Chennai:
The first of its kind flash mob by classical dancers brought Chennai shoppers to a pause at the popular Chennai Citi Centre.
Celebrating the International Dance Day, around 50 Bharatanatyam dancers, draped in colourful traditional attire enthralled shoppers for five minutes with their scintillating performance.
The idea was to take classical dance to the common man. 21-year-old Sanghamitra, a Visual Communication student says "I couldn't resist watching the beautiful performance. It is the first time I am seeing a flash mob by classical dancers."
The Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) put the performance together to mark 32 years of International Dance Day. The entire group rehearsed for only an hour. Over a period of one week they had watched a video and rehearsed by themselves. The President, Ms Chitra Visweswaran told NDTV, "We want classical dance to reach more people. We want to de-mystify it. That is our aim."
Ms Kavitha Ramu, another well-known face in the city's Bharathanatyam circuit says, "My passion for dance brings me back to celebrate the day. It was an exhilarating experience."
Many budding dancers like 15 year old Nilanjana too joined the flash mob. She says "It was amazing to dance in a mall to a mixed audience. I am happy to be a part of it".
Film Director, Ms Sarada Ramanathan who was also part of the team is happy about the response and the awareness the exercise generated. She told NDTV, "Novelty always works and we have to think of new ways of synergising tradition and modernity."
Chennai, known as the culture capital is certainly leading when it comes to art for the masses.
Celebrating the International Dance Day, around 50 Bharatanatyam dancers, draped in colourful traditional attire enthralled shoppers for five minutes with their scintillating performance.
The idea was to take classical dance to the common man. 21-year-old Sanghamitra, a Visual Communication student says "I couldn't resist watching the beautiful performance. It is the first time I am seeing a flash mob by classical dancers."
The Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) put the performance together to mark 32 years of International Dance Day. The entire group rehearsed for only an hour. Over a period of one week they had watched a video and rehearsed by themselves. The President, Ms Chitra Visweswaran told NDTV, "We want classical dance to reach more people. We want to de-mystify it. That is our aim."
Ms Kavitha Ramu, another well-known face in the city's Bharathanatyam circuit says, "My passion for dance brings me back to celebrate the day. It was an exhilarating experience."
Many budding dancers like 15 year old Nilanjana too joined the flash mob. She says "It was amazing to dance in a mall to a mixed audience. I am happy to be a part of it".
Film Director, Ms Sarada Ramanathan who was also part of the team is happy about the response and the awareness the exercise generated. She told NDTV, "Novelty always works and we have to think of new ways of synergising tradition and modernity."
Chennai, known as the culture capital is certainly leading when it comes to art for the masses.
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