NIRMALAM: THE GENIUS OF S SARADA published by Arangham Trust in celebration of S Sarada's 90th birthday, was released on Dec 17, 2005 during the 25th Natya Kala Conference at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai. Compiled and edited by Anita Ratnam in consultation with Theosophist G Sundari, the book is the first complete compilation of the respected Sanskrit scholar and arts ‘savant’ Peria Sarada of Kalakshetra.  

The book contains a foreword by Anita Ratnam as well as tributes paid to 'Peria Sarada teacher' by scholars, dance teachers, dancers, dance students, musicians, friends and well wishers from all over the world - those who have interacted with her over the years. The first copy was received by R Yagnaraman, Secretary, Krishna Gana Sabha.  
 
About the Title:  
All words and sentiments expressed about Peria Sarada teacher contained one presiding motif – gentleness. Apart from her scholarly brilliance, it was this one quality about her persona and attitude that is best remembered. The Sanskrit word "NIRMALAM" seemed to best reflect those qualities. Like moonrays – soft, radiant and luminous, Teacher's genius has illuminated so many minds and lives. It seemed as if that one word could best describe her contribution to Kalakshetra and dance. A perfect counterpoint to the dynamic brilliance of Rukmini Devi's solar energy. A gentle moon shining softly alongside blazing sunlight. Sometimes hidden but never forgotten.  
 
Featured in the book 

  • A long first person account by S Sarada of her early years the Theosophical Society. 
  • Sarada's 'Advice from a veteran' is a full chapter dealing with the correct dancing techniques and the disturbing trends seen today in Bharatanatyam. This profound and valuable information is excerpted from Sruti magazine. 
  • 3 page pictorial depiction of Abhinaya by S Sarada, courtesy Sruti magazine. 
  • Tributes paid to S Sarada by scholar Kapila Vatsyayan, dance gurus Mrinalini Sarabhai, Sarada Hoffman, Dhananjayans, Kunhiramans, C V Chandrasekhar, Adyar Lakshman etc, Leela Samson (Director of Kalakshetra), flute maestro N Ramani, musician Karaikudi Subramanian, past students and well wishers. 
  • Quotes by S Sarada
  • Many rare personal photographs. 
About S Sarada  
"Few carry monumental scholarship, creativity and critical insights with such grace, dignity and humility." - Scholar Kapila Vatsyayan on S Sarada 

In building up Kalakshetra, Rukmini Devi used her immense talent for persuading others to share her vision and dedicate themselves to the institution. Using this talent, she brought many stalwarts to Kalakshetra. Only one who later became a pillar at this temple of arts was virtually a beginner when she entered its portals. It was S Sarada, known within the campus as Peria Sarada. 

Sarada came to Kalakshetra in 1939 as a young woman of 24, well acquainted with various works of art and advaita but still a non-entity. When she retired from Kalakshetra in 1985, she was acknowledged as a diligent scholar and a fine teacher, her name synonymous with the institution next only to Rukmini Devi and Sankara Menon. 

  • Peria Sarada has shaped many a talented teacher of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music, vocal and instrumental. 
  • Sarada was the first person to write a book about Rukmini Devi and her dance-drama productions. 
  • Sarada has edited the matter for all the 24 dance dramas presented by Rukmini Devi along with the Pundits S.Venkatachala Sastri and Adinarayanan Sarma.  This included the Valmiki Ramayana.
  • Sarada devised a method of writing down Bharata Natya in notation form. It is being followed now in Kalakshetra and elsewhere.
  • She drafted a syllabus and method teaching Dance Theory, suited to modern times, for use in Kalakshetra. 
  • Students of Kalakshetra who were taught by Sarada include Yamini Krishnamurthi, the Dhananjayans, Sarada Hoffman, Anjali Mehr, C V Chandrasekhar, Adyar Lakshman, Krishnaveni Lakshmanan and Leela Samson to name a few.
Published by: Arangham Trust 
Price: Rs.200/= 

Available at:  
Karnatic Music Book Centre, 23A Sripuram First St, Royapettah, Chennai 600014  
Ph: (91 – 44) – 28111516, 28113253, e-mail: kmbc@vsnl.net 
 
 
 
On August 17, 2005, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Asia Pacific Performing Arts Network (APPAN) presented the launch of BEYOND DESTINY- THE LIFE AND TIMES OF SUBBUDU (The Biography of India's eminent performing arts critic PV Subramaniam), published under Bhavan's Book University and authored by Lada Guruden Singh. Neena Ranjan (Secretary to GOI, Culture) received the first copy from C R Gharekhan (Vice Chairperson, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Delhi Kendra) at India International Centre Annexe, New Delhi.   

Put into place through scores of interviews with the country’s top musicians, dancers and critics, it is perhaps the first ever biography of a critic. The book captures Subbudu’s rise as a critic, by juxtaposing it with the way Indian performing arts have shaped up post independence.  
Published by Bhavan’s Book University, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (Mumbai) 
Price: Rs.275 
 
  September 14, 2005 
'RAMLI! THE HEART OF SUTRA' is a pictorial biography of contemporary Malaysian dance icon Ramli Ibrahim and chronicles his milestones and achievements from his early years up to present times. The foreword is an analysis of Ibrahim's career provided by James Murdoch, a distinguished writer of contemporary dance and music.  
The book has been designed by William Harald-Wong, who collaborates closely with Sutra Dance Theatre, founded by Ramli in 1983 at Kuala Lumpur. Photographs are by Eric Peris, Chu Li, Syed Zainal Rashid and Sivarajah Natrajan. It was released in Chennai under the aegis of Forum Art Gallery on Sept 3, 2005.     
e-mail: info@sutradancetheatre.com 
 
  "Classical Dances of India" by Saroja Vaidyanathan was released on July 5, 2005 at India Habitat Centre, Delhi, by chief minister Sheila Dikshit. The book is about the 8 classical dance styles of India, its nuances, relevant music, costumes and jewellery.  

Published by Ganesa Natyalaya, the book has 140 pages and 230 photographs of eminent dancers and scholars.   
e-mail: saroja_vaidyanathan@hotmail.com 
 
  August 12, 2005 
Cultural Centre of India Releases a World Calendar  
Title: DANCES OF INDIA: WORLD CALENDAR 2006 & 2007 CALENDAR 

Description:  
Dances of India: World Calendar 2006 & 2007 celebrates religions and countries from around the globe. Each year is themed with beautiful images of the elegant dancer, Meena Apurva.  
 
This calendar is themed "Dances of India." It explores the most ancient and stunning dance forms of the world. The calendar incorporates major religions (Christianity, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Sikh, Jain, etc.) observances, cultural 
festivals, new and full moons, and National Heritage days. This is a great asset for multi-national companies, organizations, schools, universities, libraries and individuals.  

This calendar is available at major retail stores. 
Amazon Link 
For more information, please contact: padma@culturalcentreofindia.com 
 
  July 12, 2005 
TEN LESSONS IN STRESS REDUCTION - VCD + 100 page Booklet describing the practices  
Stress Busting Techniques of GITANANDA YOGA presented by Yogacharini  Meenakshi Devi Bhavanani, Director, International Centre for Yoga Education and Research (ICYER) 
16-A, Mettu Street, Chinnamudaliarchavady, Kottakuppam, Pondicherry 605 104 
For details, e-mail: ananda@icyer.com (or) abb@doctor.com 
Phone: 91-413-2622902, 91-413-2241561 
 
  July 11, 2005 

DVD ON PRANAYAMA BY ICYER 
Ananda Ashram at the International Centre for Yoga Education and Research, Pondicherry (ICYER) has embarked on a project of releasing various DVDs related to application of Gitananda Yoga. The first of these is a DVD on PRANAYAMA FOR HEALTH AND WELL BEING that contains 25 evergreen Pranayama techniques of Rishiculture Ashtanga Yoga, presented by Yogacharya Dr Ananda Balayogi Bhavanani, Chairman of ICYER, Pondicherry. This is the first time the Pranayama teachings of Yogamaharishi, Dr Swami Gitananda Giri, are being presented for a worldwide audience through this new medium. The project is being produced by the well-known music company Super Audio, Chennai (supertape@yahoo.com), and will be marketed by them all over the world. 

The DVD has been made in four languages - English, French, Spanish and Hindi - and is of 56 minutes duration. 
For details, contact: yognat2001@yahoo.com 
 
  July 11, 2005 

DANCES OF INDIA - KUCHIPUDI RANGA PRAVESAM DANCES & SONGS  
Featuring Padma Chebrolu 

After intense training for many years, during Ranga Pravesam the guru presents his or her disciple to the public. Dances of India - Kuchipudi Ranga Pravesam (entering the stage or debutante) DVD - Box Set - featuring dancer, Padma Chebrolu brings you the traditional Kuchipudi dances and music used during the formal performances.  

Kuchipudi was originated by Guru Siddendra Yogi (12th Century AD) in the Kuchipudi village of Andhra Pradesh (a state in India). This splendid dance form is profoundly aesthetic and the experience of watching it is most exhilarating. Strictly adhering to the rules laid down in Bharata’s Natya Shastra (Science of Dancing) and Nandikeshwra’s Abhinaya Darpana (Mirror of Expression), Kuchipudi has all the salient features of a classical dance. All its compositions are set to Carnatic music (classical music from South India) and songs are written in Telugu language. 

Kuchipudi is a perfect balance between three aspects- Nritta, Nritya and Natya, each being equivalent in nature. The Nritta is a rhythmic sequence that concludes a song or a verse; the Nritya, in which the rhythmic passages are followed by interpretations alternately; Natya is a complete dance drama with a story-line and various characters. The graceful movements, intricate footwork, complicated rhythmic patterns, beautiful facial expressions, and the rapid tempo of the Kuchipudi dance distinguish it from other dance forms.  

Dances included are; 1.Ranga Puja 2. Jathiswaram 3. Bhama Kalapam 4. Om Kara Pada Varnam 5. Krishna Sabdam 6. Padam 7. Bala Gopala Tarangam and 8. Krishna Mangalam 
Run time 60 minutes.  

This box set includes: 
1. Dances DVD with subtitles of lyrics and meaning of the songs  
2. Audio CD which has all the songs  
3. And a Booklet with the lyrics and meaning 

DVD Link on Amazon.com 

Website Link & Audio Clips: 
http://www.culturalcentreofindia.com/DancesofIndiaKuchipudiRangaPravesamDancesDVD.html 

Contact: padma@culturalcentreofindia.com 
 
  May 6, 2005 
“My body, my wisdom - a handbook of creative dance therapy" by Tripura Kashyap takes the reader through the history, philosophy and practical aspects of dance or movement therapy. It attempts to demystify the discipline and make it accessible to the lay reader as well as the practitioner. There is detailed description of over a hundred movement activities and games accompanied by illustrations.  
A Penguin original, priced at Rs.250 
 
  Dancing in the Family 
An Unconventional Memoir of Three Women  
by Sukanya Rahman 

Dancer/artist Sukanya Rahman’s best-selling book, Dancing in The Family: An Unconventional Memoir of Three Women, is now available in paperback, published by Rupa and distributed by Dance in Maine Foundation. 

For mail orders, please send a check, payable to ‘Dance in Maine Foundation’, for $19.00 (includes shipping and handling) to: 

Dance in Maine Foundation 
124 Bayview Rd. 
Orrís Island, Maine 04066, USA 

e-mail: dancing@sukanyarahman.com 
The Dancing in the Family web site: http://www.sukanyarahman.com 

Review Excerpts from the first hardcover edition: 
Dancing in The Family 
Sukanya Rahman / Harper Collins India 

"... a funny engaging memoir of three generations of unconventional women — Ragini Devi, Indrani Rahman and Sukanya... it deserves to be read, not merely because it is about extraordinary women set against the changing historical backdrop of Indian classical dance, but primarily because it is a story well told..." 
The Hindu 

"This is a fascinating addition to 20th century dance history, as well as an extraordinary east-west saga and the chronicle of a remarkable family. Sukanya Rahman, who had a ringside seat for many of the adventures she records here, writes with abundant charm, humor and insight." 
Laura Shapiro, author and dance critic 

"...I loved it - it's a really lovely work of love - the image of your American grandmother - riding around, broke, with a troupe and costumes all over India is haunting - such eccentric courage!" 
Ruth Prawer Jhabvala 

"Stories of immigrants who forge a new American identity are commonplace, but it is more unusual to hear of Americans who reinvent themselves as members of another ethnic and cultural group... It’s not necessary to meet Sukanya Rahman to appreciate Dancing in the Family. This ambitious first book succeeds both as a documentary of her family’s contribution to Indian dance and as a personal memoir of her own evolution." 
The Portland Phoenix, March 29, 2002 

"Born Esther Luella Sherman in 1893 in suburban Michigan, and raised in Minneapolis, Ragini Devi, after an early start in silent movies and exotic oriental dancing, became convinced that she was a reincarnated Hindu whose sole mission in life was to spread the gospel of Indian dance to the world... 
Rahman’s mother was the famous Indrani Rahman, the half-Indian, half-American beauty crowned Miss India in 1952...But Indrani¹s real contribution was as the dancer who put classical Indian dance on the world map from the early 1950s on... Sukanya has pored deep into her family history and into her own reservoir of childhood memory and tells the story with uncommon insight and vivid humour." 
Outlook, February 11, 2002 

Book excerpt: 
1. Rehearsal 
Dance was a family obsession. There was no escaping it. It was our religion. Dance came first. 
When my grandmother did something grandmotherly, like take me to the circus, she would embarrass me horribly by demonstrating dance steps along the sidewalk. My father, a distinguished architect by profession, would cap off each dinner party at our Calcutta flat with an imitation of the American modern dancer, Martha Graham. My mother, when she wasn’t travelling all over the country studying or performing, would convert our drawing room into a rehearsal studio. And my grandfather, whom I had not yet met, would write to me often from New York, urging me not to become a dancer. 
  
  pulse  
spring issue 2005 
READING DANCE – a tale of the texts 
 
Cover Feature 
~ Reading dance – a tale of the texts 
Canada-based Professor Emerita Mandakranta Bose examines the two millennia-old sub continental textual tradition that surrounds, underlies and engages with the art of dance and dramatic performance. 

Other Features 
 ~ The hot chariot of the Sun god 
Odissi has been sizzling for some time and not just because of the love lyrics of its traditional songs. Rife with ideological policing of the ‘correct’ school, there have been plenty of goings-on behind doe-eyed twinkles and painted toes that have marginalised other, equally authentic and innovative styles, writes dance scholar Dr. Alessandra Lopez y Royo. 
~ Challenging the Euro-American read on dance 
 A pioneering new suite of courses with a particular pedagogy sets about challenging the ‘local’ or ‘national’ approach to the academic study of south Asian dances.  It is high time we moved to a Comparative Studies mode, whether in India or abroad, writes Dr. Avanthi Meduri. 
~ Surrounded by film 
 Almost forever, ‘filmi’ music and dance have been rippling through young hearts and bodies – in India and abroad - popular entertainment. But, for new generations of the subcontinent’s diaspora and their friends, is Bollywood dance with classical traces replacing kathak and bharatanatyam as the premier art form of Indian culture? Richard Turner finds out.  

Profile - Gauri Sharma Tripathi 
 ~ They dance to her beat 
 Gauri Sharma Tripathi’s measured, minimalist elegance in movement is punctuated by razor-sharp freezes; but far from being a lone, beautiful stylist, her interpretation has caught the dedicated attention of a whole bunch of young women who want an integrated bit of both worlds, the one they know here and the one their parents speak of. Bithika Chatterjee finds out how ‘Gauri’ does it. 

Technique 
 ~ The nattu adavu 
 Following the exposition of the basic but all-important araimandi stance for bharatanatyam in pulse autumn 2004, Mavin Khoo shares his teaching insights on the nattu adavu, a critical movement unit as it exemplifies the geometry of the form. 

Training 
~ The Lall Diaries 
 With this third and final part, we conclude the serialisation begun in pulse summer 2004 of the compelling personal journal of Anusha Lall, which she kept during a one year Certificate course at the London School of Contemporary Dance.  

E-mail from Ahmedabad 
 ~ Peering into Darpana - 29th Vikram Sarabhai International Arts Festival 
 Visiting the institution on the occasion of the 27th Vikram Sarabhai International Festival, Prarthana Purkayastha encounters new work and new rationales for work. 

Performance Reviews 
- Thumri and Kathak by Bireshwar Gautam – Sushma Mehta (Reviewer) 
 - Bharatanatyam repertoire by Mavin Khoo – Leela Venkataraman (Reviewer) 
 - Flicker by Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company – Shiromi Pinto (Reviewer) 
 - Women are from Venus by Srishti – Nina Rajarani Dance Creations – Annapoorna Kuppuswamy (Reviewer) 
-  Red by Sonia Sabri Dance Company – Kush Saini (Reviewer) 

Don't miss out on this issue!!!! 
Available from 31st March 2005 
Annual subscription fee: 12 GBP, 25 Euros, 35 USD and 750 INR 
Pulse is published every spring, summer and autumn 

If you would like to subscribe or renew your subscriptions, simply send us your mailing address with a cheque made payable to Kadam Asian Dance and Music at the following address.  

Anita Srivastava  
Pulse subscriptions Department  
1 Lurke Street  
Bedford MK40 3TN 
For further details, write to subscriptions@pulsedance.org 
 
  Odissi dancer Manjushree Panda has written a book on Odissi dance titled THE MOKSHYA SUTRA, which was released on Dec 14, 2004 at Bhubaneswar by novelist Dr.Pratibha Roy. The book contains information about the interrelationship between theory, technique, literature and music of Odissi, theoretical study from ancient times to temple services, textual evidences, manuscript evidences, rites and rituals followed in dance during different times and so on.  
Published by Rudrakshya Publication 
Number of pages: 104 
Price: Rs.276  
Contact: danceus@manjushreeodissi.com / manjushree_bbsr@yahoo.com 
 
  March 11, 2005 
The forthcoming issue of ‘attendance’ is a Kathak/Khajuraho and Kelubabu Special. The idea is this time to try a focus on a person, a place and a form. Articles by Janaki Patrik, Utpal Banerji, Manjari Sinha, Matteo, Milena Salvini, Shanta Serbjeet Singh, and many more embellish the issue. Ashish Mohan Khokar’s forthcoming Orissi book extracts on history of Orissi; the importance of Khajuraho as a Dance Festival and who the news stars of Kathak are, will be platformed, in addition to review of the year that was; obits, books, etc....Hardbound, color, Rs.500 only and international US$25 equiv.  
Write to attendanceindia@yahoo.co.in for information. 
 
  Book ‘Shishu Sadhana - a child friendly Bharata Natya repertoire’ with a DVD  
by Mamata Niyogi-Nakra, released at Centre St-Pierre, Montreal, on 16th January 2005.  

The work on Shishu Sadhana started in 1994. “Shishu Sadhana has been created in the spirit of sharing my teaching experience of over two decades with younger Bharata Natya dance teachers at Kala Bharati, and by extension, with anyone else who is interested in teaching dance to children. I, on my part feel a sense of fulfillment, as my Guru the well known U.S. Krishna Rao, who was the first one other than O.S. Arun to receive Shishu Sadhana and view the DVD, has sent his blessings,“ says Niyogi-Nakra. “I am trying to form a core group of dance teachers involved in training the young in Classical Indian Dance, who would eventually be interested enough to become active members of daCi (Canada) – to raise the awareness within the Indian dance community of the International organization Dance and the Child International (daCi).”  

The book including the DVD is being distributed free of charge but, depending on your address, some postal charges may be required. 

 “I was very much impressed by Sunday's presentation and the scope of your project and this dear little book reinforces my enthusiasm for what you have done. Not only does it fetchingly describe the process of realization of your dream with warmth and heartfelt memories, it does so with great allure reflecting the child-friendly Shishu Sadhana that you have created in similar style and grace.  Somehow with this new repertoire, you transcended your adulthood to become a child again. You teased classical dance ideas in such a way that they entered and enriched the child in each of us, reawakening the joys of universal childhood.  I am sure it will delight children of today and tomorrow as much as those of yesterday.” 
- Linde Howe-Beck, Montreal based dance critic and writer 

For information on Shishu Sadhana, and other allied subjects related to ‘Dance and the Child,’ visit www.kalabharati.ca 
e-mail: nakrabm@istar.ca 
 
  KUCHIPUDI DANCE IN TEXTUAL FORM by P Rama Devi 
This book not only satisfies the need of students but also gives the common man a wide scope to understand this art form due to its simple and lucid language. Except for one chapter, this book would be useful for all the classical dance forms, as it is completely based on the Natya Shastra and Abhinaya Darpanam. Raja Rammohan Roy Library, Calcutta, has selected this book for distribution to Central Libraries all over the country and Public Libraries in Andhra Pradesh.  
KUCHIPUDI KALAPAS - An Odyssey Rediscovered, thoroughly explains about the 
development of art in Andhra Pradesh, Yakshaganas, and Kalapas.   
Both the books are priced at Rs. 180/- & Rs.150/- each, respectively 
Details: rama_pras2001@yahoo.co.in 
 
  Book release: Wednesday, 26 January 2005, by Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi, and Dr. Karan Singh, MP. 
SO MANY JOURNEYS is a book of contemporary writings on Bharatanatyam by Geeta Chandran (with Rajiv Chandran). It is a compilation of Geeta's impressions on her journeys with classical dance. The articles are an insider’s view of a difficult profession; some of the articles are intensely personal and biographical.  
The book is an offering to the contemporary dance dialogue written by a practitioner who loves her dance and takes immense pride in the fact that she had the opportunity to learn this wonderful art form at the feet of stalwart Gurus, and who has continued to experience great joy and satisfaction in performing it and sharing it with widening audiences.  
Lavishly produced and illustrated with scores of wonderful images of dance, this glossy book aims to move Indian publishing on the arts to a new frontier.  
Design: Award winning NID graphic designers Jiten Kalra and Sumir Tagra.  
Published by Niyogi Offset Pvt. Ltd. 
Price: Rs.3, 500 
Details: natyavriksha@hotmail.com
 
 
pulse
autumn issue 2004  
There are many urban myths and major misunderstandings surrounding issues of copyright... Read and discover in the autumn issue of pulse how you can make copyright your friend.
The cover story Whose right is it anyway? is written by Madeline Hutchins who is currently putting together Arts Council England’s website on copyright issues - and pulse is the first among dance magazines to cover this important topic. Technology makes transmission and copying swift and sure, and dancers voraciously scour old and fresh material to make new work. Typically, this also means using others’ work, especially music or text, and even ideas. It makes good sense for practitioners to know some basics, both about their own rights as well as others’....  
Editor: Chitra Sundaram  
Cover Feature  
Whose right is it anyway?  
Read Madeline Hutchins professional practice toolkit specially aimed at dance practitioners – and it has some surprises!  
Features 
A perfect form - Magdalen Gorringe, who spent this summer in India with world class Bharatanatyam artist Leela Samson, encounters her training and choreographic approaches to ensemble work, and discovers the exhilaration of aspiring to perfection. 
Fest-ing in Edinburgh! – Prarthana Purkayastha devours the Edinburgh Fringe festival and shares the tale of masks and lamentations, of physical theatre and dance. 
A different dream for the big apple - Bombay Dreams, playing across the pond in NYC remains flavourful, but the brew gets a bit weaker across the Atlantic writes Preeti Vasudevan who visited the London cast for an earlier pulse.
  
Profile  
Rebel with a cause - Kumudini Lakhia has been called a rebel, labelled a revolutionary, and anointed a visionary. London may be a different place from the ‘50s when she first performed here as a teenager but her fervour for structures and movements, and an aesthetic with which to celebrate the form has not altered, as Ann David finds.  

Technique 
The araimandi 

For the first of his new column on technique, Mavin Khoo focuses on Bharatanatyam’s hallmark ‘half sitting’ stance, providing anatomical insights and practical tips for an efficient and effective way to achieve the difficult position. 
Training  
The Lall Diaries - Part 2  
Pulse continues the serialisation begun in summer issue 2004 of the compelling personal journal of accomplished Bharatanatyam performer Anusha Lall, kept during her time at the London School of Contemporary Dance. Her observations cover learning and teaching methods, schemes for understanding the body and training it, as well as movement and creation in western contemporary dance – all especially relevant as three south Asian dance students are admitted this autumn 2004 term to the LCDS’s new BA programme with Kathak or Bharatanatyam as specialisations.  
  
Performance Reviews 
Exquisite Indian Dance: Aditi Mangaldas / Surupa Sen & Bijayini Satpathy - by Chitra Sundaram
ma: Akram Khan Company - by Prarthana Purkayastha 
A mixed bill Synergy ’04 / Incense: Kali Dass / Liz Lea - by Gig Payne  
Chandra/Luna: Mavin Khoo Dance - by Bithika Chatterjee  
Available from 16th November 2004 
Annual subscription fee: £12 
Pulse is published every spring, summer and autumn 
If you would like to subscribe or renew your subscriptions, simply send your mailing address with a cheque for £12 made payable to Kadam Asian Dance and Music at the following address.  
Anita Srivastava   
Pulse subscriptions Department  
1 Lurke Street   
Bedford MK40 3TN  
For further details, write to subscriptions@pulsedance.org  
pulse - Britain's premier magazine for south asian dance, funded by Arts Council England  and published by Kadam Asian Dance and Music Ltd 
 
  December 28, 2004 
Combo Pack of DVD -Video & Audio CD with 2 Varnams  
Theory, Demonstration & Recital, and audio tracks of two varnams by Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarshini Govind.  
Contains exhaustive video demo on Trikala Jathi with variations, Arudi, Jathis, Sahitya, Sanchari, Sarpanadai & Thattimettu, Mukthyisvara, Charanam, Charana Svaras, Svarakshara, Makuta Svara. 
- "Manavi..." composed by Ponnaya, one of the Thanjavur Quartet in raga Sankarabharanam set to Adi Tala is amorous in content and carries allegorical description of the yearning and ultimate union of the soul with the divinity - Lord Brihadisvara of Thanjavur. 
- "Nee Manamirangi..." composed by Andavan Pichai in raga Lathangi and set to Adi Tala, stresses the 'bhakti' (devotion) element by extolling the glory of Lord Muruga.  
Price: Rs.1250 
VCD double pack - Twin Pack VCD containing both volume 1 & 2 
Theory, Demonstration and Recital by Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind 
Volume 1 - Covers theory & demonstration with exhaustive video demo of more than one hour 
Volume 2 - features recital of the above two varnams.  
Price: Rs.550 
This product developed by Swathi Soft Solutions under their Sanskriti Series. 
e-mail: sudhakar@swathigroup.com 
 
  Koochipoodi / Vilasini Natyam exponent Swapnasundari makes her debut as an author with her book THE WORLD OF KOOCHIPOODI DANCE. The book traces the journey of Koochipoodi from its humble beginnings into the 21st century, and looks at the inter-relationship between Koochipoodi and its co-existent traditions. She provides information on various features of Koochipoodi, little known aspects of this tradition and the nature of various contributions made to it as also its adaptation to individual artistic expression.  
The book features 173 color and 21 B & W photos. Many will be seen for the first time in a book.  
For info, e-mail: koochipoodi@rediffmail.com 
Published by Shubhi Publications, the book costs Rs.3500 and has 188 pages. 
e-mail: sanjayarya158@hotmail.com
 
  Udipi Lakshminarayan and Natya Manjari released the book LAGHU NRITYA SANGRAHA – a guide to theory of Bharatanatyam on Nov 24, 2004 at Rama Rao Kala Mandap, Chennai. 
 
  Oct 2004 
THE VOICES OF THE HEART – AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY by Mrinalini Sarabhai has been published by Harper Collins.  
Cost – Rs.495. 
 
  Oct 2004 
 
NARTANAM – a quarterly journal of Indian dance, Vol IV #3, July – Sept 2004 felicitates Kuchipudi Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam who turned 75 on Oct 15, 2004.  
For copies contact, gmsharma@rediffmail.com 
 
  CELEBRATION OF LIFE: INDIAN FOLK DANCES by the late Jiwan Pani is a fund of information on the variety of Indian folk dances, which have been neatly divided into various categories. Price: Rs.260 (hard back) and Rs.210 (paper back). 
Published by Publication Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India, Patiala House, New Delhi. 
 
  Oct 26, 2004 
PERFORMING ARTISTES IN ANCIENT INDIA by noted author and scholar Iravati, deals with different kinds of performers and performances, devadasis etc. It focuses on the contribution of performing artistes to the evolution of ancient Indian theatre.  
Published by D K Printworld (P) Ltd, New Delhi 
Price: Rs.950 
 
  October 18, 2004  

‘Dancing Identity: Metaphysics in Motion’ by Sondra Fraleigh presents a series of interconnected essays composed over a period of fifteen years. The wide-ranging themes explored in Dancing Identity are tied together by a personal narrative.  

“Part theory, part memoir, part dance analysis, Dancing Identity shakes loose many traditionally held assumptions about the dancing body. In the highly original series of essays, ranging from ballet to Butoh, Sondra Fraleigh offers illuminating insights in her quest  to unravel the mind/body split." - Julie Malnig, The Gallatin School, New York University. 

"A kaleidoscope of what it is to be human. Fraleigh project is not just to articulate the human potential of an existential metaphysics, but dancing as the mode of existential being par excellence." - Nigel Stewart, Lancaster University
“An arresting and relentless examination of dance, gender, and identity. Fraleigh's autobiographical elements are remembered with wonder against overwhelming odds. I felt empowerd as a woman through her words." - Tamah Nakamura, Kyushu University. 

Sondra Fraleigh is a professor emeritus of the State University of New York, Brockport, and director of the East West Somatics Institute for Dance and Somatic Movement Therapy. For details: eastwest@frontiernet.net 
Published by University of Pittsburgh Press / 256 pp. · 6 x 9 · illus. 
0-8229-4239-9 / Cloth $32.50
 
  Oct 5, 2004 
Kathak dancer Manjari Chaturvedi  renders a beautiful Bindadin Maharaj thumri. Accompanying artistes:  Vocals: Dharam Nath Mishra, Tabla: Arun Bhatt, Sarangi: Vinod Mishra, Sitar: Sibte Hasan. Manjari has trained initially in the Lucknow gharana of Kathak under the guidance of Arjun Mishra, learnt abhinaya under Kalanidhi Narayan and  gained exposure to other dance forms at Nrityagram. She is particularly drawn to Sufi mysticism and has endeavored to incorporate movements in her performances that are reminiscent of the meditative practices of the whirling dervishes. She refers to her dance style as Sufi Kathak. 
This VCD has been released by Underscore Records Pvt. Ltd.   
Price:  Rs.150 
Contact: shubha@underscorerecords.com or aneesh@underscorerecords.com
 
  BHARATANATYAM - THE CLASSICAL COLLECTION, a collection of 8 DVDs priced at Rs.6900/- (Rupees six thousand and nine hundred only). 
dvd 1 - Introduction, mudras, adavus, performance 
dvd 2- Kalakshetra - training, demos, interviews, dance drama rehearsals 
dvd 3- Sarasalaya - training, demos, interviews, performance by Shilpa 
Sukumar, Revathy Ramachandran 
dvd 4- Kalasadanalaya - music, training, demonstrations,interviews, performance by Revathy Ramachandran 
dvd 5- Bharata Kalanjali - training, interviews - Dhananjayan , music,demonstrations 
dvd 6 - Shree Bharatalaya - music, training, demonstrations, interviews - Sudharani Raghupathy 
dvd 7 - Chidrambaram School Of Performing Arts - music, training, demonstrations, interviews - Chitra Vishwesharan 
dvd 8 - natya nrita nritya - alarippu - Sheejith, jathiswara - Sooryanarayana Moorthy, shabdam - Roja Kannan, varnam - Revathy Ramachandran, javali - Uma Muralikrishna, padam-Priya Govind, thilllana- Jayanthi Subramanium. 
Contact: infodrive software limited 
203/91 V M Street, Mylapore, Chennai 600004. 
Ph: 24983244 / 24980616 
mobile: 98400 23583 
email: infodrive@pobox.com
 
  Nartanam - a quarterly journal of Indian Dance, April - June 2004 is a special feature on Kelucharan Mohapatra.  Nartanam is published as a quarterly by Kuchipudi Kala Kendra, Mumbai and provides a forum for scholarly dialogue on a broad range of topics concerning Indian dance. 

The articles in this issue are by Sonal Mansingh, Dheerendra Nath Pattanaik, Priyambada Mohanty, Sunil Kothari, Sharon Lowen, Madhavi Mudgal, Jhelum Paranjpe, Ileana Citaristi, Oopali Operajita, Shyamhari Chakra. Performance reviews, News and Notes from abroad and Book Review covers major events in the dance field. 

Chief editor: M Nagabhushana Sarma 
Annual subscription in India: Rs.200 + 50 for postage 
Annual subscription overseas: $40 + $10 for postage 
For details: mnsarma1@rediffmail.com / gmsharma@rediffmail.com
 
  DANCE & DEVOTION, written and compiled by Malathi Iyengar 
Illustrated by Suresh Iyengar    
The book was launched on Friday, August 13, 2004as a part of the Pacific Asia Museum’s prestigious ‘Authors on Asia’ programs and included a brief classical Indian dance performance by the Rangoli Dance Company and guest artists from India.  Scholar, Colin Quigley, Ph.D., World Arts and Cultures, University of California, Los Angeles was the chief guest. 
The book has been edited by Shatavadhani Dr R. Ganesh, Scholar and Research Officer, Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Southern Regional Centre (Bangalore, India), Dr V K Indusekhar, Retired Scientist & Scholar (Bangalore, India), Caren McDonald, M.A., University of New Mexico, and Emma Jane Scioli, Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Classics, University of California, Los Angeles.   
For details, contact: msiyengar@yahoo.com  
 
 
  “Into the world of Kutiyattam with the legendary Ammanur Madhavachakyar” by G Venu is about the life and work of Ammanur Madhava Chakyar, the history of Kutiyattam, the facts that led to its recognition as an intangible world heritage, numerous anecdotes connected with its ancient and modern masters, as well as G Venu’s own personal experiences with the great artistes he came into contact with. The book also describes his initiation into the art and the efforts being made to revitalize Kutiyattam.  
Published by Natana Kairali, Irinjalakuda 
e-mail: venuji@satyam.net.in
 
  SUTRE MONI GONA EVO is a VCD on folk and classical dances of Assam. Concept and direction is by G Nayanmoni of Jorhat; the dances have been directed by Dinamadhav Mora, Badan Saikia, Jiten Kakati, Anurupa Hazarika, Rathindra Singh, Devichandra and Budhin Saikia; background music is by Prabin Goswami, Kamalakshi Saikia and Usha Bora.
 
  Income tax Commissioner Krishna Sahai has written a 237-page book titled THE STORY OF A DANCE: BHARATANATYAM. Though she has learnt the dance form, she has never given a public performance. The book was released on January 27, 2004 in Mumbai.
 
  The book titled DHANANJAYAN ON INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCE is the third edition of ‘Dancer on dance’ by V P Dhananjayan on Indian classical dance. It has a new look and more informative articles and pictures. 
For trade details and ordering for copies, please contact the publisher: 
M/s B R Rhythms 
425, Nimri Colony, Ashok Vihar Phase-IV 
New Delhi 110052 (India) 
Email: info@brrhythms.com  
Phone: (91 –11) -23259196 & 23259648.
 
  DANCES OF INDIA is a set of 7 books, each one a comprehensive guide to a form of Indian classical dance- Kathak by Shovana Narayan, Odissi by Sharon Lowen, Bharatanatyam by Prathibha Prahlad, Kuchipudi by Raja and Radha Reddy, Mohiniattam by Bharati and Vijayalakshmi Shivaji, Manipuri by Singhajit Singh, Kathakali by Sadanam Balakrishnan. Alka Raghuvanshi is the editor of the series. Photos are by Avinash Pasricha. The books were released on April 29, 2004 on International Dance Day at Delhi.  
Published by Wisdom Tree.  Cost: Rs.195 each.
 
  Nandini Ramani / Dr.V Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts celebrated Guru Smaranam in memory of late T Balasaraswathi on 13th May 2004 at Ragha Sudha Hall, Chennai. The book SPLENDOURS OF INDIAN DANCE by Dr. V Raghavan was released on the occasion. C V Chandrasekhar received the first copy and Sonal Mansingh paid a dance tribute. For details, contact rvramani@vsnl.com
 
  attendance 2003/4 was released by Sheila Dixit, the Chief Minister of Delhi on April 22, 2004. attendance is India's only year-book on dance. It covers a year (1st Jan-31st Dec) in perspective and gives perspectives on issues, events, exhibitions, shows, seminars, books, biographies and obits. Edited, compiled and published by Ashish Mohan Khokar, top writers and critics of dance contribute in-depth articles. Metros are covered, as also major dance centers abroad. 

attendance 2003 looks at the gender theme and is entitled - The Sacred and the Profane: 
The Male/Female Role in the Asian Performance Arts: Monk/Warriors for the male; Geisha/Devdasi/Courtesan for the female. It focusses on issues pertaining to transposition and transmission of traditional cultures in modern contexts. 

All other regular features Year Round-up; awards, seminars, books and obits plus news and views from allover. A-4 size, Hardbound on German Mat.
Shanta Serbjeet Singh, senior culture-columnist, critic and specialist-author is the Guest Editor of the issue and the list of contributors include Dr. Kapila Vatsayan, Dr. Dev Patnaik, Sharada Ramnathan, Renuka Narayanan, Dr. Parritta and many more. 

Price: Rs.500/- only within India and $ 25 international 

Contact:  
attendance, 
5, Cubbon View,  
22/5, Vittal Mallya Road 
Bangalore-560001, India 
Tel.: (91-80) - 22273987 
e-mail: khokar@attendance-india.com
 
 
A biography titled GURU MAYA RAO by art historian and critic Ashish Khokar was launched on May 1, 2004 at The Park, Bangalore. Writer Shashi Deshpande, released the book. Artist S G Vasudev, & Mahesh Dattani, Playwright Director & Chairman NIKC received the first copies. Earlier, Chief Minister Sheila Dixit launched the book on April 22nd at Delhi. Veteran critic Subbudu received the first copy. 
The book puts on record the life of the internationally renowned Kathak guru and choreographer, Maya Rao, an individual who has steered a distinctive and independent course, in the history of Indian dance. 

The Ashish Mohan Khokar PIONEERS OF INDIAN DANCE series is a historical analysis and compilation on the life and times of dancers who have contributed significantly to the understanding & enrichment of the art form they have chosen to make their life. 
Ekah-Bios Publication 
Price: Rs.500 
Ph: (91 - 80) – 22483686 / 23348645 
To order: ekahbios@yahoo.co.in
 
  April 2004 
Padma Subrahmanyam’s book KARANAS – COMMON DANCE CODES OF INDIA & INDONESIA in three volumes (Rs. 5000/-) will be available through ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India) at a special discount of 10% for its members. This magnum opus is the result of Padma Subrahmanyam’s intensive research for over three decades and is an updated version of her Ph.D thesis.  
For copies please contact Roja Kannan (mobile: 98840 98453) in Chennai, India   
e-mail: rojak@sify.com 
 
  April 12, 2004 
Learn Quest Academy of Music & Chinmayamaruthi jointly launched flautist Raman’s new CD. Lalgudi G J R Krishnan (son & disciple of legendary violin maestro Lalgudi G Jayaraman) released Flute Raman’s new CD NAVARASA on 7th April 2004 @ Chinmayamaruthi Center, Andover.  
This is a fusion CD on Navarasa, the nine emotions. All the tracks in this CD are based on Carnatic ragas, which represent the relevant emotions. Western instruments like Keyboards and drums and other instruments along with Indian instruments have been used. The idea behind producing this album is that it can be used for depicting the rasas for dance too.  

The nine emotions or nava rasa are: shingara (romantic or erotic feeling), Ragam  Behag; hasya (comic or humorous feeling), Ragam Kuntalavarali; karuna (pathetic or sad emotion), Ragam  Sahana; rudra (anger or fury)  Raga  Ranjani; veer (valorous or heroic) Ragam Atana & Shankarabharana; bhayanak (fear or terror) Ragam RishabhaPriya;  bibhatsa (odious or disgusting),  Raga  Lavangi  &  Saveri;  adhbuta (wonder or surprise) Ragam  kadankutuhalam;  and shanta (peace and tranquility)  Ragam  Sama.
Nava Rasa  
RASA STHAYI BHAVA MEANING COLOUR
Shringar(Erotic) Rati Delight  Pale Light Green
Hasya (Humorous) Hasa Laughter White
Karuna (Pathetic) Shoka Sorrow Grey
Raudra (Terrible) Krodh Anger Red
Veera (Heroic) Utsaha Heroism Pale Orange
Bhayanaka (Fearful) Bhaya Fear Black 
Bibhatsa (Odious) Jugupsa Disgust Blue
Adbhuta (Wonderous) Vismaya Wonder  Yellow
Shanta (Peaceful) Calm Peace White 
Raman is a full time professional musician residing at Boston. He runs a school to propagate Carnatic music. 
The CD costs 12$ in the US. It is available in India for Rs.150.  
For details, contact Raman, Cell: (917) – 543 – 4128, e-mail: fluteraman@yahoo.com 
 
  April 9, 2004 
pulse 
SOUTH ASIAN DANCE IN THE UK 
  
Spring Issue 2004 - now available !! 
  
  
Selling South Asian Dance 
  
The issue reveals what professionals have to say about selling south asian dance... 
Pick up some tips from the success stories of dancers / dance companies / PR agencies ... and more !!  
 *  A Complex Calculus – Cristian Ceresoli asks a manager, an impresario, a dance agency, a dancer and a promoter - What does it take to finally get to the viewing audience?  
  
*  7 Simple Steps to becoming a National Touring Company - “Not easy but you can do it!” writes dance consultant June Gamble, sharing a DIY manual for getting the big tour!  
  
*  Call in the Professionals! -  In an intensely competitive art and entertainment world, you could do well with expert help says PR consultant Mark White.  Enjoy reading the audacious moves that got some attention!  
  
*  Dancing with the Royals - South asian dance for Birmingham and London Royal Ballets? Bithika Chatterjee talks to David Bintley and Deborah Bull in an exclusive interview for pulse!  
  
*  Long Live the King of Dance! - Ram Gopal’s authorised biographer, Ashish Khokar paints an exclusive, vivid portrait of the late dancing legend.  
     
*   E-mail from Singapore  .. Too much familiarity may be the problem in Singapore writes Aparna Roddam.  
  
 Plus read about new programmes and productions …  
  
§ London Contemporary Dance School's latest - BA dance degree with south asian dance specialism  
§ British Dance Edition 2004 and south asian dance  
§ Mavin Khoo’s Chandra/luna  
§ Akram Khan’s Ma  
§ Focus on SJDC’s Transtep  
§ Angika’s Bhakti  
§ Nina Rajarani’s Equilibrium  
§ Sonia Sabri’s Red  
§ Jiva’s Al Qaeda State Ballet 

Performance reviews ... 
  
§ Chitraleka Dance Company – The Story of C by Jiva  
§ Mavin Khoo Dance – Parallel Passions  by  Sanjoy Roy  
§ Sonia Sabri & Company – Rekha by  Anouk Perinpanayagam 

Subscribe: 
Annual subscription: 12 GBP for three issues - Spring, Summer and Autumn. 
Cheque payable to: Kadam Asian Music and Dance Ltd. 
Mail to: 1 Lurke Street, Bedford MK40 3HZ. 
Please include your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address. 
(NUS number required for student discount) 
 Or simply e-mail at subscriptions@pulsedance.org 
  
pulse is also available at selected bookstores and arts centres. 
Back issues available at 2 GBP per issue + 50p postage.  

Good news for Indian subscribers. You can now pay subscription fees in Rupees.  
  
Annual subscriptions: Rs. 375 
Please make the cheque payable to "Arangham Trust"  
Mail to: For Pulse, 10 Cenotaph 2nd Lane, Chennai 600018 
Don't forget to include your name, mailing address, telephone number, email address in a separate piece of paper. 
  
Or simply e-mail your request to subscriptions@pulsedance.org 
 If you are a pulse subscriber and have not received your copy of the Spring issue, please write to subscriptions@pulsedance.org 
  
pulse is supported by Arts Council England and is published by Kadam Asian Dance and Music Ltd. 
Editor - Chitra Sundaram. 
 
  January 30, 2004 
The yearlong celebrations of the birth centenary of Rukmini Devi Arundale conclude on February 29, 2004.  
Kalakshetra Foundation will bring out a set of publications titled RUKMINI DEVI ARUNDALE: BIRTH CENTENARY VOLUME, which is a compilation of articles from various luminaries in different fields who were associated with Rukmini Devi. It contains rare photographs of Rukmini Devi with some prominent dignitaries, receiving awards and the like. The volume also has an autobiographical section RUKMINI ON HERSELF.  
Cost - Rs.500 festival price (actual price Rs.600) 

SELECTED SPEECHES AND WRITINGS OF RUKMINI DEVI is in 2 volumes  
Cost - Rs.400 festival price (actual price Rs.500) 

SHRADDANJALI contains articles about the eminent people who laid the foundation of Kalakshetra.  
Cost - Rs.150 festival price (actual price Rs.200) 

Rukmini Devi was interested in crafts and helped revive many craft traditions. She made the Kalakshetra sari famous. Edited by Shakuntala Ramani and her team, SARI: THE KALAKSHETRA TRADITION costs Rs.360 festival price (actual price Rs.480) 

In Chennai, the books are available at Kalakshetra, Theosophical Society Book Store and Karnatic Music Book Centre (kmbc@vsnl.com).  
For details, contact Sukumar or Usha at Kalakshetra (91 – 44) – 24911844, or kshetra@vsnl.com. 
 
  January 18, 2004 
Cultural Centre of India released a DVD titled DANCES OF INDIA – BHARATA NATYAM ARANGETRAM DANCES featuring Padma Chebrolu. This DVD brings you the traditional Bharata Natyam Dances performed during the formal performances. It also has all the dances performed during Arangetram (solo graduation recital), which is done after many years of intense dance training from the guru. This DVD includes the songs, meaning of the songs and descriptions of the dances for easy reference. Following are the dances from this DVD:  
1.Guru Brahma slokam  
2.Manikya Veena slokam  
3.Pushpanjali  
4.Alarippu  
5.Jatiswaram  
6.Varnam  
7.Padam  
8.Tillana 
9.Sabdam  
10.Mangalam
This DVD is available at Amazon.com. 
For more information on this DVD, visit http://www.culturalcentreofindia.com  or contact padma@culturalcentreofindia.com.
 
  Kalatheera conducts a whole night dance and music festival TUNGA MAHOTSAV, from Dusk to Dawn on the banks of river Tunga at Shimoga district, Thirthahalli Taluk every year on the 2nd Saturday of April.  
Odissi dancer Uday Kumar Shetty and Soumya Uday Kumar, release a CD Rom in English on the January 11, 2004 Sunday at East Cultural Association, Indira Nagar, Bangalore at 6.30pm.  Called "PRATIBHIMBHA".... REFLECTION OF KALATHEERA, it is about last year’s Tunga Mahotsav, about the founders Uday Kumar and his wife Sowmya, and about their school Kalatheera. The chief guest will be Mr. Ravindranath Tagore IGP, Sri I M. Jayaram Shetty Ex MP, guru Maya Rao and Veena Murthy Vijay. 
On Jan 15th, the Kannada version of the same CD will be released at Shimoga, Karnataka Venue - Mathura Paradise, 6.30pm,  
On Jan 17th at Thirthahalli, Shimoga district - presentation of Kannada version  
Venue - Buntara Bhavana 6.30pm.  
For details: kalatheera@yahoo.com. 
 
  On December 7, 2003 Abhinaya Sudha released a set of 4 CDs – Kshetrayya Padams I, Kshetrayya Padams II, Sarangapani Padams and Annamacharya Padams. Cost: Rs.500 
Contact Kalanidhi Narayanan 
2/5, 12th Cross St, Sastri Nagar, Chennai 600020 
Ph: (91 - 44) – 24914469. 
 
  Presented by Malayala Manorama and performed by Gopika Varma, HASTA: MUDRAS OF MOHINIATTAM is a handy guide to learn and appreciate the art of Mohiniattam.  
Based on the Hastalakshanadeepika, the compact disc contains all 24 hastas, 548 mishra mudras, samyukta mudras, poses, abhinaya and viniyogam of Mohiniattam. A one and half year research by Mohiniattam exponent Gopika Varma went into the making of this VCD. The Governor P S Rammohan Rao released it on August 30, 2003 at the Banquet Hall of Raj Bhavan, Chennai. The CD comes with a free Mohiniattam book on slokas and mudras. Cost of VCD: Rs.550/= 
Order online: www.manoramaemart.com. 
 
  December 4, 2003 
“Mridangam: An Indian Classical Percussion Drum" by Shreejayanthi Gopal is about the Origin of Mridangam, Design and Construction, Science of Tala, Art of Accompaniment, Mridangam and Folk Music & the list of Renowned Mridangam Artistes. 
The book has foreword by Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal, the Art Historian of IGNCA, Bangalore. 
It's in available in Hard bound with xvi+120 pages. Prize: Rs.350.00  
It is a very useful book for Mridangam players, students, and researchers in Indian Music. 
Contact: Neeraj Mittal, B R Rhythms 
4737 A/23, Ansari Road, Darya Ganj, New Delhi 110002 India 
Tel. (91-11) - 23259196, 23259648 
e-mail: info@brrhythms.com. 
 
  On 17th December 2003 in Mumbai, Marg Publications released a book on NEW DIRECTIONS IN INDIAN DANCE, edited by Dr Sunil Kothari.  Price: Rs.2500. 
 
  On November 28, 2003 Kalavardhini’s CD and cassette of Bharatanatyam songs sung by O S Arun was released by Justice K Bhaktavatsalam in Chennai. 
 
  November 22, 2003 
Dances of India – Bharata Natyam Arangetram Songs, traditional Bharata Natyam Dance Music 

Dances of India – Bharata Natyam Arangetram Songs album brings you the traditional Bharata Natyam music used during the formal performances. It also has all the songs used during Arangetram (solo graduation recital), which is done after many years of intense dance training from the guru.  

Bharata Natyam is perhaps the oldest among the dance styles of India and considered as a form of worship. The word Bharata is believed to be derived from three essential aspects of the art: "Bha" from Bhavam (expression), "ra" from Ragam (melody/musical mode) and the "ta" from Talam (time measure). 
Nattuvangam – Padma Chebrolu 
Vocal - Padmaja Sonti 
Mridangam – Dr. Vasudevan Namboodiri 
Veena - Vasumathi Narayanan 
Violin - Anitha Rajagopalan 
Flute - Partha Saradhi 

 Song Ragam (Melody) Talam (Time Measure) Time 
1 Slokam: Guru Brahma Hamsadvani  1:23 
2 Slokam: Manikya Veena Kalyani  2:09 
3 Pushpanjali Nattai  Adi 6:01 
4 Alarippu Hindolam  Rupaka 2:49 
5 Jatiswaram Kalyani  Rupaka 7:43 
6 Varnam Kamas  Adi 13:25 
7 Padam Jenjuriti  Adi 5:12 
8 Tillana Kadana Kutuhalam  Adi 7:13 
9 Sabdam Ragamalika  Misra Chapu 7:09 
10 Mangalam Revati  Adi 1:47 

This CD is available at Amazon.com website for sale. 

Contact: padma@culturalcentreofindia.com. 

Nattuvangam – Padma Chebrolu: Padma has been trained in India under several gurus, Padma is versatile in many classical dance styles. She is the artistic director of Cultural Centre of India.  
Vocal - Padmaja Sonti: Padmaja has been trained by her mother Guru C Indiramani, a well-known composer and teacher of Carnatic music. Padmaja sang regularly on All India Radio (AIR) and on Doordarshan TV. She sang in numerous Telugu language movies and has released several light music, devotional and Annamayya CDs. 
Mridangam – Dr. Vasudevan Namboodiri: Vasudevan has been trained under most respected and critically acclaimed mridangists like Palaghat T R Rajamani, Trichur C Narendran and Prof. K. Velukutty Nair. He has accompanied many artists in India and USA. 
Veena - Vasumathi Narayanan: Vasumathi learned violin from her mother Saroja Srinivasan and Guru Kamala Vishwanathan. She has given solo live concerts and performed on All India Radio (AIR). She is focusing on teaching the art form to students. 
Violin - Anitha Rajagopalan: Anitha has been trained under Guru Lalgudi R Rajalakshmi who is the sister of renowned violinist Lalgudi Jayaraman. She has played violin in many concerts in India and USA. 
Flute - Partha Sreenivasan: Partha has been trained under Guru Lakshmi Narasimha Iyengar and Guru C S Shankarasivan. He has given many live concerts and performed in the All India Radio (AIR) and Doordarshan (TV). He participated in the south zone and the National youth festivals. 
 
  Nov 5, 2003 
“Mirrors and Gestures: Conversations with women dancers” by C S Lakshmi, contains her interviews with 18 dancers between 29 and 87 years of age, coming from varied backgrounds. Since the interviews and research took 12 years, a few of the artistes have passed away. The information covers 2 generations and guru shishya parampara too. 
It is published by Kali for women and costs Rs.400. 
 
  pulse   
The Magazine for South Asian Dance, Autumn Issue 2003    
The other shades of white  
Available from 25th October 2003   

 

“The Issue is now entitled The Other shades of white implying that ‘white’ isn’t a monolithic colour – it has as much cultured variety as any other; neither is it a background colour against which all others are to be discussed, to paraphrase Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Connecting Flights, November 2002); nor are ‘white’ dancers immune to discomfort when marginalised as Other by colour markers. Admittedly, much of this new ‘awareness’ has been galvanised by globalizing art forums and increasing scholarship-practice interface”.   
 - Chitra Sundaram  - Editor  editor@pulsedance.org  
  
 Articles 
-Bithika Chatterjee writes on the uneasy world of the ‘white’ South Asian dancer in Britain.   
-Magdalen Gorriange on all knees that bruise – pink, purple, white, black, brown…   
-Milena Salvini: heritage is no guarantee of artistry. 
-Janet O’Shea offers an alternative to ‘appropriation’.  
-Priya Srinivasan challenges notions of ‘purity’ and ‘modern’. 
-Uttara Coorlawala on the chequered journey of Indian Dance into American modern dance history  
-Alessandra Lopez y Royo writes on Ruth St Denis via Liz Lea’s Radha. 
-Lada Guruden Singh talks to non-Indian practitioners in India.   
-Ashish Khokar, dance historian, adds cryptic comments. 
-Donald Hutera on Shakti, the Indo-Japanese cult performer.  
-Gill Clarke on collective pasts and individual presents in our moving bodies 
-‘Funmi Adewole on embedded cultural codes in African dance forms.  
  
Reviews  
Amad – Amina Khayyam & Juliana Brustik – by Kalyani Mohan Shah 
Images – Nilima Devi & Co - by Annie Ball 
South – Magdalen Gorringe & Shane Shambhu – by Arti Kachhia 
Talking Kathak – Pratap Pawar – by Kush Saini 
Celebrations - Astad Deboo & Co – by Sanjoy Roy 
Kathak Solo- Saswati Sen – by Sushma Mehta 
Past Forward – Leela Samson – by Bisakha Sarker 
  
A Profile  
Catherine Hale  writes  on what moves Mavin Khoo to do what he does with ballet and bharatanatyam 
  
Fitness 
Anusha Subramanyam  gives tips on Pilates - some simple DIY techniques 
  
E- mail from Paris and Bhubaneswar 
Barbara Curda’s tells oriental tales from two cities 
  
Subscribe today: £ 12 Annual subscription fee   
OFFER: If you subscribe for the year 2004, you will get this Autumn Issue FREE  
If you are already a pulse subscriber, please pass on this information to those who could potentially be interested in subscribing. 
  
To subscribe, simply e-mail your address at subscriptions@pulsedance.org and send the cheque for £12 in the name of “Kadam Asian Dance and Music” at the following address: 
  
Anita Srivastava 
Subscriptions and Advertising Manager 
Pulse 
1 Lurke Street 
Bedford MK40 3HZ 

Pulse is supported by the Arts Council England and published by Kadam Asian Dance and Music. 
 
  THEORY AND PRACTICE OF ANGIKABHINAYA IN BHARATANATYAM by Sandhya Purecha, published by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mumbai was released on August 18, 2003. 
 
  Two new albums titled - TAMILMARAI ISAI (AZHWAR PASURAMS) and NAYIKA (TELUGU PADAMS) sung by dancer and musician Vasumathi Badrinathan are being released on 23rd and 24th August respectively in Chennai. Both these albums have been produced and marketed by Kosmic Music Pvt Ltd and the cassettes / CD's of these albums would be available in all the major music stores across the country. 

Tamilmarai Isai (Azhwar Pasurams):  The album Tamilmarai Isai is a collection of Azhwar Pasurams. Pasurams are the verses that form the 4000 stanza anthology called the Divya Prabandham. Authored by the Azhwars, the twelve saint poet – philosophers, these poems are entirely written