NCPA’s Mudra Dance Festival 2024 celebrates one of the key elements of Indian Classical Dance, ‘Aharya’

: The National Centre for the Performing Arts, as a part of its mission to advertise and withhold the nation’s cultural heritage, proudly gifts one other version of the Mudra Dance Competition – its annual thematic dance competition centered around the Global Dance Day. The competition will happen between April 4th and April Twenty ninth and can search a mélange of performances, workshops and exhibitions depicting reviews from Indian mythologies and folktales at some point soon of cultures. The annual theme, ‘Aharya’, will demonstrate the strong point of bijou, textile and produce-up utilized in classical dance styles at some point soon of India.

The inaugural program on April 4th may perchance be headlined by two artistes – Bharatanatyam dancer Prachi Saathi and Manipuri exponent Latasana Devi. Prachi Saathi’s efficiency will combine Bharatanatyam, spoken observe and tune against a backdrop of animation and tribal Warli art. Latasana Devi and troupe, by their efficiency, will showcase a diversity of vibrant Manipuri dance costumes alongside with intricate jewellery and headgear. To boot to to the performances, the competition will furthermore neutral talks, workshops and exhibition on the Dilip Piramal Art Gallery - Talks by Dr. Malati Agneswaran on ‘Costumes and masks utilized in Indian folk dances’ and Dr. Radha Kumar on ‘Aharya - capturing the a immense quantity of sides. A survey by historical sources’, Workshop and Exhibition ‘To stitch or knot – a dialogue between cloth and to find’ by Sandhya Raman, and a Workshop on ‘Aharya & Natyashastra’ by Piyal Bhattacharya the attach participants will study in regards to the colorful reconstruction of dance with an emphasis on ‘Aharya’. On Global Dance Day, Sujata Mohapatra, the current Odissi dancer, will conduct a workshop on ‘Soundarya - produce up and extra’ adopted by a workshop on ‘Reimagining Dance Costumes’ by Kathak exponent and choreographer, Aditi Mangaldas.

The Mudra 2024 may perchance be yet one other expression of the NCPA’s ongoing mission to withhold classical art and foster a deeper appreciation for artistes and fasten folks with their roots.

Speaking on this year’s theme and the Mudra Dance Competition, Swapnokalpa Dasgupta, Head of Dance Programming - NCPA stated, “From ekaharya or enacting all characters in a single aharya to the splendour of having assorted distinctive costumes and produce up, dance has it all. In some choreographies it takes centre stage and in some a quiet abet. Nonetheless it surely's now not relevant what be its use, aharya is undoubtedly the first influence and a crucial one.”