Vamatara - To the light by Malavika Sarukkai is another exemplary choreography. She speaks toIla Sankrityayan about her experience of coming up with a group dance performance for the first time
Malavika Sarukkai’s choreographed pieces are known for the incandescent beauty of Bharatnatyam and the beautiful articulation of a contemporary mind. Vamatara - To the light is the latest dance creation of Sarukkai. “The concept rests on the enduring image of the lotus rising from the sludge to the light, as a symbol of hope. Vamatara is a validation of the dynamics within classical dance which allow creative freedom, innovation and imagination”, she says.
This choreography by Sarukkai has added another dimension in her career span with the introduction of group choreography for the first time. Over the years she has chiselled her art and its expression to choreograph a vast canvas of themes from the traditional to the contemporary.
“Doing group choreography demanded a different visualisation, a different design of space. Working with other dancing bodies and energies was a challenge and a learning experience for me. The concept of two compositions I found lent itself to this exploration and it prompted me to re-envision the piece. Working with a group of dancers has been fulfilling as it gave me another perspective on dance. The dancers are Jyotsna Jagannathan, Vijina Vasudevan, Ramaa Venugopalan and Navia Natarajan,” shares Malavika about her repertoire at Kamani Auditorium on September 16.
Her choreography seems like interpreting lotus and putting forth its importance.
She says further, “Over the years of interpreting dance, I found the image of the lotus a recurring theme in poetry, painting, philosophy, sculpture and literature. In Vamatara- to the light I was inspired to recreate some of the resonance the lotus offered. The world we live in is fractured, divided and disharmonious. The lotus stands for the triumph of hope as it rises from the sludge to the light”.
The dancer is known for bringing something new to her choreography every time. She has always come up with extraordinary experimental works. And, of course, Malavika has tried something different in this particular repertoire also. She mentions, “I have over the years created a large body of work which has involved innovating within tradition. It has been an exciting journey as the classical language of Bharatanatyam offers endless scope for imaginative thinking. This production continues on the same path by opening up new avenues of creativity.”
She continues, “I believe in the philosophy that ‘less is more’. Hence,Vamatara-To the light works on principles of refined beauty, uncluttered representation, austerity and passion. The dancing body imbued with energy is a powerful form of communication. The world of dance has the power to create the unseen and imagine the extraordinary.” Thus her dance piece is going to be an out-of-the-box presentation on the stage with a blend of tradition and contemporary elements. “Tradition is our magnificent heritage. It needs to be cherished and valued for all it has given us through the centuries. When tradition lives in the moment it is contemporary”, says Sarukkai.
She has put a lot of effort in making this performance a perfect blend of aesthetics, creativity and innovation. While referring to her inspiration, she says, “Inspiration can come at any moment. As an artist one has to be constantly observant and alert . Many months went into the research, music composition, conversations with scholars, rehearsals with my excellent team of musicians and dancers. So a lot of effort has gone into creating this production and I look forward to sharing it with audiences as we tour several cities in India in the coming months.”