Dance Ballet "Parikrama" Director 's Comment

• Director's Comment : The idea of doing a ballet on Panch Tattvas took seed many years ago. Each of the Tattvas provided potential for choreographic investigation and interpretation. A short item, by this name, was presented in 1987. It met with acclaim. Since then, at regular intervals, the thought of doing a full length ballet went through my mind. A few years ago, I decided to deviate from the “Mahabharat and Ramayana mould” and took up the challenge of doing the Panch Tattvas as a full length choreographic work.
• The dance design for the five elements provided a stimulus to look beyond the obvious patterns of the Tattvas. New ideas were explored. I saw that Shashidharan Nair, the choreographer, had risen beyond, and considerably expanded, the vocabulary of Chhau. In devising the script, I kept in mind one important factor – that abstract ideas should be understandable.
• At this time, I met my friend Jayamala Aiyer, who inspired me to read the Padma Purana. A vast reservoir of potentialities suddenly opened up. Further readings led to clarification of abstract ideas of Hiranyagarbh, Atman, being and non-being, until a viable script was devised. Shubha Mudgal (the music director), provided invaluable suggestions by interpreting the mystic poetry.
• By now the idea had definitely shifted from Panch Tattvas to Parikrama. Our core group consisting of Shashidharna Nair, Justin McCarthy, Jayamala Aiyer, Shubha Mudgal and myself sat together for hours and discussed the ideas thrown up. Slowly but surely the thoughts began to jel. A fusion of dance, music and lighting was attempted where you could see music and hear dance.
• — Shobha Deepak Singh

• Source Event :
• DANCE BALLET : Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presents "Parikrama" at Kamani Auditorium - 16th May 08