Leela Foundation is proud to present Pravaha - Changing Canvases, a performance by Vaibhav Arekar on Sunday, April 21!
Pravaha - Changing Canvases
April 21, 2024, 4:30 p.m. (seating at 4 p.m.)
Alston Ridge Middle School, Cary, NC 27519
PRAVAHA: Changing Canvases is a Bharatanatyam performance divided into two halves. The first half challenges both the dancer and the dancing body to oscillate between individual identity and philosophical concept, seeking an experiential state through unique pieces selected from the Bharatanatyam repertoire.
The second half presents a solo dance-drama called Debotar Grash, based on Tagore's poem of the same name. Within the framework of Debotar Grash, the emotional landscape of a child's innocence and a mother's love is depicted, incorporating excerpts from The Crescent Moon, 'Bir Purush/Hero', 'My Song', and 'The End'. The performance blends the idiom of Bharatanatyam with spoken words, juxtaposing English poems against the original Bengali, accompanied by Hindustani music and Karnatic percussion ensemble to enrich the audio-visual texture of the narrative.
Artist’s Personal reflection: As someone living in contemporary times, my aim is to explore, engage with, and present Bharatanatyam within its classical framework, not merely as an ancient tradition, but as a relevant and evolving art form. Pravaha examines the continuity of this ancient art, inherited by me, assimilated in the present, and now flowing through me into the future.
I tell the songs of the past, as they live in this dancing body in the present, so as to be carried into the future. This is what I see as a Bharatanatyam artist.
Join us for this special performance
Vaibhav Arekar Performs: Pravaha - Changing Canvases
Pravaha - Changing Canvases
April 21, 2024, 4:30 p.m. (seating at 4 p.m.)
Alston Ridge Middle School, Cary, NC 27519
Sneak Peek into Pravaha - Changing Canvases
Meet the Performer
Vaibhav Arekar is one of the leading Bharatanatyam artists of India. An intense, calm and immersive approach is a key signature style of his performance. Vaibhav's choreography is inspired by modernity within the classical template.
Vaibhav was initiated into the world of Bharatanatyam by Smt. Saroja Srinath. He later continued his indepth studies in the dance form and completed his Masters in Fine Arts(Bharatanatyam) from the renowned dance college Nalanda Nrityakala Mahavidyala, Mumbai. Here, Smt. Thangamani Nagarajan imparted rigorous training in nritta.
Vaibhav has the proud privilege of receiving advanced tutelage in Abhinaya under the guidance of the renowned danseuse and his mentor, late Padmashree Dr. Smt. Kanak Rele.
Sankhya Dance Company, founded by Vaibhav Arekar- its artistic director is recognised for its work that is intense yet entertaining. works such as 'Trayyanta', ' Four Seasons', 'Shrimanth Yogi', 'Venugaan' - investigate, involve and interrogate various themes in Bharatanatyam. A fruitful collaboration of late Shri Chetan Datar and Smt. Rajashree Shirke along with Vaibhav created the genre of Ranga Nritya (theatre – dance), a meaningful and symbiotic presentation of spoken words and dance – body movements. Venugaan and Debotar Grash are fine solo works of Ranga Nritya.
Vaibhav and Sankhya Dance Company have performed in a number of prestigious dance festivals in India like the Khajuraho festival, NCPA’s ‘Mudra’ and ‘Nakshatra’ festivals, Music Academy dance festival, Natya Kala Conference, Kalavahini’s Art for Art festival and many more.
Apart from extensive Indian tour, he has also been invited to perform in Japan, Brazil, Canada, USA, Poland, Russia, Germany, France, Australia.
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