Students from Colgate University’s India Study Group, headed by Professor William Skelton, 81, and Shree Bharatalaya, a renowned dance company in Chennai, founded and directed by Professor Sudharani Raghupathy, 59, will come together this December to present Silappadikaram: The Tale of Puhar
www.silappadikaram.com
for Chennai’s internationally-famed Festival of Music and Dance. The India Study Group is a bi-annual study abroad programme that has been coming to
Chennai under Skelton’s direction for over 30 years.
“I have been working in India for so long and it has been a dream of mine to bring this epic to the stage, with my own students and students from India, to see what the result is. Reaching the end is always through an uncertain path because ultimately the energy that comes from such
multi-cultural collaborations fuels all elements such as the choreography and music. This production is a true representation of the creative
process," remarks William Skelton, who has worked extensively in musical traditions in the West and East.
The Silapaddikaram is one of the oldest epics in the world. It is written in ancient Tamil, and Skelton and
Sudharani have used original verses in the musical score, which was written by the great Carnatic music Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan, who also serves as a director for Shree Bharatalaya. The dance will be in the Bharatanatyam style of dance which is native to
south India; it is one of eight classical styles found all over India.
Since late August, Skelton’s students have been concentrating heavily on Indian classical dance to prepare for the premiere on December
6. There are three additional performances at different venues in December. Students are also involved in creating non-traditional batiks and stage sets for the production – something that makes this production unique – another learning experience.
“The Silappadikaram is a story most people from
south India will know. But to make a visual and aural representation of the work, so that people of all backgrounds can understand and appreciate it, is the greatest challenge. As a choreographer, I have attempted to make it very universal; I have incorporated western traditions like ballet and even the waltz in the work to make it more complete – for both the audiences and myself. The language of dance, no matter how regional and specific it is, should be
universal," says Sudharani, who is an unique and eminent artiste, both nationally and internationally; she has been active in the field of Bharatanatyam for more than five decades.
Chennai is considered a major cultural centre for the classical arts of
south India, specifically for Indian Carnatic classical music and several Indian classical dance styles. Every December and January, for over 80 years, the Festival of Music and Dance brings to stage the best of musicians and dancers, and also upcoming young artistes. There are over 15 venues, which are involved in the festival, and each holds several concerts a day. Thus, the city is filled with art, mostly traditional, but today contemporary approaches to traditional performing art forms are also part of the festival. Skelton and
Sudharani have created something that is traditional and also quite contemporary in approach. For the work to premiere in such a prestigious festival is something rare.
Skelton and
Sudharani have known each other for over 40 years, and they have been working together for long. What they have produced is certainly something quite striking. Silappadikaram: The Tale of Puhar, is perhaps their largest production thus far and Chennai audiences are sure to view it with awe.
Students from Colgate University’s India Study Group, headed by Professor William Skelton, 81, and Shree Bharatalaya, a renowned dance company in Chennai, founded and directed by Professor Sudharani Raghupathy, 59, will come together this December to present Silappadikaram: The Tale of Puhar
The Silapaddikaram is one of the oldest epics in the world. It is written in ancient Tamil, and Skelton and
Sudharani have used original verses in the musical score, which was written by the great Carnatic music Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan, who also serves as a director for Shree Bharatalaya. The dance will be in the Bharatanatyam style of dance which is native to
south India; it is one of eight classical styles found all over India.
“The Silappadikaram is a story most people from
south India will know. But to make a visual and aural representation of the work, so that people of all backgrounds can understand and appreciate it, is the greatest challenge. As a choreographer, I have attempted to make it very universal; I have incorporated western traditions like ballet and even the waltz in the work to make it more complete – for both the audiences and myself. The language of dance, no matter how regional and specific it is, should be
universal," says Sudharani, who is an unique and eminent artiste, both nationally and internationally; she has been active in the field of Bharatanatyam for more than five decades.
