With a warm welcome from a full theatre, Priya Venkataraman's dance company, which specialized in the classical dance of South India, and the specific style of Bharathanatyam, gave an exquisite recital of great refinement clearly showing how this centuries-old tradition, as aptly said by Gino Tani, is a living monument to the grand, universal, classical culture.
Priya Venkataraman has earned an international reputation. Her presentation is taken from an ancient tradition, from bronze statues and paintings, and her style, as a whole, has coordinated and harmonious movements that are devilishly difficult due to the rhythms, the various norms and principles of the style, filled with subtleties and swift changes, coordinated movements which speak of love, happiness, or sadness, expressed everything within a strict code with mythological allusions.
Attired in an aesthetic orange colour costume, with a tall, svelte figure, long arms and a commanding stage presence, Priya evoked images of the Goddess in her various manifestations.....Covering the space, she explored it entering diagonally, using four corners, with arms extended in straight diagonal lines and with exquisite utplavanas, jumps. At times, she froze into sculpturesque poses, in contrast to quicksilver movements, which were scintillating. The finale dovetailed with a prayer in praise of Devi, Sarva mangala mangalye Shive sarvaartha saadhike was apt and brought the performance to a perfect ending.
...captivating choreography ..... the rare jewel " Raave Himagiri Kumari…" composed by Shyama Shastri in Todi ragam in praise of Goddess Kanchi Kaamakshi came as Varnam, the center piece, where Priya proved her equal command on technical virtuosity and Abhinaya. Priya concluded with an electrifying Tillana in praise of DEVI.