Auditions for SIFAS Festival of Music & Dance 2013

Dear ART-LOVERS!
The Local Artistes Auditions is back for:

SIFAS Festival of Music & Dance 2013

For your convenience we have added a link directly to google docs with the necessary forms to be filled. Click HERE for the forms for the Auditions. Please do not forget your performer write-up and photograph or your registration will be void.

Remember to submit these documents by Friday, 21st Spertember 2012, 5PM. Late and incomplete forms will NOT be entertained.
 
Thank you and we hope to see you at next year's Festival!

SIFAS Music and Dance Festival 2013!

Whoo! Here is the first announcement of SIFAS FESTIVAL 2013 out in the papers already! Stay tuned to our blog and our Facebook group for updates on auditions and events!

Till then, here's something for a few laughs XD

Live healthy, be HAPPY ^^

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

Krishna BhAratham: A lesson in humility

My conversation with the Choreographer of Krishna BhAratham turned out to be quite the spiritual experience. 

Having approached him to discuss his experience with working with SIFAS and our dancers, the conversation instead took on an inspiring twist where he shared values he had learnt in his own life. I was beginning to understand why the performers were in such awe of him. He spoke little of himself and his achievements. Instead, his work and his subtle influence on those around him spoke volumes. He was indeed a unique presence in our Arts Festival atmosphere. Even I felt some regret that I had not been more involved with this project.

Having heard from some of the performers in prior articles, we have today, extracts of an interview with the Choreographer himself, a presence we affectionately address as Sheejith Sir. Having spoken to him and observed the rehearsal, it becomes obvious that this will be a production you will regret missing. Unlike most dance performances which tend to focus mainly on the dance and music (obviously), this production seems to be a subtle attempt at social reform utilizing the age old medium of the Bhagavad Gita verses.

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

Now, a little more from the man himself..

I learnt from Kalakshetra that an artiste should be humble; the better to learn and also to give

I tell my students to be like a sponge of good things; all aesthetic values included. What you learn, how you stand, mannerisms etc

In dealing with culture and tradition, we try to portray good things through the art. Show good things about your life, not vulgar.

You must also be approachable, then only will you become a complete artiste.

Even while working in a group, I tell the students that working in a group is always more difficult yet rewarding. In fact, I often make them stand together and hold hands before commencing.

Parasparam is very important to me. Even in relation to trees. In observing the child ( I believe he was referring to the dancers) their faces bloom a different way when we melt their hearts. (wow!)

Sometimes you forget why you are an artist. What is your duty as an artist? And it’s a journey. Just need to remind you not to hurt anyone. That will remain in your dance.

Logistics: The Alumni Journey

Sangeetha Elango is the General Secretary of the Alumni Committee and also part of its dance sub-committee. She has performed in nearly every performance of the SIFAS Alumni since it's formation; the first in house Arts Festival performance in 2009, Saptha Sthuthi in 2010, Academy Day 2010, Arts Festival and Navarathiri 2011 and now in Krishna BhAratham.

Sangeetha has also witnessed our struggles in getting musicians and dancers organised for each performance, and has herself been torn between focusing on her performance and the logistics aspects of a show that she is performing in. The Alumni has come along way in terms of man power and organising itself. I had a chance to ask her a few questions to ascertain if there indeed has been an improvement to our usual logistics dilemma.

"You worked on the last production, Saptha Sthuthi. How is this different?

Firstly, Saptha Sthuthi was of a margam concept, this is a dance drama. In a way, it’s a very universal theme, the MahabhAratha. Something everyone can relate to. A story everyone has heard in one way or another. The message is therefore very accessible.

I hope the audience will enjoy it as much as we have in being involved in this production.

This time you are also part of the organising committee. How would you say that this experience has been for you?

From the last experience, where everyone was running around doing everything, we have learnt to become more organised and delegate. We have received a lot of assistance from persons like tharmarai akka, gomathi akka and the festival committee. This way the dancers are able to concentrate on the production with the logistics being outsourced."

We are always looking for people to become a part of our little venture. 

If you feel like your performing years are behind you but enjoy being part of the buzz, do contact us. If you are an alumnus of SIFAS and have either graduated with SIFAS, completed up to 5th year or spent at least 5 years with SIFAS as a student, you become eligible for Alumni membership. Come join us and be part of the excitement which is most guaranteed to follow.

A woman aggrieved

She came with hope

She did not expect to become a victim

What does she now hold on to?

Who is this man who now torments her?

Will she escape him?

To know who she is, who he is and what becomes of them, do join us at Krishna BhAratham on 8 April 2012, at the Esplanade.

I can't see my life without Dance

Thank you everyone for your encouraging response to our series of updates and interviews leading up to SIFAS Alumni's presentation of Krishna BhAratham on 8 April 2012. Next in the series is a short interview with Dhriti Vaidyanathan, Marketting Club 21.

Having completed your arangetram sometime in 2006, you would have gained some experience over these years. How would you compare your prior experiences to your current involvement in the Krishna BhAratham production?

When I did my Arangetram, I was 15 years old and pretty inexperienced. My focus has since shifted. Before it had been on the technical aspects such as remembering the item itself. You could say that I was at a “beginner” stage then. Since then, I have learnt to place more emphasis on the songs; in understanding the raga, tala and intricate aspects. So I come across not only executing but also emoting the piece. This understanding of the relationship between the music and dance has also enhanced my presentation.

You have shared with us your growth as an artiste. Has this experience impacted you as an individual?

Living outside India and having that connection to your culture is a satisfying experience. I feel fulfilled. And it goes beyond learning and this experience with Krishna BhAratham. I now can’t see my life without dance. It has gone beyond being a hobby to now becoming a serious part of my life.

It seems to have been a life changing experience for you...

Sheejith Sir incorporated about 6-8 verses from the Bhagavad Gita. A lot of them impart general values, but the underlying message I get from it all is to do your best and there is nothing beyond that within your control.

I have had to struggle with balancing work and dance. Trying to plan my time in advance can be rather stressful, so I am taking each day as it comes. Putting my best foot forward.