The Hindu : Kerala News : Kuchipudi dancers steal the show

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Sunday, Jan 16, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Kuchipudi dancers steal the show

By K. Santhosh

V.S.Vivek of AVHSS, Karivellur, Kannur, who won the first prize in Kuchipudi.

TIRUR, JAN. 15. Kuchipudi dancers stole the limelight at the 45th State Schools Youth Festival here on Saturday.

V.S. Vivek of AVHSS, Karivellur, won the first prize in the boy's section, beating 15 other contestants. The participants presented a variety of Tharangams. The girl's section had 21 contestants.

Anyone who witnessed the guitar-playing contest would have greeted and encouraged the young players the Spanish way: Ole, Ole! For, the Spanish composer Isaac Albeniz (1860-1909) was the favourite of many contestants. They played the composer's famous work, `Asturias'. Albeniz combines elements of Andalusian music, dance rhythms and cante jondo kind of melodies. The use of the Phrygian mode is another highlight.

The shift from B major to C major is attractive in Asturias. Raemus Daniel of St. Joseph's High School played the piece well, but did not win the prize. Romance -- Segments in E minor' and the Deep Purple song, `Smoke on the Water' had quite a few takers. K.J. Melisma of Carmel Girl's School, Thiruvananthapuram, who won the the first prize winner, played Beethoven's `Fur Elise.' Varun Raj of St. Michael's AIHSS School, Kannur, a disciple of Pramod Reynolds of the band, Renegades, won the second prize, strumming a blues number. The piece was rich in power chords. The mood was profoundly sombre when the guitarist touched E seventh. Durwin Avron D'Souza of Leo School, Alappuzha, the third prize winner, played the famous, `Hotel California.' Most of the performers displayed their ability to play both classical and modern pieces.

Of the 14 participants in the Chenda-playing competition, most preferred the Thayambaka idiom. A few chose the Panchari mode. The contest was of a high standard, but the sound system was unpleasantly loud. Percussion maestros Peruvanam Kuttan Marar and Mattannur Sankarankutty were there to judge the contest. Sony Thomas Kaitheckal of St. Vincent HSS in Pala won the first prize in the English recitation competition, beating 15 other contestants. She recited Sarojini Naidu's `Queen's Rival'. "The right choice of theme won me the prize," said Sony.

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