Kalaa Utsavam Dance Stage Alumni - Set 1

Marutha Kiligal by Guru A Meenalochani and students (7 – 7:15pm)

Marutha Kiligal, which creatively refers to the womenfolk of agricultural land, aims to tell the story of harvesting from the start till the end through traditional Tamil folk dances with a touch of classical dance as well. The performance will begin by depicting how farmers go about preparing the land for harvest, and will take the audience through the process of sowing the seeds, irrigating the land, weeding and finally harvesting.

The performance begin with a celebratory dance, kummiyaatam. Following this,is the karagaatam, where dancers balance a pot on their heads. The performance continues with the poikaal kuthiraiyaatam and ends with the mayilaatam, the dance of peacocks.

Advaitha by Shresthi Arts (7:15 – 7:30pm)

This showcase compares the appearance and divine acts of Shiva and Parvati present within the same form. The oneness of Shiva and Parvati symbolises the male and female principle that cannot be separated. It conveys the unity of opposites in the universe.

Shiva’s distinctive appearance is unique and includes the river Ganga, moon, third eye, tiger skin, damaru drum and the serpent. Serpents often take the role of powerful protagonists such as Nagaraja who abides on Shiva’s neck, the five headed Shesha as Vishnu’s bed and even as accessories for Parvati. Serpents represents our kundalini energy and is revered as a divine force.

Natyaveda by Usharani Maniam Dance Academy (7:30 – 7:45pm)

This performance seamlessly blends two distinct dance forms: mallari and thillana. Mallari is characterised by its invocatory nature, featuring a unique and vibrant choreography filled with gracefully swift movements that encompass a wide range of motions, forms, speeds, and patterns. In contrast, the thillana portion of the performance showcases exceptional artistic prowess, emphasising precision in rhythm, timing, and synchronisation. Additionally, the charanam segment eloquently portrays the cosmic Dance of Lord Shiva, beautifully capturing the essence of the syllables emanating from his damaru drum as he dances.