Date:05/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/05/stories/2006090515530200.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Preserving the beauty of Bharatanatyam

Special Correspondent

The six-day festival will include episodes from Srimad Bhagavatham

Bangalore: In an effort to preserve the beauty of Bharatanatyam in its original form, the Kalakshetra Foundation of Chennai is presenting a series of dance dramas at "Krishna Shrungar," a dance festival to be organised here by the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON).

The six-day festival will include episodes from Srimad Bhagavatham including Rukmini Kalyanam, Bhakta Jayadeva, Andal Charitram, Kurmavataham, Kuchelopakhyanam and Dasaru Kanda Krishna from September 21 to 26 on the ISKCON premises in Rajajinagar.

"Dasaru Kanda Krishna" is a brand new production of Kalakshetra and is being premiered at the festival.

Choreographed originally by the late Rukmini Devi Arundale, each episode of two hours' duration has music from eminent composers such as Mysore Vasudevacharya and Papanasam Sivan.

45-member troupe

A 45-member troupe from Kalakshetra consisting of senior dancers under its director Leela Samson will perform.

"Dasaru Kanda Krishna" eulogises Krishna from the perspective of Purandaradasa and Kanakadasa, the devout composers from Karnataka. The former director of Kalakshetra S. Rajaram is the music director for this episode, which has been dramatised with the choicest of 12 songs composed by the two.

Transport facility

ISKCON has arranged special transport facility in the city for those attending the programme. For details, call Ph: 23471956/23578346.