‘Tales from the Bull and the Tiger’ to be Staged at NCPA on Jan 16

MUMBAI:
Eminent danseuse Padma Shri Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant’s visually stunning production ‘Tales from the Bull and the Tiger’ of Hyderabad-based Shankarananda Kalakshetra will be staged at Experimental Theatre, NCPA, Mumbai, on January 16, at 6.30 pm.

A unique retelling of the divine stories of Shiva and Parvathi, as narrated by their ‘vahanas’ Nandi and Simha, the exquisitely choreographed spectacle brings a refreshingly original and complete aesthetic experience to connoisseurs as well as lay art lovers.

The production features a vibrant ensemble cast of 20 dancers, with brilliant Bangalore dancer Mithun Shyam joining as guest artist, in the lead along with Ananda, a celebrated Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer, guru and choreographer.

An Ananda Shankar Jayant choreography, with musical soundscape by Sathiraju Venumadhav , the artists on and off the stage will include costume designer Ganesh Nallari, lights handler Gyandev Singh, digital designer Gunjan Ashtaputre and voice rendition by Jayant Dwarkanath.

One of India’s most eminent and renowned classical dancers, Ananda Shankar Jayant has carved a niche for her in contemporary Indian art and cultural domain as choreographer, scholar and guru, with her disciples performing and popularising Indian classical dance in the country and abroad.

A versatile artist, she distinguishes herself as performer of Bharatanatyam, Kuchupudi, besides training and presenting the next generation of artists. Recognizing her outstanding contributions to classical dance, Ananda was conferred with “Padma Shri” in 2007 and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Puraskar for Bharatanatyam in 2009. She has to her credit 26 path-breaking dance productions, performed across five continents, besides training a multitude of students.

A sought-after motivational speaker who actively engages with young India on a wide range of topics, Ananda has been an invitee to leading corporate entities, leadership programs, hospitals, universities and schools. A TED speaker in 2009, her talk has been ranked as one of 12 Incredible TED talks, and is widely viewed.

A premier institution for classical dance based in Hyderabad, Shankarananda Kalakshetra was established in 1979, is now under the artistic leadership of Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant. It has grown over the years to emerge as a preeminent national institution serving the cause of performing arts.

Dance productions of the institution, span the spectrum of traditional and contemporary presentations, and spans mythologies and abstraction, historical chronicles and women studies, poetry, abstraction, philosophy and humour.