As each Generation passes, we grow and learn together

In the last production, Saptha Sthuthi, some of you were the younger dancers in the group. If I am not wrong, that same group of you are now the senior dancers in krishNa bhAratam.

How has this different for you? When you now work with dancers younger than yourself, do you look at things differently?

Being the youngest in Saptha Stuthi, I literally had no responsibility but to dance. But in Krishna Bharatham I find the need to conduct myself better and lend moral support to the younger ones. It feels like a natural cycle of needing to initiate the younger alumni members into the SIFAS culture after having worked with many older alumni members previously.

I thoroughly enjoy working with our younger dancers. They keep the atmosphere very light hearted and have limitless energy which is much needed for us older ones with acheing bones (:

About krishNa bhAratam and working with the choreographer:

I believe the whole specialty of this production is Sheejith Sir himself and the journey he has brought us on. His achievements aside, his personality and view on life makes him a complete artiste in my opinion. It took him just 4 months of working with us and that too in short spurts to completely change the way many of us view dance. 

In between teaching us, he imparts such strong valuable knowledge on dance and connects it to the philosophy of life itself. He often stresses that apart from being a good dancer, good character is most important for an artiste.

Also, the choreography and concept is beyond my imagination. I have never done such a combination of steps ever. Many times we question ourselves whether we are cut out for this due to the level of difficulty and demands placed on us, but somehow Sir's "No-can't-do" attitude forces you to just get the work done. And we're also SINGING! Oh.My.God.

I have never seen this much discipline in a production before. All ten of us are there for practically all the rehearsals on time. Extra care has gone into looking presentable. And this discipline stays even during music rehearsals.

Lastly, as much as we sweat it out we also laugh just as hard. The teachers and Sheejith Sir have a remarkable sense of humour that cannot be forgotten!

Working with friends and SIFAS:

Sifas is like home to many of us. We have been learning at this institute since a young age and have seen many great teachers come and go. However, life-long friendships are fostered in SIFAS and such productions are a way for us to catch up and grow as artistes.

A note on 'Krishna in Mahabharatha' by the Choreographer:

As the Mahabharata is all about Dwaraka-Krishna (there is nothing in it about the Gokula-Krishna), we see Krishna here mainly as an eminent strategist, statesman and friend in need.

As I began investigating Sri Krishna's role in the Mahabharata, what emerged as most striking in his character is the complex blending of human and divine attributes.  In the unfolding saga of the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Sri Krishna appears throughout as a political agent, social reformer, and ambassador of peace.  Even when his divine aspect knows all too well that the outcome will be war, untold suffering, and bloodshed, the human Krishna—a figure of cautious diplomacy, razor-sharp intelligence, and limitless wisdom—is no stranger to the ways of the world in which he lives.  But he always acts or speaks in order to alleviate pain and arbitrate peace. Unlike the human actors in the scene, Krishna can see beyond temporal and material realms, but in no way does this vision allow him to step back, or to be a mere spectator. Vyasa's Sri Krishna is one whose participation is integral to the action.  He is a vital presence whose intervention allows Dharma to ultimately prevail.

                                                       Sheejith Krishna

Review: The Orchestra by the Alumni

What a pleasant surprise to view the impressions and expressions from our "debut" performance. 

Shrimathi Bhushany Kalyanaraman is a senior Artiste from Chennai and was the Guest of Honour at our performance. Ranjani is one of us and was our vice-president in the first ever Alumni Committee.

THE SIFAS ALUMNI Orchestra

For those of you who missed the Alumni Orchestra's first public performance on the morning of 1 April 2012, it was indeed a PROUD moment as exclaimed by our Advisor Dr Kasinathan. 

Our senior alumni came to guide us and lead the way to creating a vision that seemed impossible just a year before; the idea of having an orchestra consisting of the alumni of SIFAS. Discipline was key to this venture.

Our music IC who kept his cool when moments seemed impossible!!

Our pillar of support who tirelessly believed in us

From days of regular and intense practice

to sheer joy and relief

Coming together as friends

Brimming with Pride

Working with old friends

 Roping in the old gang even when they prefer to help from behind the scenes

Having fun in the process

While working with the next generation

Discovering and exposing the hidden talents from among us

Managing our commitments and nurturing our passion

Inspiring the creative potential of our next generation

A constant and unconditional presence to remind and assure us of the support and reliance 

between our dance and music wings

Our dancers on whom we rely 

A reminder that there is always time if there is a willingness

You may have left your music and dance a long time ago. But a part of you remains curious. 

If we can, You can. Time and Commitment is not easy but it's possible.

We are proof of this.

Meanwhile we await the face of the next generation of ALUMNI

Krishna, the Social Reformer

As we countdown to the event, we bring you another extract of our interview with Shri Sheejith Krishna, the Choreographer who shares his perspective on Krishna BhAratham.

"Social Reform

It is about the role of Krishna in MahabhArata. Usually we think of the gopis and dwarka. That is not here in this case. Krishna here is more of a social reformer, an ambassador of peace. That is his role, a complete man who talks about Karma.

Vision

Initially I started it as a solo performance in Chennai, doing all the characters. The music has been composed by my wife, Jyothishmathi and myself. The lyrics I chose from MahabhArata and edited it.

That production was more challenging as I had to be everyone; draupati, duryodhana etc.

As a group, we have the opportunity to depict each character. Here some girls are also depicting some of the male characters also; despite their being male performers in the group.

Unique

In one scene, I have also incorporated Kathakali. Krishna goes to Duryodhana’s court to negotatiate a share of the Kingdom on the Pandavas’ behalf. That whole sequence of the exchange between Krishna and Duryodhana is set in Bharathanatyam and Kathakali respectively. The negotiation proceeds from a high bid of 5 regions, to 5 house, to just 1 house. Duryodhana remains unwilling to budge. You will observe the difference in the energy of the 2 characters.

Krishna, the Social Reformer

In observing the Bhagavad Gita, I always look beyond the surface of the verse, at the dwani, the 2^nd or 3^rd layer, at the deeper meaning. When Krishna says that a real panditha will look at everyone equally, I observe that such impartiality is for the more spiritually evolved. Each one instead will have their own perspective as influenced by their experiences and karma.

We can’t do the whole Gita, but whatever messages Krishna shares with Arjuna is for the purpose of inspiring him to be a better human and that is what we are trying to share and show through this production. It is not what you do that is important but also the means through which you achieve this purpose.

  

I have chosen lyrics where Krishna does not insist that Arjuna fights. It’s a general perspective, but as mentioned earlier, each person will look at things differently in view of their own karma.

Krishna is not only a god but a teacher who is giving you the option of how to live a better life. This is the ultimate message."

You would agree, the discussion of the production was indeed a spiritual experience. This is only the tip of the ice berg. My words and pictures do not lend sufficient value to the visual effectiveness of the scenes. Be your own judge, join us and see for yourself.

Krishna BhAratham

8 pm, 8 April 2012 at the Esplanade.

For more details or tickets, do contact SIFAS at 6299 5929.

You may also wish to contact us at sifasalumni@gmail.com