Rāga-Chitra

Rāga-Chitra is a celebration of the unique relationship of music and dance. The Indian raga system enhances the metaphors in the poetry and enriches dance choreographies with infinite possibilities of imagery and emotional contexts. The relationship between dance and a raga is multifaceted. Raga Chitra presents a few of them.

In the start, two musical compositions in Raga Chakravāka or Ahir Bhairav combine two emotional palettes through an 8th century  ode to Ardhanariswara, followed by a 19th century Bengali poem by Kazi Nozrul Islam. A 12th century Geetgovind Ashtapadi  in Raag Malkauns follows, that colours the sentiments of separation of three characters - Krishna, Radha and the messenger, the Sakhi. In the end, a breathtaking and dramatic musical depiction of an episode from the epic Ramayana, where changing melodies create an evocative depiction of the various crucial moments of Sita's abduction.
Photos by: André Symann

This presentation sincerely acknowledges and marks my gratitude to the Mahari temple dancers and young Gotipua dancers of Odisha, whose contributions have made Odissi as loved and rich as it is today.

Photo credit: A. Silver Photography
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