For the first time in Mumbai, a classical dance festival will be organised at the Royal Opera House on January 19 and 20, 2019. The Bhramara Festival of Dance will have performances by young and dynamic artistes from across India and abroad, as well as an added attraction in the form of an outdoor organic pop-up cafe with folk and martial art performances. The theme of the inaugural edition is 'enchanting epics'.
No performance will be longer than 30 minutes. Among the top draws at the festival would be ‘Leela’ by Arushi Mudgal and troupe. Arushi is one of the foremost names in Odissi dance. In 'Leela', she tells the stories from Krishna’s childhood as well as Ramayana in folk music style combined with Odissi dance.
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Another compelling performance will be 'Sanjeevani' by eight-time National Award-winning Bharatnatyam artist Parshwanath Upadhye. In Sanjeevani, he tells the story of Hanuman’s childhood.
The festival will also witness the India premier of Kathak dance drama 'Son of the Wind' by the Leela Dance Collective that comprises renowned dancers from California and India.
The festival was initiated by Tripti Arya, managing trustee of the Arya Group Foundation, who is learning Kuchipudi from Guru Ramchandra Murthy. "I organised this with the intent of rediscovering and re-imagining Indian classical art forms especially for the untrained eye or, as you call them, millennials.
“At a time when we find the interest and participation of youth in traditional dance forms diminishing, the Bhramara Dance Festival is an earnest attempt at trying to connect all generations and age groups through dance," she says.
