Indian Bharatanatyam Dance

Indian Bharatanatyam Dance
Ohm Namah Shivaya

Natraj School of Dance is proud to present “Ohm Namah Shivaya”,” a thematic classical Indian Bharatanatyam dance production on the Saturday of 17th February 2018, at 3.30pm and 7pm at the Little Theatre, Laings Road, Lower Hutt, Wellington.

This year’s thematic production is in praise of Lord Shiva, the 3rd member of the Hindu Trinity along with Brahma and Vishnu, the destroyer of all evils. The Sanskrit word “Shiva” means auspicious or pure. He is also known as Lord Nataraja, the Lord of Dance and cosmic dancer. His dance of creation is said to have been performed in Chidambaram, an important Shaiva Centre in South India, a place that is identified with both the centre of the universe and the human heart.

The production will present the various forms of Shiva and the Tandavams he performed. The gestures of the dance represent Shiva’s five activities (panchakritya): creation (symbolized by the drum), protection (by the “fear-not” pose of the hand), destruction (by the fire), embodiment (by the foot planted on the ground), and release (by the foot held aloft).

Over 50 students will be performing in this year’s production. It will be about two hours of performance by children as young as 5 years old to adults. Bharatanatyam is an art that transcends time and age. This year two professional dancers from USA and Australia will also be performing at the show.

Mrs. Prabha Ravi established Natraj School of Dance, an Indian classical Dance School based in Lower Hutt nineteen years ago. Over these years, Prabha has trained over five hundred students and encouraged them to participate in local and national events. Prabha has been recognised by several awards for her services to the fine arts. Prabha has been bestowed with Queen’s Services Medal in 2017 by the New Zealand government for her contribution to art and Ethnic communities. She is also a recipient of the Hutt City Mayoral Civic Award for her leadership in the field of fine arts.

Indian classical dance is not merely moving your body to a rhythm. It is a discovery of your roots, philosophy, mythology, language, culture and many other facets of life. Every child develops one's personality and mind by learning this dance. Many youths have benefited immensely through the dance school in learning this valuable art.

For tickets and further information please contact Natraj School of Dance.natrajschoolofdance@gmail.com / 021 817252

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