Mudra’s Darpana at Little Theatre, Lower Hutt on July 1 (7.30 pm) and July 2 (4 pm)
Venkat Raman
Auckland, June 28, 2023
The Wellington-based Mudra Dance Company will present ‘Darpana,’ promising yet another innovative and creative production of its founder, director and choreographer Vivek Kinra.
Reflections will be the theme of the two-hour performance at the Little Theatre, located at 2 Queens Drive, Hutt Central, Lower Hutt (Wellington) on Saturday, July 1, 2023 (from 7.30 pm) and Sunday, July 2, 2023 (4 pm). Tickets, priced $20-$30 can be purchased at Eventfinda (0800-289849) website www.eventfinda.co.nz
Booking fees would apply. Further details can be obtained from Mudra Dance Company Publicist Mark Graham on 021-550245, Email: mudra@xtra.co.nz; Website: www.mudra.co.nz
Mr Kinra is well known as an exponent in the Kalakshetra style of Bharata Natyam and was a recipient of a Culture Award at the Sixth Annual Indian Newslink Sports, Community, Arts and Culture Awards held on June 24, 2019 in Auckland.
Retrospective Presentation
He promised that Darpana will be a memorable performance representing his dance works spanning more than 25 years.
“This production will blend the history of Mudra through the reworking of my works, ensuring that the current audience can experience the change over time whilst honouring the beginnings of the Company. The audience will have the opportunity to revisit their favourite pieces while experiencing some works for the first time,” he said.
A notification said that the forthcoming event, comprising dramatic dance pieces, will showcase the talents honed and harnessed by the Mudra Dance Company.
“Characterised by exotic beauty and charm, Mudra Dance Company is a visual feast of brilliant sari colours, traditional headdresses of braids and flowers, and the sparkle of gorgeous jewellery.
Darpana promises to be a powerful display of motion, colour, music, mime, and rhythm,” it said.
Dance writer and critic Jennifer Shennan said that Mudra’s performance season for July 2023 will be an impressive undertaking to offer a programme of retrospective reference across many of Mr Kinra’s choreographies over past years.
“That all these works can be reconstructed and staged again is a testament to the serious and responsible commitment of Mudra to offer a continuing and lasting contribution to Wellington audiences comprising the Indian as well as the wider community,” she said.
Mr Kinra said that the dances have been selected to highlight specific periods and outstanding pieces, which over time show the evolution of his Company.
The Programme
The Programme will include the following:
Thodaya Mangalam: Original Work from Vaishnavam 1995. This dance praises the supreme Lord Maha Vishnu, whose compassion runs as wide as the ocean. He is praised in His various forms, primarily as Shri Rama and Shri Krishna.
Maragada Manimaya Chela: Original Work from Krishna: The Divine Lover 2001. In His most beautiful and divine form, Lord Krishna is depicted wearing golden robes and holding a flute in his hands. The devotees humbly request Lord Krishna to reside in their hearts.
Ranjani Mala: Original Work from Shakti: The Universal Energy 2019: A Depiction of primordial Mother Goddess Shakti in her various forms and moods, from sublime Saraswati to fierce Goddess Kali.
Subrahmanya Kauthuvam: Original Work from Subrahmanyam 1999: This dance piece consists of short verses in praise of Lord Subrahmanyam. The dancers describe the beauty and valour of Lord Subrahmanyam and request the Lord to shower his divine grace upon them.
Ennenna Vilaiyadalamma: Original Work from Kartikeya 2017. In this Keertanam, dancers joyously describe a variety of divine play of Lord Subrahmanyam.
Kanchadalayatakshi Kamakshi: Original Work from Chakra 2004; This song is devoted to Goddess Kamakshi of Kanchi, the most beautiful Goddess with eyes like lotus petals.
Amritavarshini (Rain of Nectar): Original Work from Shakti: The Universal Energy 2019
Oh, Mother Goddess! Grant us knowledge, happiness and bliss in the form of heavy rains.
Thillana: Original Work from Subrahmanyam 1999. A robust grand finale, full of vigorous footwork and sculpturesque body movements
