J-Version of Bharatanatyam

Sunday,26 September 2004, Otsuki-san asked us if we would like to join him for the Indian dance, with nothing better to do on a weekend, we a batch of 8 drove towards north of Matsumoto, enroute we visited Toyoshina Museum of Modern Art(a little known painter early 19th century, Y. Miyo's paintings interested me, his style was unique, oil canvas,either complete dark/light colors form his compositions), a Wasabi Farm (I was educated that : it takes 5 yrs to harvest wasabi, now that answers why its so costly).

Meadering through the roads from toyoshina to omachi we finally made to the venue of the evening Lotus Cafe., The ambience was very much Indian.The evening was termed as "Chant of India" , a ticket costed 1500 Yen. The incandescent lighting and the red carpet gave the dias a royal look. The tabla and sitar gave a feeling of nostalgia. Dinesh Chandra Dyoudi played the tabla while a Japanese artist chanted the indian mantras (I hardly bothered to figure out what his name was!), I despised the way he chanted them, just wanted to walk out but had to hold myself. When it was over I was relieved.

The break paved way for a Jversion of the Samosa; 150Yen each. We were informed that the next item is Bharatanatyam.
< Oh..here I go..
Walking down the memory lane of 80s, holding mamas index finger and making it to the Andhra University Auditorium, getting a free entrance to a concert/dance when the maestros descent on vizag every winter.
Watching one of the renowned artist doing Bharatanatyam on a stint for 3 hrs or so. I was amazed at her stamina.Her name was ??? well I attribute this amnesia to my nascent brain.
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A Japanese dressed in classical Bharatanatyam dress awed me. I was just sitting on the floor just next to the dais. So it was time to play with my Nikon D70 and 18-70mm wideangle lense. The conditions were the best a photographer can dream off. But when i reviewed the snaps I could figure that I am still iept. I have miles to go before I sleep.


Well she was dancing at her best which looked moderate. she danced for some 40 minutes and was soaked.


One of my friends remarked"She looks like dancing in the rain". At the end when i spoke to her, she said that she was going to chennai,India for the past 3 years to learn Bharatanatyam.
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Just was wondering : How come it never flash to me in india to go for a classical concert/dance ? Did the modern life style take its toll or I was never inclined to go for one.
I guess I should acknowledge the later.
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