A tightly knit, well planned programme, quality performance, and a packed audience contributed to the huge success of Kannada Vrinda's 'Dances of India' at the Miller Outdoor Theater on Saturday, May 7, 2005.
Dances of India was an effort to showcase some of the styles of classical, contemporary and folk dances styles that are prevalent in India. With the help of dance teachers and their students in the greater Houston area, Kannada Vrinda presented a programme that lasted for nearly three hours, representing ten states of India, keeping the audience glued to their seats.
The evening's programme was well presented by the Master of ceremonies Avanija Sunder and Punita Sunder. The inaugural song presented by Kannada Vrinda members was the curtain raiser of the evening. The dancers were symbolically attired in colors of the flame - orange and yellow danced gracefully to the well known song Hachchevu Kannadada Deepa. Sheela Rao, the current President of Indo American Charity Foundation inaugurated the program by lighting the ceremonial oil lamp.
The first part featured classical art forms of India. The opening crisp number - the Ganesha Kavitvam in Kuchipudi by the Anjali center of Performing Arts invoked blessing from Lord Ganesha, the remover of obstacles. The Krishna Leela in Bharathanatyam style performed by the Abhinaya School of Performing Arts highlighted the stories of Lord Krishna. The Kathak dance performed by the Natya Upasana Dance Academy projected the classical art form from Northern India.
The graceful Naman by Kalaangan School of dance highlighted the eastern classical art form of Odissi. Kuchipudi, a dance art form from Andhra Pradesh which involved dancing on brass plates was skillfully performed by the Sreepadam School of Arts. The Nritya School of dance presented a fast paced Thillana in Bharathanataym, a classical art of southern India.
The second segment consisted of contemporary and folk numbers presented by the different dance schools.
The performance ended with a grand finale performance, Vande Matharam by the Board members of India Culture Center. Vatsa Kumar, president of Houston Kannada Vrinda, felicitated all the dance teachers at the end of the evening's performance. Delicious Indian food catered by Pavani Indian restaurant was enjoyed by participants and audience as well.
Indrani Parthasarathy of Houston Kannada Vrinda can be contacted at indupartha@hotmail.com
