Arts & Life
News update: Warehouse421 launches range of online creative programming
ABU DHABI, 31st March, 2020 (WAM) — Warehouse421, the home-grown arts and design centre based out of Mina Zayed, has launched its virtual experience and online programing featuring a series of video lessons, podcasts, book readings, community talks and curatorial tours, enabling audiences to remotely engage with regional narratives in art and design.
Warehouse421 conversations launched its first episode ‘Art and Artists in Times of Disruption’ on 25th March, tackling the current interruptions in the local art ecosystem and the various ways that livelihood in the arts can continue during times of disruption. The podcast is available through Warehouse421 website, YouTube channel, and Spotify, and will soon be accessible through all podcast platforms.
Read more at: WAM
Lasyatarangini launched to promote Mohiniyattam in UAE
Lasyatarangini UAE Chapter, an art initiative dedicated to the promotion of Mohiniyattam, was launched at the Kerala Social Center (KSC) Abu Dhabi on Thursday, 20th October 2016 by the doyen of Kathakali, Padmasri Kalamandalam Gopi Asan.
The ceremonial launch was held on the sidelines of the three day Kathakali Festival held in Abu Dhabi in which Asan launched Lasyatarangini Logo and Kerala Social Centre (KSC) President Sri Padmanabhan announced the inaugural edition of Lasyatarangini UAE Chapter’s activities.
The first of the performance series titled “Mohiniyattam Arangu”, will be presented on Friday 11th November 2016 at KSC with a Mohiniyattam Katcheri by renowned dancer Aswathy Srikanth.
Aswathy is the daughter of legendary writer and filmmaker Sri M T Vasudevan Nair and eminent guru Smt Kalamandalam Saraswathy.
A documentary titled “Spatial Rhythms” commemorating Sri Kavalam Narayana Panicker, the inimitable Indian dramatist, theatre director, and poet will also be screened at the event.
Lasyatarangini is a collective of Mohiniyattam artists, scholars, and art enthusiasts seeking to promote Kerala’s supremely graceful dance form. Born as an online forum 6 years back, it has led to the coming together of like-minded individuals from across the globe dedicated to this cause. Eminent gurus Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, Bharati Shivaji, Neena Prasad, Vijayalakshmi, Gopika Varma and Smitha Rajan among others are the Patrons of group.
Lasyatarangini aims to expand its reach to communities worldwide, bridging barriers in a bid to promote Mohiniyattam. The UAE chapter is their first step outside India towards this goal.
In addition to the performance series “Arangu”, Lasyatarangini UAE Chapter also aims to conduct its academic series “Samavesh”, national and international Mohiniyattam seminars, lecture demonstrations and documentary screening aimed at generating academic interest in the dance form. Lasyatarangini conducted Samavesh in India from 2011-2013 bringing together scholars, artists and enthusiasts from across the globe.
“Mohiniyattam provides a very aesthetic experience. Unfortunately there aren’t enough opportunities in UAE to watch this graceful dance form. The patrons of Lasyatarangini believe their effort will bridge this gap and bring Mohiniyattam closer to a wider cultural audience”, said Priya M Nair, one of the curators of Lasyatarangini UAE Chapter. The first event “Mohiniyattam Arangu” will be held on Friday 11th November in association with Kerala Social Centre, UAE Xchange and Etihad Airways will have Aswathy Srikanth performing for the first time in UAE.
For further details contact: priya.mnair@gmail.com
ANORA men perfects Thiruvathirakali
Thiruvathirakali is a traditional dance performed by women in Kerala, in order to attain everlasting marital bliss, on the Thiruvathira day in the Malayalam month of Dhanu (December- January).
Today, Thiruvathirakali has become a popular dance form for all seasons.
As innovation is key for the success of any event, a group of men from the ANORA association (Ananthapuram Non Residents Association) based in Abu Dhabi practised and perfected it to perform on the day they celebrated at the India Social and Cultural Centre main hall.
This form of dance is a celebration of marital fidelity and the female energy, for this is what brought Kamadeva (the god of love) back to life after he was reduced to ashes by the ire of Lord Siva.
The sinuous movements executed by a group of dancers around a nilavilakku, embody ‘lasya’ or the amorous charm and grace of the feminine. The dance follows a circular, twirling and roating pattern accompanied by clapping of the hands and singing.
As the men performed, the women keenly encouraged them from the backstage watching each step eagerly.
Well, they did excellently well, considering the fact that it was for the first time some of them taking the centre stage!.
Team members (from left to right) Raghu, Joseph George Anicattil, Nahas, Manilal, Parbhu, George,Godfrey Antony and Shamnad.
Choreography was done by Mini Joseph George Anicattil
Watch the video and encourage them with your comments.
Source for narration: keralatourism.org
Photos and video by: Ramesh Menon, Abu Dhabi
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