Inspirational and purposeful

Thoughts on ‘Ramaneeyam’ and Dr. Rajagopalan’s Mylapore Fine Arts Solo,
by Silambam Heights Bharatanatyam student Veda Kaushik

Ramaneeyam

This performance was truly thrilling. Through the movement quality, facial expressions, synchronization, and formations, I was astonished. The choreography was especially captivating. I enjoyed how there were parts of complete uniformity, where every dancer moved with exactitude and precision, down to the subtle eye movements. In contrast, I equally appreciated the segments in which each dancer performed differing choreography. The stage remained harmonious while allowing for dissimilar movement. This technique also aided the dancers with the story telling aspect: Each person had a different role, but each bit of choreography pieced together to tell the audience a story.

Solo by Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan

The first thing I noticed while watching Lavanya Aunty were her eyes. They alone could have told the entire story. The expression and movement of such a minuscule body part made the biggest difference. The way Aunty dances reminds me that this art form differs from others in that it is less about movement and more about story telling through movement. Every hastam, every step, every subtle head movement has a purpose. And putting all of this together creates a truly breathtaking piece. Moreover, Lavanya Aunty's love for dance inspires me. If you were to take away the costume, hair, makeup, and lighting, I am sure she would dance in the studio with the same alacrity. At certain points of the performance, it felt as if she was purely in her element and the audience just happened to be there. She was dancing for herself, for her own happiness. We were just lucky enough to witness it.