Program

The dancers offer this vibrant performance as a salutation to the blissfully dancing Ananda Nartana Ganapati, combining rhythmic nrtta footwork with expressive abhinaya to bring His presence alive. Omkāra, the primal cosmic sound, resonates deeply in the Mūlādhāra Chakra—the foundational energy center within the body and mind of human consciousness. Lord Ganapati, the presiding deity of this chakra, embodies the essence of AUM. His presence activates and stabilizes this vital center, removing obstacles and guiding the first step of our spiritual journey.

The dancer performs this piece as to Goddess Kamakshi, describing Her beauty through facial expressions and various mudras, like the lotus mudra, parrot-beak mudra, etc., emphasizing the nrtya (expressive dance) aspect of Bharatanatyam. The Goddess is worshipped as Kamakshi, the loving divine mother with beautiful lotus-like eyes. Just like the parakeet that sings as it swings in the cage, the goddess Shakthi who is caged in Śiva, the Brahman, resonates the divine melody of Omkara, setting the dynamic rhythm of the cosmos in motion.

Another dance piece which shows the beauty and benevolence of Goddess Varalakshmi using pure dance movements (Nṛtta), expressive gestures (Nṛtya), and storytelling (Nāṭya), with hand gestures like the Padma Hasta (lotus mudra), highlighting the full range of Bharatanatyam.

Goddess Śri Varalakshmi’s radiant form, shining brighter than thousands of suns, reflects her limitless supreme power. Yet, moved by sincere devotion, when we venerate her through the Varalakshmi Vratam, she compassionately dispels illusion and gently guides our mind toward inner calm and union with Brahman (bhavanā bheda caturE).

Varnam is the central piece of a Bharatanatyam performance, where the dancer displays both technical mastery and emotional expression, highlighting the dancer’s endurance, grace, precision and artistry.
At the macrocosmic level, the eternal, unperceivable Brahman pervades all, resonating as Omkāra throughout creation.

At the microcosmic level, the formless Brahman remains a challenge for the devotee to connect with. The various sacred forms of deities help devotees connect with the divine more easily. In this evocative piece Rūpamu jūci, dancers, as devotees, question and plead with Lord Shiva like a close friend, yearning for divine closeness.

This piece brings to life the playful divinity of Lord Krishna through a rich blend of pure dance, expressive storytelling, and emotive gestures, capturing his charm, mischief, and divine grace. From stealing butter with a twinkle in his eye to melting Mother Yashoda’s anger with a single smile, Krishna’s childhood is a celebration of divine play. When tied to a stone and caught eating sand, he reveals the cosmos within his tiny mouth, reminding us of the infinite within the innocent. The piece moves through Vrindavan’s despair when the Yamuna is poisoned by a serpent, and Krishna’s fearless act of restoring purity and life to the land. Finally, it culminates in Draupadi’s desperate cry in the court of the Kauravas, an embodiment of viraha bhakti, the devotional longing for divine intervention. Her surrender is met with Krishna’s protection, showing that when all else fails, faith in the divine never does. Through dynamic rhythms and intricate footwork, this piece showcases the boundless compassion, power, and playfulness of the charming lord who dwells in every heart.

Lord Śiva’s Sandhya Tāṇḍava, the blissful cosmic dance is the very heartbeat of creation—where the silent, formless unchanging truth moves as rhythm, and every step echoes as the sacred sound AUM. In this divine act, Lord Śiva reveals that all life, all change, all stillness—everything—is nothing but the eternal Omkāra in rhythm. The dancer embodies Lord Śiva’s divine power and grace with precise, rhythmic movements and expressive gestures. Each step echoes the heartbeat of creation, while intricate mudras and expressions convey wisdom, compassion, and cosmic energy. Synchronizing with celestial rhythms, the dancer brings the eternal cycle of creation, preservation, and dissolution to life, delivering a profound and immersive spiritual experience.

Thillana embodies this vibrant and rhythmic energy, culminating the performance with a powerful expression of the dancer’s skill and divine connection, evoking a sense of blissful celebration.

This Thillana - Geethadhuniku thakadheem nadrukita thom is one of the gems of divine ancient art of Thanjavur/Pandallanur style Bharatanatyam. The dancers with their rhythmic movements & beautiful postures offer the true complexity and the ecstasy of human spirits by divine purity and vitality to convey a feeling of supreme bliss with Nritta Korvais patterns.

Mangalam, the concluding benediction in a Bharatanatyam performance, is where the dancer offers gratitude and invokes blessings from the divine, the guru, and the audience. This act of thanksgiving creates a deep sense of spiritual connection. As the performance approaches Mangalam, the dancer steps beyond oneself and becomes fully absorbed in the dance. In that moment, every movement and emotion come together, allowing both the dancer and the audience to feel a deep sense of harmony and oneness with the divine. This reflects the Makara in the Omkara Nāda, which symbolizes the dissolution of creation and how all life and existence naturally return to their original source—the ultimate reality, Brahman.

Program

Pushpanjali

Ananda Nartana Ganapathi

Kancha Dalaayataakshi

NARTANAALAYA - THE TEMPLE OF DANCE

Sree Varalakshmi Namastubhyam

Guest of Honor : Dr. Sekhar Boddupalli

Varnam - Roopamu Joochi

Jeevula Pantalu - Sivapadam

Kanna Karmega Vanna

Tandava Keli

Thillana

Mangalam

Master of Ceremony : Kum. Poorna Balamurugan & Kum. Sahaana Balamurali