Spectrum 2024 – Rang & Nava Kalevar

Rang – Bharatanatyam by Priyadarsini Govind

Nava Kalevar: Odissi in Contemporary Couture Odissi by Madhavi Mudgal & Troupe

An exceptional Bharatanatyam artiste, Priyadarsini Govind has perfected a dance style marked by fluid movement and a sharp sense of rhythm. After initial training under Usha, Govind specialised in abhinaya under Kalanidhi Narayanan and received advanced training in Bharatanatyam under Swamimalai K. Rajarathnam  Pillai, exponent of the Vazhvoor school. She has performed at dance festivals in countries like France, Tunisia, Britain and Japan. Govind has received several honours including the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for her contribution to Bharatanatyam, the titles of Kalaimamani conferred by the Tamil Nadu Eyal Isai Ataka Manra, and Nritya Choodamani by the Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, to name a few.

Govind will be presenting Rang, a collection of compositions of different shades of emotions. The presentation includes an Alaripu set against the aural framework of a Siddhar verse, Dharu on Chamundi (the presiding deity of Mysuru), a lament of Ravana, an unusual verse, sourced from the repertoire of Koodiyattam, a Vidyapati verse (which is a Nindastuti), bringing out the tongue-in-cheek humour of a young bride, a Kshretrayya composition with an unusual heroine, and a composition on the Kalinga Nartanam.

One of the leading classical dancers of India, Madhavi Mudgal is a prime disciple of the legendary Kelucharan Mohapatra. She is credited with bringing a greatly refined sensibility to her art form. Apart from establishing a niche as a soloist on the international dance scene, she has received critical acclaim for her choreographic works. She teaches at the Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi. She is a recipient of the Padma Shri, Central and the Odisha State Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards, Grande Medaille de la Ville de Paris, Delhi State Parishad Samman and Nritya Choodamani, among others. Mudgal was also awarded the Chevalier de l’ordre des arts et des lettres by the Government of France.

Mudgal will be presenting Nava Kalevar: Odissi in Contemporary Couture. The word ‘kalevar’ refers to the outer form or body, usually in the context of the deity, and in Odisha, of Jagannath. This presentation offers an experience of the traditional form of Odissi dressed in a novel sensibility. It highlights the possibilities that emerge when weaving the major strands of music, poetry and rhythm in appropriate measure, to create its unique tapestry.

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