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Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Halloween in Salem MA - Haunted Happenings - a photo blog
Witchcraft/Halloween enthusiasts from across America congregate in Salem, MA during the Halloween week to participate in the week long Halloween themed activities in Salem, codenamed the "Haunted Happenings".
Below are some photos from the Haunted Happenings, 2008
Below are some photos from the Haunted Happenings, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Dancing Nature's Art (DNA) by MIT Natya - a review
A Jugalbandi Of Bharata Muni And Gregor Mendel At MIT
Please click here for a slideshow with photos from this program at my blog titled - Boston Arangetram Dance Photography Ganesh
There will be no wisdom, no learning, no art, no craft, no device, nor action that is not found within natya (dance)" - sage Bharata Muni in Natya Shastra ('The Science of Dance', appr. 400 B.C.)
Vibrant and colorful ethnic costumes, glittering Indian ornaments with intricate detail, hairdos full of flowers, jingling dancing bells, traditional henna patterns, giggling teenage performers - the scene in the dressing room at the MIT Little Kresge Auditorium this past President's Day, 18th February 2008, would have been all too typical and familiar for a stray visitor conversant with any other Indian classical dance program, at least from its outwardly appearance.
Only, MIT Natya's Dancing Nature's Art (an obvious play of words on 'DNA'), unfolds on the stage into a rich, visually spectacular drama that entices the hitherto casual, perhaps curious, viewer into the realms of wondrous and tasteful fusion - of Art and Science; and continues to enthrall her into a stunning visual experience, and further unravels the scientific secrets of the double helix molecule and the science behind how it works to store the human genome data in every cell, through art and human emotion rather than mundane equations and formulae.
Science and art may well have been traditionally considered paradoxical in the mainstream Western thought, but Indian thought had always freely crossed those lines - real or imaginary. In continuation of the spirit of that grand old tradition, MIT Natya, while staying true to the rich traditions of Bharatanatyam, presented the science of DNA by depicting replication, transcription, translation, mutations, evolution and ultimately the immense genetic variety which arises from this tiny molecule, to wide acclaim, culminating into a unique, mutually stimulating interdisciplinary fusion that kindles a sense of unconventional perception and appreciation among the viewers.
The opening act starts with the Bharatanatyam tradition of a prayer followed by a vigorous dance composed of rhythmic footwork (Mallari), continues to take an artistic look at the origin of life, and ends with a theoretical introduction of the evolution of DNA, the molecule of life.
The program then continues to demonstrate the traditional Hindu evolution theory of the 'Dasavatar', the 10 forms of Lord Vishnu, representing the incremental stages in the evolution of life, employing the rich repertoire of the Indian Classical Dance of Bharatanatyam like Jathis, Hasta , Mudras and Abhinaya, to convey a thorough, visually stimulating explanation of complex scientific concepts relating to DNA replication, structure, transcription, translation and mutation with the performers adhering to the grammar, form, rules and abstraction, while employing the dance language as their natural mode of expression.
In an intense celebration of the human creative drive, the program picks an abstract theme and dissects it in a convincingly revolutionary way that manages to easily navigate the albeit imaginary boundaries between art and science using creative metaphors from ancient Indian tradition, and to convey complicated ideas relating to modern scientific subjects like the genome in a skillful display of sheer creativity.
This fresh look at a complex scientific idea through innovative, artistic lens enhances the visual experience of pleasure and the depth of the scientific understanding. Dancing Nature's Art provides something beyond a regular Indian classical dance perforamance experience - it sets a new standard for tasteful and thoughtful, interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration that allows viewers to feel the richness of ancient Indian art in the context of modern science.
The talented and energetic group of Bharatanatyam students of varying levels at MIT Natya have achieved a vibrant synergy in this unique performance where the aesthetics remained unclouded by the conditioned attitudes, setting an example of what Bharatanatyam training can be when it is treated as more than a means of churning out a byproduct for an arangetram.
The music, composed especially for the production, and recorded by Prasanna & Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan, with lyrics by Padmashri Vairamuthu, fusing a wide variety of musical styles and expression, was tastefully used to appropriately support the impressive choreography.
This piece was originally created in 2004 by dancers working under the guidance of dance teachers Ranjani Saigal and Kausalya Srinivasan and Dr. Balram Singh , Professor of Biochemistry at University of Massachussets at Dartmouth, MA.The original production was inspired by Amrita Saigal who had played a major role in the original production. She brought the piece to MIT Natya and along with Renuka Ramanathan and Chandini Valiathan enhanced the original production with new choreography. As the lighting designer, Renuka exceled in creating the perfect lighting for each scene that added to the magic of the creation.
Bharata Muni was right on, after all!! There will, indeed, be no wisdom, no learning, no art, no craft, no device nor action that is not found within natya.
The performers indeed deserve the standing ovation they got from the full house:
Dancers:
Krishna Dahya
Mohini Jangi
Jayanthi Jayakumar
Amrita Karambelkar
Sonya Makhni
Samiksha Nayak
Shriddha Nayak
Renuka Ramanathan
Amrita Saigal
Chandni Valiathan
(This article originally appeared on Lokvani.com at http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=4699)
Please click here for a slideshow with photos from this program at my blog titled - Boston Arangetram Dance Photography Ganesh
More information on MIT Natya can be found at http://web.mit.edu/natya/www or over email at natya-exec@mit.edu
Please click here for a slideshow with photos from this program at my blog titled - Boston Arangetram Dance Photography Ganesh
There will be no wisdom, no learning, no art, no craft, no device, nor action that is not found within natya (dance)" - sage Bharata Muni in Natya Shastra ('The Science of Dance', appr. 400 B.C.)
Vibrant and colorful ethnic costumes, glittering Indian ornaments with intricate detail, hairdos full of flowers, jingling dancing bells, traditional henna patterns, giggling teenage performers - the scene in the dressing room at the MIT Little Kresge Auditorium this past President's Day, 18th February 2008, would have been all too typical and familiar for a stray visitor conversant with any other Indian classical dance program, at least from its outwardly appearance.Only, MIT Natya's Dancing Nature's Art (an obvious play of words on 'DNA'), unfolds on the stage into a rich, visually spectacular drama that entices the hitherto casual, perhaps curious, viewer into the realms of wondrous and tasteful fusion - of Art and Science; and continues to enthrall her into a stunning visual experience, and further unravels the scientific secrets of the double helix molecule and the science behind how it works to store the human genome data in every cell, through art and human emotion rather than mundane equations and formulae.
Science and art may well have been traditionally considered paradoxical in the mainstream Western thought, but Indian thought had always freely crossed those lines - real or imaginary. In continuation of the spirit of that grand old tradition, MIT Natya, while staying true to the rich traditions of Bharatanatyam, presented the science of DNA by depicting replication, transcription, translation, mutations, evolution and ultimately the immense genetic variety which arises from this tiny molecule, to wide acclaim, culminating into a unique, mutually stimulating interdisciplinary fusion that kindles a sense of unconventional perception and appreciation among the viewers.
The opening act starts with the Bharatanatyam tradition of a prayer followed by a vigorous dance composed of rhythmic footwork (Mallari), continues to take an artistic look at the origin of life, and ends with a theoretical introduction of the evolution of DNA, the molecule of life.
The program then continues to demonstrate the traditional Hindu evolution theory of the 'Dasavatar', the 10 forms of Lord Vishnu, representing the incremental stages in the evolution of life, employing the rich repertoire of the Indian Classical Dance of Bharatanatyam like Jathis, Hasta , Mudras and Abhinaya, to convey a thorough, visually stimulating explanation of complex scientific concepts relating to DNA replication, structure, transcription, translation and mutation with the performers adhering to the grammar, form, rules and abstraction, while employing the dance language as their natural mode of expression.
In an intense celebration of the human creative drive, the program picks an abstract theme and dissects it in a convincingly revolutionary way that manages to easily navigate the albeit imaginary boundaries between art and science using creative metaphors from ancient Indian tradition, and to convey complicated ideas relating to modern scientific subjects like the genome in a skillful display of sheer creativity.
This fresh look at a complex scientific idea through innovative, artistic lens enhances the visual experience of pleasure and the depth of the scientific understanding. Dancing Nature's Art provides something beyond a regular Indian classical dance perforamance experience - it sets a new standard for tasteful and thoughtful, interdisciplinary and intercultural collaboration that allows viewers to feel the richness of ancient Indian art in the context of modern science.
The talented and energetic group of Bharatanatyam students of varying levels at MIT Natya have achieved a vibrant synergy in this unique performance where the aesthetics remained unclouded by the conditioned attitudes, setting an example of what Bharatanatyam training can be when it is treated as more than a means of churning out a byproduct for an arangetram.
The music, composed especially for the production, and recorded by Prasanna & Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan, with lyrics by Padmashri Vairamuthu, fusing a wide variety of musical styles and expression, was tastefully used to appropriately support the impressive choreography.
This piece was originally created in 2004 by dancers working under the guidance of dance teachers Ranjani Saigal and Kausalya Srinivasan and Dr. Balram Singh , Professor of Biochemistry at University of Massachussets at Dartmouth, MA.The original production was inspired by Amrita Saigal who had played a major role in the original production. She brought the piece to MIT Natya and along with Renuka Ramanathan and Chandini Valiathan enhanced the original production with new choreography. As the lighting designer, Renuka exceled in creating the perfect lighting for each scene that added to the magic of the creation.
Bharata Muni was right on, after all!! There will, indeed, be no wisdom, no learning, no art, no craft, no device nor action that is not found within natya.
The performers indeed deserve the standing ovation they got from the full house:
Dancers:
Krishna Dahya
Mohini Jangi
Jayanthi Jayakumar
Amrita Karambelkar
Sonya Makhni
Samiksha Nayak
Shriddha Nayak
Renuka Ramanathan
Amrita Saigal
Chandni Valiathan
(This article originally appeared on Lokvani.com at http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=4699)
Please click here for a slideshow with photos from this program at my blog titled - Boston Arangetram Dance Photography Ganesh
More information on MIT Natya can be found at http://web.mit.edu/natya/www or over email at natya-exec@mit.edu
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
India Day 2008: Celebrating Indian Independence - IAGB's Annual Showcase of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity at Boston's Hatch Shell/Esplanade
India Day 2008: IAGB's Annual Showcase of Ethnic and Cultural Diversity at Boston's Hatch Shell/Esplanade
Click here or on the below photo to see a slideshow of photos from India Day 2007
BOSTON, Aug 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Boston's Hatch Memorial Shell/Esplanade on Storrow Drive in Boston is all set to come alive on Sunday, August 17, 2008, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. with the upcoming India Day 2008, a free, spectacular cultural event. About 500 dancers, singers and musicians will enthrall an expected 15,000 people with a diverse selection of vibrant performances showcasing the rich traditions, culture and heritage of India.
The occasion is the commemoration of the 61st anniversary of India's independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, hosted by India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB).
"The celebration of the independence of the world's largest democracy in the heart of Boston, the "cradle of liberty," will be an enjoyable and memorable family event. We expect over 15,000 people to attend this year," said IAGB President Rita Shah.
"The prime attraction is the cultural program presented by talented local performers. It will include: colorful and vibrant dance numbers, music items, Bollywood dances, traditional, regional and modern folk dances, as well as classical dance styles like Bharatanatyam and Odissi, and high-energy folk dances like the Garba, Gidda and Bhangra."
Indian food will be available for purchase. In addition, several Indian American organizations will set up informational booths on the lawns. Activities will range from henna paintings to complimentary health check ups by the Indian Medical Association of New England, to activities by the Museum of Science.
"India Day is IAGB's flagship annual event, made possible by the sheer dedication and hard work of its volunteers. The result of their efforts is a scintillating program and the perfect venue for the area's entire Indian American community to get together and celebrate its deep cultural roots and India's beautiful heritage," said IAGB Vice President Mohan Dali.
A five-member cultural committee led by Chairperson Ganesh Davuluri and supported by the 16-member executive committee has been working diligently for months to produce the event.
About IAGB
The India Association of Greater Boston has been serving the Indian American community in the Greater Boston area since 1962. Its mission is to preserve and foster Indian culture, and to strengthen Indo-American friendship.
SOURCE: India Association of Greater Boston
Press Contact: Ganesh Davuluri
Click here or on the below photo to see a slideshow of photos from India Day 2007
BOSTON, Aug 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Boston's Hatch Memorial Shell/Esplanade on Storrow Drive in Boston is all set to come alive on Sunday, August 17, 2008, from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m. with the upcoming India Day 2008, a free, spectacular cultural event. About 500 dancers, singers and musicians will enthrall an expected 15,000 people with a diverse selection of vibrant performances showcasing the rich traditions, culture and heritage of India.The occasion is the commemoration of the 61st anniversary of India's independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, hosted by India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB).
"The celebration of the independence of the world's largest democracy in the heart of Boston, the "cradle of liberty," will be an enjoyable and memorable family event. We expect over 15,000 people to attend this year," said IAGB President Rita Shah.
"The prime attraction is the cultural program presented by talented local performers. It will include: colorful and vibrant dance numbers, music items, Bollywood dances, traditional, regional and modern folk dances, as well as classical dance styles like Bharatanatyam and Odissi, and high-energy folk dances like the Garba, Gidda and Bhangra."
Indian food will be available for purchase. In addition, several Indian American organizations will set up informational booths on the lawns. Activities will range from henna paintings to complimentary health check ups by the Indian Medical Association of New England, to activities by the Museum of Science.
"India Day is IAGB's flagship annual event, made possible by the sheer dedication and hard work of its volunteers. The result of their efforts is a scintillating program and the perfect venue for the area's entire Indian American community to get together and celebrate its deep cultural roots and India's beautiful heritage," said IAGB Vice President Mohan Dali.
A five-member cultural committee led by Chairperson Ganesh Davuluri and supported by the 16-member executive committee has been working diligently for months to produce the event.
About IAGB
The India Association of Greater Boston has been serving the Indian American community in the Greater Boston area since 1962. Its mission is to preserve and foster Indian culture, and to strengthen Indo-American friendship.
SOURCE: India Association of Greater Boston
Press Contact: Ganesh Davuluri
Monday, August 11, 2008
Boston celebrates India Independence Day 2007 by India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB)
This year's India Day 2007 in Boston celebrating the anniversary of India's Independence Day attracted a crowd of above 17000 people.More photos from the event are available at my photo blog titled Boston Dance Arangetram photogrpahy by Ganesh Davuluri
Complete details of the event below:
The India Association of Greater Boston (IAGB) hosted its annual India Day event, a showcase of the unique ethnic and cultural diversity of India, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m . on Sunday, August 12, 2007. This year's celebration held a special significance as it is the 60th anniversary of India's independence from British rule on August 15, 1947.
The celebration of the independence of the world's largest democracy was a grand night of lively Indian entertainment for family and friends. "A record number of 17000 people turned out at the event this year," said M. Rajinikanth, the President of IAGB, "A lot of people came up to me to compliment the performers and the IAGB team saying the event is getting better by the year".
The central attraction was a highly entertaining and enthralling cultural program presented by about 320 exuberant dancers in spectacular ehtnic costumes, 40 vibrant singers and a bevy of gifted musicians from the many highly talented arts groups in the Greater Boston area. Items presented included a grand presentation of colorful and vibrant dance numbers and rich music items featuring Bollywood, Indian classical, traditional and modern folk art forms from India's diverse regions and the high-energy bhangra styles.
"This event exceeded all my expectations and overwhelmed me. Even my 1-year grandson was so excited and was responding to the numbers. The scale and richness of the event exceeds some comparable events that we only get to see on the TV, even back in India!!", exclaimed a visibly happy Mrs. Mishra, a grandparent visiting her son Mr. Mohit Mishra, daughter-in-law and a newborn grandson.
A wide variety of mouthwatering, sumptuous, spicy Indian food from popular restaurants in the area was available for purchase. A large number of Indian American organizations in the Boston area have set up informational booths on the lawns presenting various interests and activities ranging from ethnic crafts like Henna paintings to Yoga information booths to complimentary health check ups by the IMANE, to children's activities by the Museum of Science.
"IAGB succeeds due to the dedication and hard work of its volunteer officers and because of continued enthusiastic support from the community. On occasions such as these, the entire community can get together to celebrate its beautiful heritage," said Vinod Chungi, Vice President, IAGB.
The event brought in the nostalgia among the crowd and thrilled them, as evident from the huge amount of participation from the visiting public and the unending rounds of cheers and applause after each item.
The IAGB has been serving the Indian American community in the Greater Boston area since 1962. Its mission is to preserve and foster Indian culture. More details at India Association of Greater Boston's website (http://www.iagb.org/Site).
Monday, August 4, 2008
Ramayana - A Moving Performance
Where could you go with your “10-second attention span teenager” and your “deeply spiritual 70 year old parent” and get them glued together to their seats with their eyes wide open in awe for a full two hours? The spectacular Ramayana dance drama that was enacted to perfection a full house at the National Heritage Museum in Lexington, MA on May 31st- that’s where.A complete slideshow with pictures from this event can be viewed at my blog - Aryavarta Photo Studios by Ganesh Davuluri
“Ramayana - A Visual Journey” unfolds like your typical Bharatanatyam presentation with an Anjali. What follows is what sets this one wide apart. A Ranjani Saigal production, presented by the non-profit Vision Aid, this fascinating dance-drama brings to life the timeless global Epic of Indian origin, Ramayana, using an imaginative and highly creative combination of live music, Jathis (pure dance movements), Swarams (musical notes) and engaging English narration.
This highly creative and tastefully unique production synthesizes the various age-old interpretations of the ancient poem retold over generations in various Indian languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, Hindi, Telugu, Kannada and Gujarati by legendary composers and poets like Valmiki, Kamban, Goswami Tulasidas, Thyagaraja, Arunachala Kavi, Swathi Thirunal and Narsing Mehta, and masterfully storyboards its way through the various Kandas using creatively selected verses, while sustaining the smooth program flow of a traditional Bharatanatyam recital.
Don’t get thrown off by the ‘creative’ and ‘unique’ labels, though. This is not one of those obstipational attempts of misguided enthusiasm that go down the treacherous dark lane of exploiting the cheap thrills of vilifying venerable figures and high values, and romanticizing demons and demonic traits, in the guise of ‘creativity’.
This one is “Ramayana as it is” – exactly as it is intended/documented by the original authors, and in its authentic form that inspired people across the world over the centuries - ‘visually re-interpreted’ in a trendy way while still staying true to the universal values espoused by the hoary epic; a masterful attempt that indeed presents a fresh and creative visual interpretation, without compromising the narrative integrity of the tale or diminishing the values it conveys.
How did Ranjani Saigal get the material for the production? "I have always been fascinated by the different versions of the Ramayana and it has been my dream to synthesize the ideas of the different poets. The power of the story is such that each work is a masterpiece unto itself. I did a lot of research and consulted with several scholars including Dr. Balram Singh, Dr. Bijoy Misra, Dr. Uma Nellaiappan, Chandu Shah and my father Dr. R. S. Ayyar before creating the storyboard and choreographing the dances" says Saigal.
Any production of this grandeur needs a versatile and inspired performer with a wide repertoire to employ a full range of emotion and technique and convey the vision of the producer and the spirit of the text.
The young and talented dancer Amudha Pazhanisamy, grand niece of the legendary dancer Balasaraswathi, and student of Ranjani Saigal, filled this spot perfectly well with her skilful rendition of the rasas matching the wide variety of emotions evoked by Geetha Murali’s melodious Voice in tandem with Surya Sundararajan’s mellifluous Violin.
Amudha’s exacting coordination of footwork, immaculate body language and diverse mudras (hand gestures), bhava excellence‚ exploiting to the full her face and form with expressive delineation, synchronized to the ‘T’ with the finely intricate beats of A.R. Balaskandan’s Mridangam in perfect resonance with Dr. Revathi Ramaswamy’s lilting Veena and Ranjani’s reverberating Natuvangam, transported viewers over to about 5000 years back in time to the Itihasic times of the Ramayana.
Amudha’s fine dancing talent and the graceful movements negotiated through her nimble nritta portrayed divine beauty in motion and awakened the spirituality of the viewers to transcend them from the mundane into an elevated state of sheer delight, a blissful state of unison of the inner self and the physical being.
Ranjani Saigal’s English narration made the spiritual content of the epic accessible to a contemporary audience – especially the Americans and some second-generation Indians - in a way that is both entertaining and authentic while ensuring that the integrity of the source texts is well-preserved.
For those in the audience that were not familiar with the Ramayana, this was an informative and heart-warming experience, a spellbinding excursion into a religious epic and a rich culture that produced that epic. For those who grew up with close familiarity to tales from, and living the values espoused by the spirit of Ramayana, the effect of this visual interpretation was spectacular and cherished. If the goal of the production was to bring Ramayana visually to people who had never experienced it before, and regale people who are intimately familiar with it, it’s has been very successfully accomplished.
It’s said that when the sacred dance of Bharatanatyam is performed to perfection, the divine entities of God-head and the celestial beings which the performers portray manifest themselves on the stage and erase the veil between the human and the supernatural. This was indeed the case with this performance, as is evident from the standing ovation the production got from a full house, and the numerous accolades that the performers got backstage from the visibly moved members of audience.A special mention must be made of the gorgeous Madhubani paintings by Sunanda Sahay from Acton, Ma that adorned the entrance way setting just the right welcome mood for the performance.
As an icing on a perfect cake, all the proceeds from this production were used to support the non-profit organization Vision-Aid, the non-profit organization that serves the visually disadvantaged. Monies received from the Traditional Apprentice Award program from the Massachussetts Cultural Council helped offset the costs for the event. The team of Vision-Aid including Anu Chitrapu ,Chandrika Govardhan, Ramakrishna Raju & Revathy Ramakrishna, Shailesh Durgapal ,Paramesh Garimella , Kaustubha Phene,Umayal Ramanathan ,Sudhir Varma, Dr. E.Vijayakumar should be congratulated on a very professionally organized and an extremely successful fundraising event that started to the dot at 3:00 pm and overshot its fundraising goal by a significant margin.
For more information on vision aid please check out their website at
http://visionaid.org/
A complete slideshow with pictures from this event can be viewed at my blog - Aryavarta Photo Studios by Ganesh Davuluri
(Ganesh Davuluri is President of the MIT Heritage of the Arts of South Asia(http://www.mithas.org). He is also on the board of several community and charitable organizations including the India Association of Greater Boston. )
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