An international appeal for peace through dance [Ahmedabad]

by Pathak, Santana

AHMEDABAD: ‘Lamps on Lilypads’ by Jaysi at Natarani on Sunday evening was a narrative with resonances of world poetry, story telling, Hindustani music and Kathak’s ‘tihais’ and ‘chakradhars’.

An appeal for peace was the ubiquitious theme through the composition. It was apt that this fresh composition started the three-day ‘Festival of Non-Violence Through Arts’ at Darpana academy which will continue till February 1.

The essence of the Jaysi presentation was its international appeal. The tone was as explanatory as it comes and as simple as could be understood world over.

Each bit of intricacy, either in dance movements or in the corresponding narrative was part of a continuous conversation with the audience by the dancer, through an Mexican ballad or an Irish anti-war folk song, or Hindustani classical music or the ‘bols’ of Kathak.

The intense desire for peace, freedom in every sense and communnal harmony runs like a stream through the JypsyJay production. It germinated in Jaysi’s deep sense of personal protest against the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan and the communal strife in India.

‘Tere mere seeshe ka ghar, phir kyun hai haath me patthar, Ram bhi tera, rahim bhi tera, phir kya mera, kya tera,’ sang Jaysi, translating each couplet into immaculate Kathak rhythms. The ‘manjira’ rendition towards the end accompanied by Kathak lent an original flavour to the entire composition.

The flow of poetry, music, dance and story culminated in the intensity of Louis Armstrong’s ‘What a wonderful world’ which created the climax with a feeling of deep involvement reverberating in the audience’s acknowlegement.

The festival continues with ‘Chakra thi Charkha Sudhi’ on Monday and ‘Sva Kranti – The Revolution Within’ being performed on February 1.

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Pathak, Santana “An international appeal for peace through dance [Ahmedabad]”. Times of India, The. FindArticles.com. 11 Nov, 2011.
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