The Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance will present a program of Bharathanatyam dance in Plainsboro.
By: Megan Sullivan
Born in the South Indian temples more than 5,000 years ago, the classical dance form of Bharathanatyam exudes a deeply spiritual and devotional aura. It possesses a highly stylized and sophisticated technique and has been used as both a vehicle of worship and as an expression of profound emotion. Through a vocabulary of classical steps, a complex rhythmic pattern is created, and various themes are conveyed through the language of gesture.
"It’s a beautiful art form which can be used as a source or a method of communication to convey anything under the sun," says Ramya Ramnarayan, founder and artistic director of Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance in North Brunswick. "It’s not necessarily themes or stories (limited) to Indian customs or religion."
The splendor of this ancient dance form can be seen in Nrithyanjali’s Artistic Exposé of Emotions at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North June 9. Bani Ray, an exponent of the Odissi dance form, also will give a performance.
Since founding Nrithyanjali more than 12 years ago, Ms. Ramnarayan has choreographed Bharathanatyam dance productions set to everything from contemporary jazz music to Yanni, and has even offered interpretations of Vivaldi’s Four Seasons and Rossini’s Barber of Seville.
"Many times the community uses Bharathanatyam as a means to communicate Indian stories and mythology, but it’s got such a scope that you can go beyond that," she says. "It’s easier for dancers to explore and is very comfortable to work with any music."
For the current production, Ms. Ramnarayan did extensive research with professors at Madras University in India in order to create a dance presentation based on popular literary works from 500 B.C. through A.D. 300 (known as the Sangam Era). Written in the rich and poetic Tamil, one of India’s many languages, the works include Agananooru, Purananooru, Natrinai, Kurunthogai and Kalithogai.
"I found that they are not even there as published books these days," she says. "I had to dig into some manuscripts and I had to work and sit down to understand the language because it has transformed. The Tamil that we speak today is very different than the way it sounded 2,000 years back.
"Nothing made any sense," she continues. "It was like learning a new language when I started this project."
Ms. Ramnarayan selected poems that would reflect the mood and experience of the characters portrayed and that also would display the vibrant and sophisticated technique of the Bharathanatyam dance form. Despite being extremely old, the literary works still connect with human emotions and are relevant to life in the present, she says. Themes addressed include wealth, war, human responses to day-to-day experiences and love.
"We’re trying to capture those moments and give a flavor of the lyrics and poems written then and how it’s interesting for today’s life," she says.
In presenting the poems through choreographed dances accompanied by Caranatic music, it makes the age-old texts more accessible to a larger audience. Rajakumar Bharati, great grandson of the famous freedom fighter and poet Subramanya Bharathiar, composed the score. Violin, flute, percussion, voice and recitation of rhythmic syllables can be heard in the studio recording made in India, which will be played during the program.
"It’s not necessary to go and explore deep into something which has been long forgotten," Ms. Ramnarayan says. "But we want to do it because this program should open doors and open eyes to many people and maybe that will spring different ideas in other people’s hearts.
"This is our mission not just to entertain the audience," she adds, "but to make it an enriching and educational experience."
Part of the program will focus on Hindu deities, including master dancer Shiva and his consort, Parvathi, and the conclusion will pay tribute to the Earth and the five elements. Other songs will address war and the emotions surrounding it. "I know America is currently going through a crisis where so many families have sent out at least one relative or family member to war," says Ms. Ramnarayan, who moved from South India to New Jersey when she turned 18. "I’m sure that’s a topic which every country has faced at a different time."
Another number centers on an Indian man who returns home after working away for a couple of years. Once he recognizes his young child playing outside, he hugs and kisses the boy. The child wears a paste on his skin, however, that many Indians wear to block the sun and keep cool. When the man knocks on the door, his wife sees his paste-covered body and immediately thinks that he’s been with another woman. "It’s about how women can sometimes be very sensitive about things and jump to conclusions," Ms. Ramnarayan says, "but it’s done in a humorous way."
All of the stories are told through stylized gestures of the body and specific hand movements that convey particular meanings. The same hand movement can have different meanings, however, depending on what is conveyed through facial expressions. There are four subdivisions of expressions: moves of the body, script, costume and sentiments felt within.
The ornate and brightly colored costumes are custom made in India. The dancers wear gold-plated headgear, jewelry, elaborate eye makeup and a beauty spot on the forehead. The hands and feet are highlighted in red since they are the vehicles of expression. Instead of dying the skin with herbal plants like henna, the women simply use red markers from Staples. "Most of the girls go to college or work, so they want to wash it off," Ms. Ramnarayan says, laughing. "They don’t want to walk around with it on their hands."
Thirty-something Ms. Ramnarayan began dancing at age 4, and is the first of her family members, most of whom still reside in India, to pursue art as a profession. "I had a great exposure, watching many dance performances and interacting with stalwarts of the field of dance and music," she says. "I was highly interested. My mom has always told me how I would stand in front of the mirror and keep dancing all the time. I would come back from a show and try to do every move I had seen because that is something I was intrigued by."
Ms. Ramnarayan’s achievements include earning the highly coveted titles of "Kalaimamani" and "Nadanamamani," which are among the highest honors bestowed upon a performing artist in India. The New Jersey Senate and General Assembly passed a joint resolution recognizing her for her commitment, dedication and achievement in the art of Indian classical dance. She also holds a visiting faculty appointment in the dance department at Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick.
Surprisingly, Ms. Ramnarayan originally pursued accounting as her professional career, but her passion for dance burned brighter. Her advanced training includes studying Bharathanatyam under the renowned lineage of Guru Swamimalai Rajaratnam (now deceased) and expression, or abhinaya, under Padmabhushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan. "Padmabhushan" is one of the highest titles that any artist in India can hold. Ms. Ramnarayan still learns from Ms. Narayanan, now 80, when she makes yearly trips to India.
"That’s one thing I have understood," Ms. Ramnarayan says. "Teaching is a way to define myself, to understand my subjects, to explore, to know myself, but learning should never be stopped. I am still a student of this dance form. I won’t consider that I’ve mastered it."
Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance will present Artistic Expose of Emotions at West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North, 90 Grovers Mill Road, Plainsboro, June 9, 5 p.m. Tickets cost $5, $15 front row. Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance, Inc., is located at 2 Stallion Way, North Brunswick. (732) 398-9895; www.nrithyanjali.org

