Watching Ramlil Ibrahim and Sutra Dance Company perform live at NCPA,Mumbai was a dream come true for me. When I took to learning odissi dance I scoured the internet for information and inspiration. I was awestruck by one particular video by Sutra dance company, available on youtube(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XsopAXJATUo)and played on repeat mode until I was afraid I may be destroying the beauty of it.
So u can imagine my delight when I saw in the papers that Sutra Dance Company was performing in town. The sight of beautiful Indian Women teaming up gorgeous silk sarees with burberry handbags and sindoor was as much a delight as the heightened anticipation of what was to come.The dance was beautifully choreographed opening with all the dancers as damsels and Ramlil and his partner as Shiva and Parvathi.A perfect scene in heaven. I was thrilled to see the dancers come together in position to perform my favourite piece(youtube).Its the journey of a devotee through the gates of Heaven, welcomed by apsaras and met by Shiva and Parvathi. Just brilliant! Their movements, the costumes , the jwellery, the lighting. For a minute I was like, I wish I was pure within, meaning non materialistic and free of canal pleasures to really be a part of this performance. While I doddled on that thought for a bit, the sight of a navel piercing on the dancer playing Parvathi and colored locks on the male dancer made me come back on earth saying..we are all earthly indeed. Another piece that really struck me was this piece depicting the various forms of the godess kali.I wanted to remember the names and significance of each of the ten forms, each being terrifying, fierce and dispelling fear. The godess in her many forms punishes the devotee for his sins mercilessly and is eventually accepted in heaven, dancing with Shiva Parvati and the beautiful damsels!!! I walked out wanting a slim waist and dancer hips and a teacher in Mumbai to sound those bells and move to the rythm that was now slowly receeding in me. The dance was for a cause: VIDYA, an NGO providing education for the less privileged. An electryfying performance by beautiful people for a noble cause and an awe-struck audience.
