INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PERFORMANCE, TRIVANDRUM 2009

`ASHANK '( Fearless ) - Rehearsal Photos at Nishagandhi Auditorium in Trivandrum. We get invited to open the inauguration of the prestigious IFFK, (International Film Festival ) on Dec 11th 2009, with a 25 mn performance of sequences from Ashank-the full length work which premiered at Chowdiah Memorial Hall in Oct 2009. The performance included choreographed weapon sparring from Kalaripayattu - Sword & Shield, Urumi and Long Sticks, contemporary Kalari choreography along with elements from Capoeira, the Brazilian martial dance form. It was set to the rhythmic beats of traditional percussive instruments from Kerala, the Mizhavu (Ratheesh) and the Edakka ( Vinoth). We would specially like to thank Mr. VK Joseph and Ms. Bina Paul, Artistic Director for this honour and invitation. The event was attended by over 3000 people. Ashank was performed here by Dil Sagar ( Choreographer) , CP Prasad, Sujilesh, Prajilesh, SriKumar, Geethi KB and Hema Sundari.

FITNESS CLASSES FOR CORPORATES

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJV3VLukcWw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vHQUFRghrw
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/life/2009/11/27/stories/2009112750070300.htm
http://www.thehindu.com/mp/2009/10/31/stories/2009103151460800.htm
http://www.timeoutbengaluru.net/health/health_details.asp?code=66&source=1

FITNESS & MOVEMENT/DANCE SESSIONS

You have several options to get moving :

1 A dynamic combination of Kalaripayattu, Capoeira and Yoga in my FITNESS SESSIONS.

Sitting at your desk for far too long ? These sessions get the cricks out of your neck, the cramp out of your foot, and the weight off your shoulder blades.


2. MARTIAL ART CLASSES - SELF DEFENSE - a combination of movement and self defense techniques, these special modules can be in sessions only for women, or mixed batches. Relevant in today's day and age where protecting ourselves is the only way.


3.CUSTOMISED CHOREOGRAPHY for your family/office day using contemporary dance.

Get talented in-house dancers to work with me while I create a piece for you to perform !

4. TEAM BUILDING : It's all in the moves !

Enjoy yourself learning and working with elements from Contemporary Dance and Kalaripayattu, Capoeira, the Brazilian martial Dance and other martial art forms to create movement phrases and sequences as you put together your very own piece of movement work to perform for friends and colleagues !

ASHANK- Performance Photos

http://mybangalore.com/article/1009/ashankh-dancing-the-martial-art-way.html

http://www.thehindu.com/2009/10/15/stories/2009101558960200.htm

http://lifestyle.mobile.in.msn.com/en-in/healthandfitness/articles.aspx?aid=3323429&afid=-1

Ashank - Contemporary Kalaripayattu

                                                                                    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XY9dVDapDI8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-Sf5GIpU5Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_L1zP1CqFps

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_2IpvTgG78
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FptZg9NoTgQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xt4aBT5nmE

The approximately 400 year old medieval Vadakkan Pattukal, ( Ezhava fok songs ) is a collection of traditional stories and ballads from Kerala and is a beautiful example of folk poetry. It is also a valuable source of information about the structure and norms of medieval Malabar society. Set against the feudal backdrop of the day, the ballads are woven around legendary warriors, such as Thacholi Othenan, Aromal Chekavar, Kanappa Chekavar, Aromal Unni and even women warriors such as Unniarcha . The stories celebrated their exploits, physical prowess, mental and emotional strength, and above all, glorified a strict code of conduct and honour that they as warriors were governed by. All the heroes and heroines of the Vadakkan Pattukal were also skilled in the martial art form of Kalaripayattu, said by many to be the predecessor of many other martial forms such as Kung Fu, Wu Shu and Karate.

ASHANK ( Fearless)’ pays tribute to the qualities they posessed and the innate fighting spirit through the physical language of Kalaripayattu.

The performance takes collaboration between the traditional and modern onto three levels -

1. Inspiration from an ancient Malayalam text is placed in a contemporary, physical context.
2. Choreographic interaction between traditional Kalaripayattu artistes and Contemporary Dancers
3. A live music score that brings together contemporary and traditional musicians.

Here traditional Kalari artistes from Kerala, South India come together onstage with contemporary dancers and noted musicians to create a modern piece of theatrical martial art work that takes its source from diverse martial forms, including Capoeira, the Brazilian martial dance and elements from other martial art forms. The internationally acclaimed contemporary dancers have also trained in Kalaripayattu, acrobatics, gymnastics and various Indian classical dance forms and Ballet for many years and have performed at prestigious cultural festivals all over the world

Dramatic and authentic sparring with real weapons such as the Long Stick, Urumi ( deadly flexible sword and shield) and  Katara ( daggers),  Kuntham ( Spear) and sinuous Ottakol creates many visually exciting, breathless moments. The performance is accompanied by strong percussive beats ( Tabla, Mizhavu, Djembe) and rhythms (Electric Guitar ) by well known musicians from Bangalore and Kerala.

http://www.deccanherald.com/content/31826/graceful-moves-coordinated-beats.html

Vadivus - Postures in Kalaripayattu

The Vadivus in Kalaripayattu are animal postures that represent the internal and external essence of the animal. They create a mental and physical preparation for defence/attack by altering our states of consciousness.

The vadivus are :

1.Ashvavadivu - Horse
2.GajaVadivu - Elephant
3.Kukkuvadivu - Rooster
4.Simhavadivu - Lion
5.Sarpavadivu -Snake
6.Marjaravadivu-Cat
7.Matsyavadivu - Fish
8.Mayuravadivu - Peacock
9.Varahavadivu - Boar

New Press

TIMEOUT : AUGUST 21ST 2009
DNA : SEPTEMBER 1ST 2009

Global Tree Cafe -Site specific work ( 12 mns )

This performance was a site specific, work in progress, leading up to a larger work `Ashankh", of 45 mns.Global Tree Cafe, F&B, St. Marks Road, Bangalore. The challenge was to shrink the performance to a 20'x 20' site and choreograph keeping the space constraints in mind.

Reference

My links on the net

http://www.dancefestival.lublin.pl/event_en.php?id=00128
www.asklaila.com/article/Bangalore/Martial+arts.../217/
www.hindu.com/mp/2005/01/05/stories/2005010500960400.htm
www.mid-day.com/.../200509-Kalaripayyattu-Indian-Martial-Art-Whats-on-Bangalore-Physcial-Fitness-Workshop.htm
mirrorsquad.wordpress.com/tag/callanetics/
www.linkedin.com/pub/dilsagar-m-nair/11/b13/946
www.paulburt.co.uk/pdf/fringe2000.pdf
dancefestival.lbln.biz/event.php?id=00128
www.tempsdimages.org/archives/.../show_purushartha.html
www.teatridivita.it/italiano/attakkalari.html
www.tanzhaus-nrw.de/de/service/archiv/detail.php?id
www.pureland.co.uk/flash/invisible-states.swf
www.pact-zollverein.com/.../0212tanzaustausch_v3.html
geetanjali.chitnis.com/work/work.../fearless-a-performance/
www.bibliotecasvirtuales.com/biblioteca/.../enlamuralla.asp
www.kulturkurier.de/veranstaltung_70689.html
nestcepas.ch/de/reiseberichte/indien/indien.htm
www.linkedin.com/pub/dilsagar-m-nair/11/b13/946
www.dancers.in/dancer.php?ID_MEMBER=1702
www.attakkalaribiennial.org/work.php
www.attakkalari.org/dancers.html
mirrorsquad.wordpress.com/2008/.../losing-weight-go-exotic/
nritarutya.com/dancers/
www.digitalcultures.org/Library/P_Nagarika.html
www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/.../2002070800510200.htm
www.hindu.com/2009/05/13/.../2009051350960200.htm
www.cmprocess.com/.../city_on_the_move_attakkalari_i.html
www.nehrucentre.org.uk/Programmes1996-97.pdf
openspace.org.in/aggregator?page=12&from=2860
www.socialnetworkportal.it/video/shakthi.htm

INTEGRATED MOVEMENT WORKSHOP !

The INTEGRATED MOVEMENT WORKSHOP combines traditional KALARIPAYATTU with elements from CAPOEIRA, (the energetic Brazilian Martial dance/game ) and gentle YOGA.

WORKSHOP : MAY 18TH-22ND 2009'at Tharangini, 12th cross, Sadashivnagar.

Ongoing classes in Koramangala /Richmond Town and will soon be starting in Whitefield.

Contact 99020 35099 to register for North Bangalore atTharangini.

VIDEO LINKS

These are links to two small Kalari sequences and two completely free improvisations I did one morning.No thinking, no rehearsal.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJV3VLukcWw ( Kalari Salutation)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB8JBiJxwqg ( Meipayattu)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWvhiwHp-LI ( Just)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UK5dMk1I-I ( I am Not in my Body)

Studio session and one multi-media work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qikJaryv5w (Kalari choreography )
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JM1vKZLUHdU (Purushartha)

LOCAL PRESS - FACETS

( International Choreography Workshop )

Site specific- IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE, LONDON

CITY MAPS with Imlata Dance Company ( UK )

Me ( elevated ) with Artistic Director and mentor, Jayachandran Palazhy.

CERTIFICATES

Some of many certificates won at state-district level and other Kalari championships.

LETTERS OF RECOGNITION

letters from the Sangeet Natak Akademi, a prestigious government cultural institution in New Delhi, the Madras Craft Foundation, another very well known organisation, and for a performance at Bharatholsavam, Chittur.