Bharatanatyam – Kuravanji

Description

Kuravanji is a popular type of dance-drama distinctive to the Tamils performed mainly in temples. The word Kura refers to the tribe ˜Kuravas or Chenchus where the men where nomadic hunters and the women folk were reputed fortune tellers. The kuratti may convey a nomadic gypsy image, but the Tamil tradition accords a dignified place for the tribe with its own ethos and accomplishments. The word Anjia is derived from adavus which means traditional dances. A blend of classical and folk art forms, it is said to have originated around the 17th Century.

There are numerous variations in this art form comprising of compositions with high poetic quality.

Roja Kannan is a senior disciple of Sri Adyar K. Lakshman and Padmabhushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan. She has performed extensively in India and abroad and has won many awards and accolades for her crisp and lively performances in the Kalakshetra style of dance. She is the Director of her school of dance ˜Bharatha Natyalaya, training hundreds of students.

Priya Murali a senior disciple of Smt. Sudharani Raghupathy, is a recipient of several awards and has performed and conducted workshops extensively in India and abroad. She is a senior teacher at Sree Bharathalaya and is adept at choreography and nattuvangam.

N.Srikanth – Since the age of 6, Srikanth has been at home on the stage, first as an actor in the Bhagavata Mela dance drama of Mellattur, Tamilnadu, and as a dancer in the tradition of Bharathanatyam. Srikanth has trained under several illustrious Gurus, including Sri. Shanmugasundaram Pillai, Dr. Saraswati, and Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam, at whose institution he broadened his horizons in the art of Natya.

Aswathy Srikanth -Aswathy started her training under her mother, renowned dancer, Smt. Kalamandalam Saraswathy, at the tender age of four, giving her first stage performance at the age of seven. Aswathy is trained in three forms of dance, namely Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. She began her training in Mohiniyattam under her mother and now continues under, Smt. Kalamandalam Leelamma, one of the most illustrious names in Mohiniyattam.

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