Ardhanarishwar: Unique presentation in Trini Kuchipudi dance festival

Shashiprabha Tiwari

New Delhi. Guru Vanashree Rao’s disciples gave excellent performances in the Trini Kuchipudi Nritya Sanaroh organized at the India Habitat Center in the capital. Dancers Washim Raja, Montushree Majumdar and Aina Mukherjee mesmerized the audience with their dancing talent.

The program started with Washim Raja’s Kaliya Nartanam, based on a composition by Utkadu Venkata Subbaiah. The hand gestures brought alive the childhood antics of Krishna and the episode of Kaliya Naag. Washim has been announced as the recipient of the Rajagopal Best Male Soloist Award, which will be presented at the Dance Sir Annual Awards 2024 to be held in Bengaluru.

This cut by his seductive body movements and gun in snakehead

Whereas, Aina Mukherjee skillfully portrayed Goddess Durga and Dashavatara of Vishnu in Devi Devambhaje in Raga Hindolam and Rupak taal. The last performance of the festival was Ardhashankaram, performed by Dr. Basant Kiran Rayasam and his co-artists. It was based on Ardhanarishvara, a composition by Vedanta Lingam Sastry.
In the Kuchipudi dance form, the coordination of Shiva and Parvati was presented through story and dance. Dr. Basant’s costumes and dance style mesmerized the audience.

Dancer Montushree Majumdar presented the emotions of Radha and Krishna in a very subtle and delicate manner in Ashtapadi based on Dheere Samari Yamuna banks. This wonderful glimpse of the Guru-Shishya tradition and the preparation of the young artists was the main attraction of the event. The program brought alive the tradition and energy of Indian classical dance.