Productions

AAHVAAN:

Aahvaan sought to call and exhort the awakening of goodness within every person in order to defeat the negative forces that seem to engulf mankind. Both fought battles for victory of good over evil. Goddess Durga fought fierce battles to gain victory over the demon Mahishasura and Lord Rama too, had to undergo 14 years exile and the trauma of abduction of his wife Sita by Ravana which finally culminated in a seven days battle in which Ravana was defeated and killed.

The dance presentation Aahvaan sought to portray these two major legends of our Indian mythology through Nava Durga, the nine avatars that the Devi took to fight various evil forces and Sant Tulsidas's 4 line verse, the Ek Shloki Ramayan that recalled major events in Lord Rama's life which finally culminated in his victory over the evil forces of Ravana.

           Presentation: Group presentation

           Duration: 45 minutes

“Ek Shloki Ramayan” (of Sant Goswami Tulsidas in the 16th century):

Ek Shloki Ramayan by the 16th century saint poet, Goswami Tulsidas is a condensed version of the entire Ramayan in a single verse (shloka) of four lines. It is believed that chanting the Ek Shloki Ramayan gives the benefit of chanting the entire Ramayan.

Starting with an obeisance to Lord Rama, the great benefactor and protector of mankind, Sita swayamvar (marriage of Rama and Sita), Kaikeyi’s insistence that her son Bharat should be the crown prince and Rama’s banishment, set the stage for delineation of the Ek shloki Ramayan. This verse enumerates the 14 years’ exile of Rama, his wife Sita’s abduction by Ravana, the killing of Jatayu in his effort to save Sita, the fight between the two brothers Sugreev and Bali, the burning of Lanka by Hanuman whose tail had been set on fire by Ravana’s men, the bringing of Sanjeevini herb by Hanuman in order to revive the mortally wounded Lakshman and 32 finally the battle between Ravana and Rama where Ravana dies at the hands of Lord Rama.

The presentation is replete with melodic lyrics, gat bhava, rhythmic patterns (paran and pirmilu), kavitts (recitative verse) such as the Jatayu moksha paran and the Hanuman paran. The item ends with a eulogy to Rama, Ramashtakam.

Composed in 2020, it was presented in 2021.

           Presentation: Mini Ballet/ Group presentation

           Duration: 23 minutes

“Ayo ri Basant”:

“Ayo Ri Basant” (Here comes the Spring!), a dance musical that reflects the joy of new hope, new beginnings and new life in the form of sprouting of seedlings and saplings, as flowers begin to bloom and yellow mustard flowers dance in the gentle spring breeze, was re-staged after a gap of 38 years. The dance musical wove together verses of poets from all communities and faiths such as traditional Vedic shloka, Jayadeva, Amir Khusro, traditional folk songs etc.

           Presentation: Group presentation

           Duration: 35 minutes

Vande Mataram:

The national song, Vande Mataram by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyaya, still provides inspiration to one and all. This dance rendering pays ode to the mother and the motherland, and the poem Namo Swatantra Bharat ki Dhwaja by national poet, Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, pays ode to the Indian national flag.

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 7-8 minutes

Ma (Mother): The Nurturing Spirit

A dedication to all mothers, the universal mother, the universal truth who breathes life into beings, nurturing them through thick and thin, guiding them as teachers, mentors, guide to evolved into fine human beings, who is the silent rock and spiritual guide too. She is an important factor in facing challenges and adversities so as to ensure safety and security of all, bringing in `culture of peace and non-violence and in the eradication of social inequities.’

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 10 minutes

AUM

“AUM” is a term that resonates within all Indians. No ritual is complete without the chanting of AUM. It is considered to be the cosmic power behind all creations! The Mandukya Upanishad states that the term AUM contains all matter, all energy, all thoughts transcending time, space, and causation. It is therefore the Absolute Reality.

Exploring the four dimensions of the powerful term AUM, namely the awakening, the realisation, the aspiration and the continuum, a unique dance presentation 'AUM .... a Continuum" was to be presented on 28th March 2020 at the HRD Centre Auditorium, Noida and on 1st April, 2020 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre, New Delhi- but these were postponed indefinitely due to the on-going lockdown caused by Covid-19 coronavirus. It was finally presented on stage in 2021 at the Stein Auditorium, India Habitat Centre which was followed by several more shows. 

           Presentation: Dance Ballet with Group presentations

           Duration: 40 minutes

Nava Durga

The onslaught of Covid was akin to that of the asuras spreading havoc, chaos and death. In such a situation, Devi took on her nine forms (avatars) ranging from the benign to the most fearsome to get rid of the asuras and bring relief to the affected population. These were Shailaputri, Brahmacharini, Chandraghanta, Kushmanda, Skandamata, Katyayini, Kalaratri, Mahagauri and Siddhidayini. Against this backdrop, the Nava Durga presentation was conceived, conceptualised and choreographed by Shovana.

This was performed by Shovana Narayan with some of her disciples who were with her every day for online classes during the period of lock-down. (Premiered online on 20th Oct 2020).

           Presentation: Group presentation

           Duration: 23 - 40 minutes

Aag Ki Bheekh (Hindi poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar)

The powerful poem by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar “Aag ki Bheekh” dwells on the plea that mankind has to shrug off all apathy and re-juvenate itself with renewed energy and determination to tackle all challenges of life not losing sight of the larger good of mankind and humanity including for those who are at the forefront of this challenging battle.

It says that fogginess clouds the path, people have become downcast and that they are enveloped in the darkness of the mind and darkness of will. Yet in the midst of this darkness, their minds and their hearts cry out in desperation asking for sustenance, asking for strength to re-juvenate them. Finally he says that God, we pray for your kindness to light up the sky with your special energy and save my country, my people in this hour of annihilation.

This was performed by Shovana Narayan with some of her disciples who were with her every day for online classes during the period of lock-down. (Premiered on 29th April 2020).

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 15 minutes

Guftagu

In the unprecedented period of lockdown caused by Covid-19 Coronavirus, the challenge before many was how to fight depression. This was an issue especially among senior citizens who found themselves helpless without the support and who felt isolated as their children, relatives and friends were unable to see them or render any assistance. The need for communication, therefore, became paramount. In this context, broad basing the poem of Urdu poet late Ali Sardar Jafri, ‘Guftagu Bund Na Ho’ (Do not cease having conversations) was extremely relevant. The dance video featured the late poet Ali Sardar Jafri’s voice reciting a line from his poem. It was a humble dedication on the occasion of the World Dance Day.

(Premiered on 29th April 2020)

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 10 minutes

Just Wait for the Sun:

Dance enactment of a poem which says that better days will come, as every situation in life is temporary however bleak they may seem at that moment. This was especially presented for the people all over the world who were suffering from the darkness that was gripping them caused by Covid-19 coronavirus. It was premiered on 24th April 2020.

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 10 minutes

Mere Desh Udaas na Ho:

A beautiful poem by Hindi poet, Gopal Das Neeraj where he says that darkness is not permanent and always gives way to the rising sun, similarly difficult days are not permanent as the light of better days is bound to follow. Even though all seem to be engulfed in gloom, yet this is not permanent for there is hope. Man will again regain the springiness in his gait and unhappiness will give way to happiness. Change is constant.

The dance was inspired by the engulfing darkness of mind that was seizing a large part of the population due to the enforced lockdown caused by the raging coronavirus. And in such times, the message of hope through the poignant and meaningful verses of Neeraj was appreciated throughout the globe.

(Premiered on 22nd April 2020)

           Presentation: Multi-Cast presentation

           Duration: 15 minutes

Draupadi to Nirbhaya: (Draupadi se Nirbhaya tak)

The disrobing of Draupadi, a powerful woman, queen and a woman in her own right, has been seen through various lens: on one hand as a woman wielding power, a woman who was proud and lived on her terms, a woman who took on the challenge of being the wife of five husbands, facing disdain, shame and mockery at the hands of the kingdom, a woman who at every opportunity, learnt and mastered the arts of warfare and of politics, and comprehended learning far beyond her years, while on the other hand, as a woman who was a pawn in the hands of a patriarchal society. Today too, women seem to be continuing the game of being pawns at the hands of a male dominated society. If she, Draupadi had been humiliated and disrobed in public, are we, the so-called ‘civilised society of the 21st century’ any different, with several Nirbhaya episodes dotting the landscape of today? It is only when we women, stand up to injustice and create the right atmosphere at home in bringing up the future generations that we shall be able to correct imbalances in society.

(Premiere on 20th Feb 2020 at the India Islamic Centre Auditorium)

           Presentation: Group presentation

           Duration: 25-30 minutes