The growing popularity of group dance productions

What goes behind a thematic dance productions?

Dance schools in Chennai are buzzing with activity. Sounds of the thattukazhi and anklets fill the air as students gear up to ascend the stage for a natya nadakam or dance drama during the Margazhi festival.

The number of youngsters vying for an opportunity to dance far outweighs the number of slots available, and this is why group presentations, which feature many young dancers, are slowly finding more favour with the organisers. Also, it allows teachers and dancers to experiment with themes and choreographic styles.

But dance dramas are not a new concept. Kalakshetra was a pioneer of sorts, with its founder Rukmini Devi setting a benchmark by seamlessly and aesthetically weaving together different elements of natya.

Today, many senior dancers who gained fame as solo performers have moved on to choreograph thematic group presentations.

So, what goes behind conceiving a dance drama? How is the theme arrived at? What is the staging process like?

Krishnakumari Narendran, Anita Guha and Sheela Unnikrishnan, who run schools that specialise in group productions, and have staged many popular thematic works over the years, speak about their methodology.

Krishnakumari Narendran, choreographed ‘Raas Leela’ when she was only 18. Later, she began her school Abhinaya Natyalaya in Chennai. The dance drama that she presented on Purandaradasa, at the behest of Swami Haridas Giri, proved to be a turning point.