Apr 29 2025 to Apr 29 2025 7 p.m.

Where

Bangalore International Centre

7 4th Main Rd, Stage 2, Domlur 560071

Event Description

As a part of World Dance Day celebrations, this session will celebrate the rich tapestry of Indian classical dance by showcasing a curated blend of solo, duet, and group performances, each representing diverse classical traditions from across the country.

Hari Ho…Gati Meri
A Solo by Gauri Diwakar

Hari Ho…Gati Meri (let my salvation be in the supreme) is a statement of “You”. It is a search for salvation, truth and for beauty.
Based on the poetry of Sayyad Fazlul Hasan popularly known as Maulana Hasrat Mohani, the work revolves around the eternal resonance of Krishna’s flute.
Is the melody emerging out of Krishna’s flute a message beckoning to eternal life or the fount of ever increasing knowledge?
I search you else where, ignorant me! Waiting, waiting and letting life go by, while you reside within the deepest core of me. Let my senses be open to you, within me.
I hear the flute, I see the melody, I feel the love!

Credits :
Concept & Research : Sanjay Nandan
Choreography :  Aditi Mangaldas
Music composition, vocals & harmonium: Samiullah Khan

Natya Samanwayam
A Duet by Sujatha Nair and Gururaju

Our Indian classical dances bear testimony to the national ethos of Unity in Diversity. Multiple forms, Single spirit. Here is an attempt to reaffirm this unique trait of our country, through the coming together of two of our popular classical dance styles; Kuchipudi & Mohiniyattam.  Adhering to the traditions and flavors of individual styles, blending seamlessly, an amalgamation of visual beauty and serenity is created. This is an invocatory piece that sees the blend of a Marathi Nirupan which is abhinaya oriented with a Swathitirunal Kriti, a Nritta composition, Tillana.

Anadi Ananta: The Seamless One
A Group Performance by Minal Prabhu & Mudrika Foundation for Indian Performing Arts

This piece is inspired by Advaita Vedanta, where Brahman is the ultimate, singular truth and all other manifestations are mere illusions of that truth. Jagat Chaitanya- the beam of light, the Parabrahman, symbolizes the eternal cycle of creation and destruction—without beginning or end. Shiva’s cosmic dance embodies this rhythm of life, death and rebirth. Through the rhythm created by his movement, breath, damaru and the sweat that fell off his dancing body, he created the Pancha Bhootas, the five elements – Earth, Water, Fire, Wind, and Space, which form the foundation of existence.

The manifestation of these elements is the manifestation of Brahman itself. With this production, we bow to Parabrahman through the ethereal embodiment of the Pancha Bhootas.

This event is part of our International Dance Day celebrations Echoes of the Moving Body.

Supported by:

Performers

Gauri Diwakar
Kathak Dancer & Choreographer
Gauri Diwakar is an acclaimed Kathak dancer and choreographer based in New Delhi, India. Gauri was trained by eminent Gurus Sumita Chowdhary, Pandit Birju Maharaj, Shri Jai Kishan Maharaj and Aditi Mangaldas.

Gauri’s production Hari Ho….Gati Meri ( Let my Salvation be in You ) was showcased at Sadler Wells in Darbar Festival, Sydney Dance Festival and Edinburgh Fringe Festival apart from many performances in India. Her major productions include, Samratri- The Night of Divine Union, Dancing Emptiness & Mugdha- Celebration of Beauty & Womanhood. Her contribution as a Kathak Expert in a theatrical adaptation of  Mughal-E-Azam is being widely appreciated. Gauri forms part of the teaching team at Akram Khan Company’s Intensive program teaching Kathak technique.

In recognition of her work, she has been awarded Senior fellowship by Kalavaahini Trust, Chennai in 2019. While in the year 2008 she was awarded  ‘Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar’  by India’s premier Cultural body Sangeet Natak Akademi.

Sujatha Nair Sanjay
Mohiniyattam Dancer
Sujatha Nair Sanjay is the daughter and disciple of Jayashree Nair, founder and director of Upaasana and has been learning Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam from her mother for more than three decades. She is also learning Odissi from Debi Basu and has numerous performances in all the three styles to her credit. Sujatha has performed on prestigious stages, in and outside Mumbai, and at festivals like Ananya Festival, Khajurao Festival, Kalaghoda Festival, Mumbai Festival, Elephanta Festival, Sirpur Festival, Girnar Mahotsav, Mudra Festival etc. to name a few.

She is also an accomplished Carnatic singer and have recorded numerous songs.  She is a recipient of the Government of India Scholarship for Bharatanatyam and is an A grade artist of Doordarshan.

Minal Prabhu
Bharatnatyam Choreographer & Teacher
Minal Prabhu has been a passionate Bharatnatyam dancer and a student of Kalakshetra. She is the leading guru for several contemporary Bharatnatyam dancers in India. Minal runs the school Mudrika Foundation for Indian Performing Arts at Bangalore. She is a passionate teacher and imparts the values and dance styles of Kalakshetra. She has choreographed a series of group and solo dance features like Panchatantra, Trikon, Panchakanya, Krishna Navarasa, Moksha Mudra, Dasamanjari, Badrinath etc to name a few. In addition to being a committed Guru at Mudrika, Minal has continued to express her fervor for the progress of dance education by teaching Aesthetics at the Natya Institute of Kathak and choreography and conducting Bharathanatyam classes at the Attakalari Center. She also conducts annual workshops in Singapore at
Minal Prabhu has released CDs and DVDs designed to aid the budding dancers.

She was awarded the Karnataka Kalashree award in the year 2014 for her outstanding contribution to dance and was conferred the title of Bharat Kala Chudar by the Tamil Isai Sangam , Pollachi in 2016.

Gururaju
Kuchipudi Artist
Gururaju is a Bangalore based Kuchipudi artist, trained under Vyjayanthi Kashi, SNA Awardee, celebrity dancer and guru. His guru has included him in group productions and choreographed by her across the globe, from Africa to Europe and the Middle East. He has performed many solos in national and international festivals and has received acclaim from both audiences  and critics.

One of the most distinguished male dancers of Kuchipudi in India today. An artiste of Doordarshan. He has received numerous awards and titles including the Ram Gopal Best male Soloist Award from Ashish Khokar’s Attendance, Nalanda Nrithya Nipuna, Aryabhata International Award.