Workshop 5: Dance Choreography
Interpreting text and lyrics for choreography (Rukmini Vijayakumar)
15-16 May, 10-12.30pm GMT/ 11am - 1.30pm BST
About
In classical indian dance forms, dance and theater are intertwined and we often use the lyrics of the music to convey ideas. Choreography, movement and gesture depend heavily on the meaning of the lyrics and their implied meaning. How do we make this type of choreography interpretive , while carrying the meaning of the lyrics? How do we bring in our own emotive experiences without making the choreography literal and mimatic? Do we deviate from tradition by doing that? How do we adhere to the bharatanatyam aesthetic while finding layers within text/lyrics? These are some of the questions that will be addressed in the workshop, through interaction and participation.
The Artist
Rukmini Vijayakumar, is the artistic director of Raadha Kalpa Dance Company, and the director of Lshva, a creative space for artists in the heart of Bangalore. She is the founder of The Raadha Kalpa method an educational system for Bharatanatyam that is based on the idea of neutrality. Rukmini’s approach to Bharatanatyam is dedicated, rigorous and layered. She has presented her work as a soloist all over the world, including venues such as the Jacobs Pillow festival, Drive East NYC, and the Korzo Theater. Recently she played ‘the goddess of love’ in ‘Sukanya’, produced by The Royal Opera house in London. Her productions, Nayani, Prabhavati, AbhimatA, Talattu and The Dark Lord have toured india and the world extensively. Her more recent work, Turiya, MALA, The Muse and Unrequited were created within the contemporary idiom and have been appreciated for their creative approach to the bharatanatyam vocabulary. She was bestowed the title of Arsha Kala Bhushanam by Swami Dayananda Saraswati. Also an actor, Rukmini has been recognised for the roles that she has played in a number of Indian Films and Theater performances.