Newsgroups: rec.arts.dance
Date: Mon, 23 Nov 1992 02:13:25 -0500 
From: Mayuram Krishnan <mk4f+@andrew.cmu.edu>
Subject: Bharatanatyam Dance. 

		
		     BHARATANATYAM  PERFORMANCE 
		      (with English surtitles)
 
	Mythili Sridhar will present a Bharatanatyam performance at the 
SriVenkateswara (S.V.) Temple, at Pittsburgh on November 28, 1992, 7.00 p.m.
 
	This performance is part of a Ramayana Retreat during the 
Thanksgiving weekend at the S.V. Temple at Pittsburgh. It is entitled
	
			RAMAYANA THUBYAM
 
		which literally means, "Ramayana for you".
 
	In this program, Mythili will experiment with the use of 
ENGLISH SURTITLES, to make the program more understandable and enjoyable 
for audiences which do not know the language of the dance music. The idea 
is, that as the dancer performs, the English translation of the song's 
lyrics will be projected at appropriate intervals for the audience to 
follow exactly what the dancer is depicting through her choreography. 
 
	The songs are sung by Arunachala Kavi and Maharaja Swathi Tirunal 
in Sanskrit and Tamil. The songs narrate various episodes from the great 
Indian epic, RAMAYANA.  Prior to each dance item, Mythili will also be 
sketching the story outline contained in the song for that item, through 
the use of dance gestures and associated verbal explanations. Such a
demonstration-cum-interpretation approach has been used successfully by her
in a special showcase performance on Bharatanatyam at the Krannert Centre
for Performing Arts, in Urbana-Champaign, earlier this year. 
 
	Mythili has been performing Bharatanatyam since 1981, when she
had her arangetram (debut). Her guru is Mrs. Saroja Vaidyanathan, the
founder president of Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, India. 
 
	Mythili has given several solo performances in many cities in
India and has figured on Madras and Delhi Television.  She has played 
a lead role in several ballets and dance dramas produced by Ganesa 
Natyalaya. In the words of one leading Delhi critic, she "distinguished 
herself" in the title role of the ballet, Adi Shankara. A special 
program of this ballet was presented at the Rashtrapathi Bhawan, 
New Delhi, on the invitation of the Honourable President of India for 
him and his invitees. This is similar to the cultural programs featured 
in the White House in the US.
 
	Mythili had the distinction of being adjudged the best dancer
in her school for two consecutive years. She is also the recipient of 
the First Prize, in the All India Classical dance competition section, 
in both the Tarang Festival (1984) and the Pulse Festival (1985) in 
New Delhi. 
 
	Some leading art critics in India have given her reviews as under -
 
	"Naturalness and enjoyment in dancing".
 
	"Height of virtuosity both in Nritya and Abhinaya".
 
	"Striking stage presence".
 
	"Expressive eyes fetch the impact of the lyrics effectively". 
 
	Mythili taught Bharatnatyam at Ganesa Natyalaya before migrating
to the US in 1990. She now conducts Bharatnatyam classes in Urbana-Champaign, 
where she is also doing research at the University of Illinois. Her 
research interests include the use of advanced computer techniques like 
multi-media for imparting of Bharatnatyam instruction. She is experimenting 
with new techniques in her performances to both popularise and increase 
awareness of this ancient classical dance form from South India, among 
both Indian and non-Indian audiences in the US. 
 
	Mythili may be contacted at (217)-367-2338 or mythili@ncsa.uiuc.edu.
Program details and directions to S.V.Temple at Pittsburgh may be obtained
by calling 412-373-3380.
 


Newsgroups: rec.arts.dance