Apsaras Dance Company’s ‘Anuradha’ captures Radha’s journey from a gopi to a goddess

Apsaras Dance Company’s ‘Anuradha’ celebrated the persona of Radha, as a gopi and a goddess.
| Photo Credit: SRINATH M

Apsaras Dance Company Singapore recently premiered ‘Anuradha’ — From Gopi to Goddess’, a dance drama that celebrated the persona of Radha. The show was presented by Kalavahini Trust and Kartik Fine Arts.

Artistic director Aravinth Kumaraswamy says: “The journey of Radha, from an ordinary woman moving to the state of divinity was what fascinated us. We have used compositions by Oothukadu Venkata Kavi, Swati Tirunal and from the Gita Govindam. The music features the sarod, sitar, sarangi and tabla.”

The musical soundscape for the show is by Bombay Jayashri Ramnath, with Rama Vaidyanathan as creative collaborator for dance. Sound design is by Sai Shravanam and the choreography is by Mohanapriyan. Seema Hari Kumar, Shivangi Dake Robert, Deva priya Appan and Mohanapriyan Thavarajah were the dancers.

A kathak dancer narrated the story of Radha and her love for Krishna.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

A Kathak dancer was the kathakar/narrator for the story. Radha is introduced in a dream state, where she imagines herself in union with Krishna and holds her sakhi in an embrace. She wakes up from sleep, searches for Krishna, and experiences varied emotions from despair and jealousy to anger while watching him with other gopis, reconciles and becomes one with him and is elevated to the state of a goddess.

The introductory nritta passage depicting Krishna had elements incorporated from the Kalinganarthana and Govardhanagiri episodes. The interplay of roles between the two, by using elements such as Pitambar odhni, flute, anklet bells, and peacock feather conveyed the message with precision. . The sancharis for most sequences followed the familiar poetic imagery of using the lotus and sun, bee and flower, love birds, clouds and rain.

‘Anuradha’, a thematic dance production presented by Apsaras Dance Company, Singapore.
| Photo Credit:
SRINATH M

The expectation bar was raised but what came across was more of a routine dance presentation rather than a dance drama experience. The sequences felt more like small pieces in a margam rather than a well-knit choreographic ideation. The entry and exit of each of the four dancers, the crowning sequence of Radha as a goddess, bringing in Andal and Meera in their costumes, use of stage space and lighting design left a lot to be desired. The music was pleasant but did not strike a chord.