Natya Tarangini (New Delhi) presented the Kuchipudi Rangapravesham by Maya Rose Chopra at the Kamani Auditorium in New Delhi on 1st August. The debut performance was marked with technical quality, precision and command over expressional dancing.
Maya Rose Chopra is the disciple of Padma Bhushans Dr Raja, Radha and Kaushalya Reddy of Natya Tarangam academy situated in Saket in New Delhi. Maya is the daughter of Shabnam and Tarun Chopra.
Maya says “I am class 11 student at Vasant Valley School. Kuchipudi has been a part of my life since I was six years old and what began as an after school activity has culminated in a sense of joy and achievement. Training under Drs Raja Radha and Kaushalya Reddy at Natya Tarangini have shaped both my dance and personality. Through the Guru Sishya Paramapara, I have learnt discipline, patience and respect for this tradition. My Gurus’ passion and guidance have inspired me every step of the way. Kuchipudi has helped me find my voice, build my confidence, and develop my admiration of this centuries old art form. My school has supported me throughout this long journey, helping me grow both academically and artistically. As I perform my Rangapraveshan, I feel an immense sense of gratitude towards my Gurus’ family and teachers. This is not just a performance, but a celebration of learning and growth”.
Maya commenced her Kuchipudi performance with Ganapati Vandana in Ragamalika, an invocation to Lord Ganapati for the divine intervention and success of the performance. Maya followed this number with Dashavataram-portraying the ten incarantions of Lord Vishnu like Matsya, the fish, Kurma, the giant tortoise, Varaha, the boar, Narasimha, half lion ,half man, Vamana, the dwarf, Parusurama, the warrior with the axe, Rama, the bow man, Balarama, the Plough man, Buddha, the Enlightenend one and Kalki, the final incarnation of Vishnu, who appears at the end of the Kali Yuga. Maya did complete justice to all the incarnations with fine dramatic quality.
The highlight of the performance was the rendering of the Meera Bhajan. The saint poetess says “Saason ki maala pe simrun main pii ka naam(With every breath I take, I chant name of my beloved), Apne Mann kii mann jaanuun aur pii ke mann kii Ram (I know of my heart, and God knows of the heart of my beloved) Guru Raja Reddy narrated as why this item was especially choreographed in the Kuchipudi style, in order to attract and enhance the spiritual quality of the performance, which is not restricted to any particular language. Maya concluded her sparkling performance with the precise execution of rhythmic patterns at the rim of the brass plate.
Choreography credits to Gurus Raja and Radha Reddy, nattuvangam by Guru Kaushalya Reddy, Carnatic vocal Aadarsh Nair, Hindustani vocal by Aditi Sharma, violin VSK Annadurai, mridangam Manohar Balatchandirane, flute by Saubhagya Gandharv, tabla by Pranath Joshi, sitar by Soumendra Goswami, compere Sadhna Shrivastav, Lights by Sandeep Dutta and photos by Innee Singh.
