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| Tirso de Molina Theatre. Rome, 8 June 2024 |
I have always enjoyed photographing Indian classical dance. It's not easy (like all movement situations on stage with variable colored jelly lights), many images are thrown away and it's very difficult to run from one part of the theater to another, under the stage. You always have to hope that the lighting technician is competent and that the stage is not too high so as not to disturb those sitting in the front rows.
The classic Bharatanatyam
style is among my favourites, like the Thai Khon, the Philippine Singkil and
the Indonesian Balinese dances.
Also because I am steeped in
classical Indian iconography that draws on the Ramayana – to which many of
these dances refer. They are movements that sometimes crystallize as sacred
images that you see in temples and in figurines hanging in the homes or shops
of my Hindu friends.
It's a challenge but one that
can provide moments of enjoyment for the eyes and you can almost hear the
veena, the tabla, the dholak and the bells of the ghungroo tied to your ankles
in the background.
These photographs were taken
for the end-of-year show of Claudia Kunti Centaroli's Indian classical dance
school in collaboration with “Le Ali di Iside - Arte e Movimento”.
The first time I photographed
her school was in May 2017.
Seven years later we are still
here.
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| Rome, 5 May 2017 |
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| Tirso de Molina Theatre. Rome, 8 June 2024 |
Bharatanatyam is a form of
Indian classical dance originating from Tamil Nadu, India and is recognized by
the Sangeet Natak Akademi, built on the principles formulated in Bharata Muni's
Natya Sastra.
It expresses South Indian
religious themes and spiritual ideas from Hinduism and Jainism.
Again according to the scriptures, Shiva's position as Nataraja (dancing) reveals a particular meaning. Here Nataraja's arms and legs, in the universal ballet, mark the rhythm of both creation and destruction. The right hand ensures protection to the devotees, the left, placed across the body means refuge, the left foot represents blessing, the right foot means victory over evil and the upper arms, which carry a drum and fire, respectively represent the creative impulse and destruction.
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| Rome, 5 May 2017 |
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| Tirso de Molina Theatre. Rome, 8 June 2024 |
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