Pop Odissi

A Weekends at KNMA original production - Prelude

Summer, Monsoon, Autumn, Winter & Spring: individually each represents various Emotions, Nuances, Textures, Sensations, Opportunities and Challenges!

A completely Dance-Drama-Rhythm-Melody ‘immersive’ ballet production, SEASONS is a performance that facilitates a dialogue with the audience.

Performed by - ADITYA DUTTA

Drums & Cymbals, JUNAHI RATTANN, Odissi Dance, SIDDHARTH GAUTAM, Guitars

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PERFORMANCE SYNOPSIS

SUMMERS

Amidst Grishma Ritu, the Nartaki aka the Dancer along with the musicians enter the space, with a full swing. She’s enamored by the early morning sunlight, it’s magnificence, the light it radiates & it’s remarkable presence. She bows down in the Salutation towards the sun, offering her Namaskars. But as the clock moves forward & the appearance of sun changes, it makes it difficult for the nartaki & blocks her Gati (speed). A sigh of relief comes, when she sees a riverbed nearby and then what? She went inalong with her friends to splash some water on the body; gazing at sun’s scorching rays with a tease.

MONSOON

The heartbeat of a peacock is beating with a beautiful rhythm, and its feathers are eagerly awaiting to open up & become more vibrant and colorful. Is it drizzling yet? The water droplets are making the iridescent feather structures to stand out & the nartaki awakens the peacock within. She presents pure dance just like a beautiful tapestry of rhythm, music and movement, a synchrony of natural grace. The smell of the soil awakens her soul & the eyes getting enlarged with curiosity, a child-like curiosity. Just the way, when a child makes a paper-boat and makes it float in the water; the innocence in her watches it floattill the farer ends; monsoons Varsha Ritu are such.

AUTUMN

Leaves falling on the ground, making the path appear amber & the temperature becomes calm. Come Sharat Ritu autumn, and the arrival of all things beautiful can’t be far behind. That nip in the early morning air with the fragrance of Jasmine, dewdrops on leaves, we begin to realize that the season is changing, ushering in the arrival of Goddess Durga. With Dhunuchi in her hands, how is it possible for a nartaki to not dance from every limb of her body, to awaken the goddess present within? The movement of her hands and feet follows the beat of the drums – which speeds up to the crescendo as the dance progresses.

WINTER

Winters Shishira reminds the nartaki of “Aalasya” (the lazy stretches) postural sculptures engraved in the walls of temples of Odisha. She brings & weaves together the varied kinds of Alasya stances into a movement score, depicting very slow-unhurried-leisurely movements of Odissi dance; yet very enchanting & sensuous at the same time. Woman near the pond of lotuses during the night; does shringaar by using sandalwood perfume on her body and washing hair in the fragrant waters, astonished to see her reflection in the Darpana (Mirror). She shows signs of the night’s passion by portraying lyrical & fluid movements, that depicts the beautiful nuances that are immersed in The Shringaar Rasa. She then emerges like an Aphrodite Goddess, who loves herself.

SPRING

In a playful mood, the nartaki sees a bud transforming into a Full ‘Pallavi’ Blossomed flower, that was just a flower bud yesterday. The carefree bees (Bhramara) come near the flowers all the way gushing, to collect the nectar and pollinate them. The filament giving a beautiful structure to the flower, each petal opens up, as if it’s the blossoming of the inner-consciousness. A Butterfly comes & rests at the shoulder of the nartaki, to which she gets elated & joyous. The painted hue, fragrant ambient and the morning mist seem astonishing to watch. Its Springtime!!

Vasanta Ritu: the period where everything blooms from the earth, coloring the land with beauty and admiration.