Articulate Festival, a every third Sunday of the month classical dance festival, in its 26th series, showcased five young artistes in Bharatanatyam and Kathak in solo formats on July 15 at Veene Seshanna Bhavana, Mysuru. The packed house proved that dance connoisseurs of Mysuru are addicted in a holy way to religiously patronise the classical dance every month, come rain or shine. Nikhitha Manjunath, a disciple of Karnataka Kalashree Sathyanarayana Raju of Samskruthi - The Temple of Art, Bengaluru, presented two Bharatanatyam numbers. One in raga “Reethigowla”, Taala “Adi” and the other in raga “Kamaach”, “Mishra chaapu taala.” The first choreographed by Guru Narmada and the other by Guru Bhanumati. Nikhitha in her “Gopa Gopi Swaro Yogi” a shloka from “Sri Krishna Karnaamruta” described the various leelas of Lord Krishna and praised his greatness. In “Maataadabaaradeno Maa Ramanane”, a Kannada composition, she enacted a Mugdha Nayika, worried that her husband is not speaking to her and seems to be angry, asks for the reason of his silence. She reminds him of the good times that they had spent together and pleads him to speak to her.In all the three dances, Nikhitha chose, the sahithya was aptly translated into meaningful movement. The nrutta compositions that were weaved into, was crisp and geometrically sharp in its execution, that proved the merit of the dancer which the prekashaka took notice. B.U. Ojaswini, disciple of Guru Supriya Komandur, performed three Bharatanatyam numbers. A Guru Minal Prabhu’s choreography “Nrityanjali” in “Navarasa Kannada Raga” and “Adi Taala”, offering homage to the Gods, Guru and Prekshaka was the opening number, followed by a Papanasa Sivan’s Krithi “Devi Neeya Thunai” in Raga “Keervani” and “Aadi taala” eulogizing Goddess Meenakshi and concluded by a Devaranama of Sri Purandaradasa “Chandra Chooda Shivashankara” in “ragamalike” and “Aadi tala” describing the manifestations and deeds of Shiva, both choreographed by Guru Supriya Komandur. Ojaswini proved her mettle by her very diligent training and practice the result of which could be seen in her presentation both technical and emotional that drew the appreciation of the audience.
