family of philosophers and literary scholars, Bala Devi trained under Guru Jayalakshmi Narayanan in Hyderabad and later under Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam in Chennai, who conferred upon her the titles “Bharata Nrtya Seva Mani” and “Nrtyasali” for her mastery of the 108 Karanas.

As Professor of Practice and Artistic Director of SPNAPA Academy of Performing Arts in Princeton, Bala Devi is deeply committed to teaching and interdisciplinary performing studies. She has also served as Fellow and Artist-in-Residence at Princeton University.

Over the past 25 years, Bala Devi has presented more than 500 performances across 40 countries and has created several critically acclaimed dance productions, including Uddhava Gita, Vishwam, Tripura, Karna, Brihadeeswara, and Mauli. Notably, she is the only Bharatanatyam exponent to have presented at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in both 2018 and 2024, and to have performed at India House during the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Exploring the Sculptural Repertoire, Karanas, and Rasa Sutra of the Natya Shastra

Rasa – The Aesthetic Experience in Bharatanatyam and Indian Temple Sculpture – An immersive lecture-demonstration and performance by internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam exponent Bala Devi Chandrashekar, based on the acclaimed production Mauli – A Timeless Tradition. The presentation explores the profound aesthetic philosophy of the Natya Shastra, focusing on Rasa Sutra, Bhava, Bharatanatyam, Karanas, Indian temple sculpture, and the  devotional  tradition.

The presentation investigates the  Karanas, the foundational movement vocabulary of Bharatanatyam and Indian classical dance, as represented in the sculptural programs of South Indian temples, particularly the Tanjore temple tradition. It explores the dynamic relationship between dance, sculpture, sacred architecture, ritual, movement, and aesthetic philosophy.

Rooted in the ancient Indian treatise on dance and drama, the Natya Shastra, this lecture-demonstration examines how human emotion (Bhava) transforms into universal aesthetic experience (Rasa), evoking the timeless concept of the Rasa Sutra—a state of transcendental aesthetic relish. Through dance, music, scholarship, sculpture, and ritual aesthetics, the audience is led through a deeply sensory, emotional, spiritual, and transformative journey.

Free entry.