As Valentine’s Day approaches, the captivating allure of love will grace the stage through the artful steps of Maithri Rao, a Hyderabad-based Bharatanatyam dancer. ‘Anuraga’, which is set to be performed in a solo recital, promises to be an exploration of love’s multifaceted nature. From devotional ardor to familial warmth and to the sentimental romance that captivates lovers, Rao’s upcoming show embodies the essence of affection and attachment in striking choreography.
Translating literally to ‘affection’ among other nuances of love, ‘Anuraga’ delves into emotions that resonate across all walks of life. Maithri Rao, who is the visionary founder of Shivansh School of Arts, elucidates the concept as a spectrum encompassing devotion towards deities, the tenderness between a parent and a child, cherished connections to childhood objects, and of course, the romantic love celebrated on Valentine’s Day.
Her preparations bring to life a seventy-five-minute tableau of five distinct pieces. Two of these will specifically capture the transcendent relationship between a devotee and the divine. Through her dance, Rao aims to tap into the rich vocabulary of Bharatanatyam, lending it a fresh context. For example, ‘My First Chair’ is a narrative centered around the innocent joy a five-year-old child finds in a cherished gift. The attachment to the chair, reluctance to share, and love for an inanimate companion are represented in dance form. Interestingly, this tale had previously taken shape as a short film in 2022, which was acclaimed at various film festivals, including the Malabar Film Festival and the Kalakari Film Fest, to name a few.
In a more contemporary iteration, Rao’s repertoire presents a composition that mirrors the evolving relationship between a mother and her daughter. This piece serves as a testament to the strength and support mothers today offer their daughters, encouraging them to soar high in ambitions, from becoming astronauts to pilots. It is a tribute to the inevitable bond and profound camaraderie that exists within these family ties.
These individual choreographies, which were initially created over a year ago, have been woven into an enduring narrative with ‘Anuraga’, tailored together three months prior to the performance. The dance forms that take stage are personal musings given universal expression; from the tale of maternal bonds to the possessiveness expressed in ‘My First Chair’, they all converge under the overarching theme of love and attachment, culminating in ‘Anuraga’.
Addressing the challenges of fitting contemporary issues within the classical framework of Bharatanatyam, Rao singles out the use of hand gestures, or ‘mudras’, as an aspect that required considerable innovation. With no existing mudras to signify modern concepts like a remote control or a wristwatch, Rao experimented with known gestures to find matches that conveyed her intent. Moreover, incorporating pre-recorded music posed another hurdle she had to navigate. Choreographic creations within the traditional scope of Bharatanatyam also demanded multiple iterations to ensure that her presentation would stand out with a unique stamp on it.
The crescendo of this exceptional performance will revolve around the celestial love of Radha and Krishna, showcasing the pinnacle of spiritual and romantic love in Hindu mythology.
As the curtain readies to rise for ‘Anuraga’ on February 9 at Saptaparni, guests can anticipate a memorable evening celebrating the complexity and joy of love. Tickets, priced at ₹280, are available on bookmyshow.com, offering an accessible gateway to witness the endurance of affection through Maithri Rao’s poignant and graceful expression of Bharatanatyam.
