In this double-bill evening, dance lovers will be in for a treat with two Indian classical dance styles rarely seen in the UK, Odissi and Kuchipudi, both extremely beautiful forms.

First half 

Irina Kommisarova – Odissi

Odissi is characterised by sculpturesque poses, graceful movements and soft and melodious music. Within the world of Odissi, Irina Komissarova has quickly established herself as one of the leading Odissi dance artists in Europe. She has trained under India’s most reputable school of Odissi, Srjan, and has also established a school of her own in Moscow. In this festival opening performance, Irina takes us through a magical journey of stories and emotions which mirror our daily lives, all whilst showcasing the very best of Odissi repertoire.

–

Second half

Sringara Taranga – The Waves of Love
Prateeksha Kashi –Kuchipudi

Sringara or love is considered as the queen of all rasas (emotions) in the context of Indian Classical Dance. As with classical dance, love is the nucleus of life as well. The waves of passion, commitment and undeterred zeal that makes one sail through the journey of life seem to emerge from this one strong force. Be it the graceful movements or compassion in the eyes of mother Goddess; the magnificent blue body or the magical dancing feet of Lord Krishna; the unending wait of young Kanyakumari to unite with her beloved Lord Shiva; the underlying force that brings all of these in unison is nothing but love! The Kuchipudi recital ‘Sringara Taranga – Waves of Love’ is an attempt to bring forth the essence of sringara through both traditional Kuchipudi compositions and the choreography of Prateeksha’s mother and guru Vyjayanthi Kashi.