Bharatanatyam at Cherry Blossom Festival April 4, 2006
Flamenco supposedly has influences from many different cultures, thanks to the Gypsies who originated in India and eventually found their way to Andalucia where flamenco was "born," right? Well that's what we all read in books but when it comes down to it, I cannot authoritatively tell you specifically what it is about Indian dance that we see in flamenco.
For now, I can do my research by attending performances of Indian dance. This past Tuesday I went to the Tidal Basin at Jefferson Memorial to see Janaki Rangarajan perform Bharatanatyam.
I arrived early and took this pic of the Japanese dance group onstage.
April 4, 2006 12:34pm
While I was waiting for Janaki to begin, I ran into my dancer friend Marsha Bonet. Marsha is studying Bharatanatyam with Janaki. This was good: someone to explain the movements to me during the show. Turns out I was so entranced by the non-stop 30-minute performance that I didn't even get around to asking Marsha about the dance. Oh well.
April 4, 2006 1:03pm
My intent was to focus my attention on the Mudras or hand movements in Bharatanatyam and try to draw some conclusions about how these were the precursor for the characteristic hand movements in flamenco. The Mudras are statically posed as opposed to being in a constant flowing movement as they are done in flamenco.
April 4, 2006 1:05pm
In my conversation after the show with Marsha and Mona, another Bharatanatyam student, I learned that there are single and double Mudras executed with one or both hands. And each of these gestures has a specific name and meaning to dramatically express the words of the song.
April 4, 2006 1:05pm
Bharatanatyam is more linear, geometric and symmetrical than kathak, another form of Indian dance, which is more free. (Remember Lori Clark's performance at the Millennium stage in February?)
April 4, 2006 1:05pm
The bells around Janaki's ankles are more than just an accessory. They are earned only after reaching a certain high level of accomplishment in Indian dance.
April 4, 2006 1:06pm
The Jefferson Memorial. April 4, 2006 1:35pm
Marsha with her guru Janaki. April 4, 2006 1:37pm
Oh yeah, this was part of the cherry blossom festival, so here's a cherry blossom for ya. :P
April 4, 2006 1:42pm
Checkout these pics from when I performed at the Cherry Blossom Festival in 2004.
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