News

06-04-2018

On Sunday, the city of Pune got to witness a very rare as well as bewitching blend of a couple of great traditions of Indian music - Carnatic and Hindustani. The persons behind such a momentous event were the famous Carnatic vocalist Gayathri Venkataraghavan and renowned Hindustani singer Aarthi Anklikar. The musical evening organised by the Kalmadi family along with Kannada Sangh to celebrate Dr Kalmadi Shama Rao's birth centenary year. The legendary figure was renowned during his times for taking educational to the masses. Vocalists Aarthi and Gayathri had rendered a musical jugalbandhi following the felicitation of Rajani Pachapur (Indian classical music), Ustad Usman Khan (Si...

05-04-2018

Nruthyanjali, a dance festival that includes different dance forms such as Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, Kathak and Kathakali was commenced on Tuesday at the Ghantasala Venkateswara Rao Government Music and Dance College by the Andhra Pradesh Tourism Authority. This festival organised by Shree Vagdevi Kuchipudi Nruthyalaya is all set to carry on until Thursday. The first day of the Nruthyanjali dance festival was highlighted by Kathak performance by a team formed by the collaboration of Sai Arts International and Karunag Center for Performing Arts from Bangalore. The spins and bends that make the dance form so stunningly attractive were aesthetically performed by artistes inc...

04-04-2018

Rawiya al Khalili, artist and digital painter based in Muscat has been reportedly awarded with RO 700 vouture accolade by Ooredoo felicitating her fourth place achievement in the Shababiah art competition. Ms al Khalili, a twenty five year old youngster from Oman had produced a digital painting work that captivated the attention of judges for its wealth of creativity as well as youthful exuberance. Ms al Khalili who had learned about the Shababiah art competition while socialising with friends overcame many a challenge at the event to claim a position in the top five. She said that her mother's prayers as well as constant support helped inspiring her to deliver to her optimal ...

03-04-2018

A seventh standard student from Tamil Nadu has become one of the youngest Thavil vidushis in the country. Amrithavarshini Manishankar is possibly one of the very few women artistes that play this instrument, considered the forte of men traditionally, in India. Amrithavarshini has been playing since the age of five and has had the fortune of being trained under maestros such as Kovilur KG Salyanasundaram and Adichapuram AB Ramdoss. Amrithavarshini's father being a thavil musician himself along with her mother who is a scholar of music, paved the way for the little talent in an exemplary way. This must have been the right impetus for the girl prodigy to have performed more than a c...

02-04-2018

A series of recitals, which demonstrated the variety and grandeur of the classical dances of India, highlighted the conclusion of the second edition of Gurgaon Kala Utsav. The two-day event that had taken place at Sector 29's Rangabhoomi open air theatre had brought together a variety of performing as well as visual art forms including theatre and dance besides showcasing handicrafts and art work from across the country. The festival was organised by a cultural trust based in Gurgaon city, Nritya Dhara along with ASHRAY, a twenty-seven year old non-profit body striving to make cultural promotions accessible to everyone in Delhi-NCR. Nritya Dhara has been promoting Odissi dance form ...

31-03-2018

The third edition of the annual performing arts fetival of Jawahar Kala Kendra, NAVRAS has come to an end on the evening of last Sunday with a stunning performance by Rajasthan Roots Caravan, a band based in Jaipur. The swansong by the Jaipuri band was an exploration into Rajasthan's rich folklore. The artists of Rajasthan Roots Caravan had rendered popular song numbers such as Radhe Radhe and Pallo Pallo and many more. These were reported as being specially picked up by them through their travels. The performance included everything in it ranging from fire breathers, khurtals and a drum circle of nagras to dhol beats and kalbeliya dance. Along with the Jaipuri band, a play title...

30-03-2018

Ms Shivani Varma, the renowned Kathak dancer is striking the chords of patriotic hearts with her artistic tribute to Mahathma Gandhi through Champaran Se Bapu, a Kathak treat. Ms Varma, dressed in a minimalistic Khadi attire and a red bindi, as against the flashy costumes attributed to the dance form generally,is performing an extended version of Champaran Se Bapu, her choreography title exploring the great man's journey from a student to a saint. The debut of that performance was in last September. This coincided her invitation to perform at the Champaran Sathyagraha movement's hundredth year celebration. Nevertheless, she had to contain her debut presentation to a twenty mi...

29-03-2018

It has been reported that Silicon Valley Folk Festival, a new event to be presented in San Jose, is expected to highlight the tradition and culture of various countries of the world. The presenters aver that it is a first time thing. According to reports, on March 31 2018, artistes of troupes from China, India, Brazil, Mexico, Nigeria, Guinea, Hawaii, Scotland and the Philippines will dance as part of two performances. The festival is being staged by Mosaic Silicon Valley, a nonprofit organisation. The event is also an initiative of Sangam Arts and Xpressions Dances. The shiny galaxy of the Bay Area participants is expected to include the Chinese dance specialists Achieve Dance Arts ...