Bharathanatyam at Barefoot
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The dancers from Nirmalanjali. Pic by Luke Spinner Tidball
On June 14, the dancers of Dr. Nirmala John’s Nirmalanjali Academy in collaboration with Barefoot will perform Devamala (‘A Garland of Gods’), the first dance performance at the Barefoot Gallery gardens in 15 years. Amidst the fragrance of incense, strings of jasmine and trailing vines, the performance will depict a collection of gods and goddesses from Indian mythology in dance, each a shining gem in the divine garland.
In Colombo, bharathanatyam performances tend to take place in temple halls and auditoriums, usually with an audience familiar with the art form and able to decode the signs and symbols that convey its rich narratives. In this performance the Nirmalanjali dancers will guide the audience through the language of bharathanatyam’s reddened feet and fingers, providing context to each dance in the belief that understanding increases the pleasure, or rasa, of the audience’s experience.
Accompanied by live carnatic musicians and vocalists, the performance will communicate aspects of the divine pantheon to the audience through classical movement, music, and expression. To connect with Barefoot’s important role in Sri Lanka’s artisan tradition, the dancers will wear custom Barefoot fabrics.
‘Natyapoorna’ Dr. Nirmala John is a distinguished Bharathanatyam teacher, choreographer and pioneer who was trained at Bharatakalanjali under the renowned guru V. P. Dhananjayan. The Nirmalanjali Academy was founded in 1986.
The performance will take place on June 14 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.ticketsministry.lk or in advance at the Barefoot Gallery, Monday – Saturday (cash only). Contact 0773936719 for any questions.
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