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Your visions will become clear
only when you can look into your own heart
Who looks outside, dreams
Who looks inside, awakes

- Carl Jung, psychiatrist and psychotherapist

Anita R Ratnam

Aaaand... hello again!

Another month goes by. Another capture through my personal lens. Another set of thoughts shared. As Time marches on and tastes shift and change, it is a challenge to find that common ground that you, the reader who can be - dancer, choreographer, guru, teacher, musician, composer, costume designer, lighting director, Arts manager or anyone who is interested or working in the performing arts sector can connect to. Being a senior in the field, I realise that many of my views are shaped by the long decades of learning, performing, producing, curating, mentoring, speaking and writing about dance and society. I write and speak as I see it.

Flash floods at Trishuli in Nepal's Nuwakot district
Flash floods at Trishuli in Nepal's Nuwakot district
Arun Sankar/Getty Images

Against the backdrop of the devastating tragedy enveloping Nepal, I wish to pause and reflect on the rage of the elements. Fires, floods, typhoons and cyclones are no strangers to our planet and it becomes even more urgent to pay attention to these cataclysmic events, especially when they become fodder for dance themes.

This month, I will write about the three performances I watched at the annual Chennai NATYARANGAM dance festival and the issues that emerged from this event. For 28 years, the dance wing of the Narada Gana Sabha has been curating and producing an annual event based on a particular theme. 27 years ago, I was part of a Faith based festival called DHARMA BHARATAM in which I was given the subject of Islam. Yes, you read that correctly. My presentation was titled TARKAASH - the quiver. With music by OS Arun (fabulous!) and lights by the late Mithran Devanesan (gorgeous) and costumes from my personal wardrobe, the evening was made especially meaningful with the presence of 100 young women from SIET college, seated quietly, all robed in Burqas! Today, with changing times and shrill identity soaked voices, it is inconceivable for a reprise of that moment. .

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Anita Ratnam
anitaratnam.com




FROM THE ARCHIVES


 Remembering Ebrahim Alkazi
- Dr Sunil Kothari
It was during the year 1954 that my late dear painter friend Bhupen Khakhar and I were attending a series of lectures by Ebrahim Alkazi at Bhulabhai Memorial Institute on Warden Road.

Yog Sunder: The dancer extraordinary
- Dr Utpal K Banerjee
Born with a silver spoon in his mouth in a royal family of Gujarat, he was exposed early in life to the Spartan Gandhian principles....




BIRTHDAY WISHES
Shovana Narayan: Sept 2
Kumkum Mohanty: Sept 10
Bharat Sharma: Sept 13
Rajika Puri: Sept 14
Alarmel Valli: Sept 14
Vanashree Rao: Sept 16
Kasi Aysola: Sept 23
Jhelum Paranjape: Sept 24
Ananda Shankar Jayant: Sept 27
Navia Natarajan: Sept 27
Meera Sreenarayanan: Sept 29
Amrita Lahiri: Sept 30
Indira Kadambi: Sept 30

QUOTE
To move, to express, and to create dance is one of the most satisfying sensations a person can feel.
- Daniel Ulbricht, New York City Ballet principal




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