MAYURA: BLUE PEACOCK - review of an Indian dance performance

Mayura: Blue Peacock

When: Friday, September19 and Saturday September 20, 2014

Where: Chen Dance Center

70 Mulberry Street, Chinatown, NYC

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Tickets

Last night I attended the opening performance of Mayura: Blue Peacock, an evening-length, Indian classical dance production with original music and choreography. Mayura is the Sanskrit word for peacock, which is the national bird of India and which serves as the inspiration for this dance production. The program, which runs for just over an hour with no intermissions, will be repeated tonight and tomorrow night at the Chen Dance Center in NY's Chinatown and consists of four segments.

Sonali Skandan and Jiva Dance performed the dances. The company consists of Sonali, who also serves as artistic director and chief choreographer, and five other female dancers: Bavani Pillai, Mallika Bhargava, Maya Kappil, Njideka Emenogu, and Sangita Sahasranaman. Sonali choreographed three of the dance segments: Mayil Viruttham, Kalidassa Mala (garland of Kalidass), and Thillana, the final segment. Bragha Bessell was the choreographer of Andal/Mira, the third segment.

Rajkumar Bharathi composed the music, and there were rhythmic sections by G. Vijayaraghavan and Bala Skandan. These sounds were supplemented by the rhythmic pounding of feet slapping and stomping on the dance floor and by the tinkling of the numerous bells around the dancers' ankles. Movements ranged from incredibly rapid to slow and sinuous; the arms and fingers especially tended to move in delicate undulations. At times the dancers assumed still poses, often balancing on one leg.

Years ago I used to do some dance photography and attended performances much more often than I have in recent years. I am by no means a dance critic, and I have, unfortunately, only minimal familiarity with Indian dance. But I thoroughly enjoyed the movements and the sounds of Mayura: Blue Peacock, and highly recommend attending one of the two remaining performances.

Indian dancer Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance will present MAYURA: BLUE PEACOCK on three evenings

National Bird of India Serves as Inspiration for Original Classical

Dance Production Featuring Art of Bharatanatyam

Indian classical dancer Sonali Skandan, along with her company Jiva Dance, unveil “Mayura: Blue Peacock,” an evening-length, Bharatanatyam classical dance production, with original music and choreography, focused on India’s national bird, the rare and beautiful peacock.

“Mayura is the Sanskrit word for peacock,” says Skandan, “and throughout history, this magical creature has been featured in poetry, literature, sculpture, art, music, dance and mythology. We wanted to pay homage to its beauty, grace and regal nature through our movement, music and choreography.”

Photo by Mariliana Arvelo

The performance uses classical poetry and literature to weave vivid images of the peacock described in Indian myths and legends – from the powerful, ancient Mayil Virutham, which praises the peacock as Lord Muruga’s vehicle, to the lilting epics of Kalidasa describing the peacock in the rains, as a reminder of Ram’s longing for Sita, to the love songs of Andal and Mirabhai.

The original musical score has been composed by one of India’s renowned composers, Rajkumar Bharathi, and features original choreography by Skandan. The cast comprises of six talented and energetic dancers from various backgrounds and disciplines.

“Mayura: Blue Peacock” will be performed on the evenings of Sept. 18th, 19th and 20th at the Chen Dance Center, 70 Mulberry Street, NYC. Ticket prices range from $18 to $22 and can be purchased by visiting www.mayura.eventbrite.com.

About Sonali Skandan & Jiva Dance:
Jiva Dance is the critically-acclaimed dance company of Jiva Performing Arts, an organization based in NYC, which seeks to educate and present the classical music and dance of India. Jiva Dance began in 2008 under the artistic direction of Sonali Skandan. The company sees the importance of preserving and promoting the traditional arts, yet also understands the need to incorporate innovative techniques to reach diverse audiences. Jiva Dance holds the belief that tradition is a continuum of evolution and hopes to invigorate classical works with a fresh and unique voice. They company has performed at various universities, colleges and festivals along the East Coast to tremendous audience and media acclaim. For more information, please visit www.jivaperformingarts.org or www.sonaliskandan.com.

Mayura is made possible, in part, by public donations from the Fund

for Creative Communities, supported by New York State Council on

the Arts and administered by Lower Manhattan Cultural Council.