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photograph courtesy Yann Pitchal, Pondicherry

“THEN & NOW- PERSONAL & ARTISTIC REFLECTIONS”
A MULTI-DISCIPLINED APPROACH TO DANCE
by NIRMALA SESHADRI


Date: March 13th, 2009
Time: 7.15pm
Venue: India Habitat Centre (Lodhi Road, New Delhi)

Dancer Nirmala Seshadri presents “Then & Now- Personal & Artistic Reflections”, a poetic monologue. In this experiment the classical dance form Bharatanatyam meets with poetry, music, theatre and video images. “Then & Now…” moves between the past - the memory of a Bharatanatyam margam performance, and the present that is contemplative. A woman, in the autumn of her life, experiences an evening of aloneness, yearning, dejection and acceptance. The work is centred around the English translation of the Mandarin poem, “Aspiration”, by Singaporean poet Dan Ying.

Conceived, choreographed and performed by Nirmala Seshadri, the piece first premiered in Singapore in 2003.

Born in Singapore, Nirmala Seshadri trained in Bharatanatyam for many years in Singapore under Santha Bhaskar and later from gurus in India. She has studied dance theory under the guidance of noted scholar and musicologist TS Parthasarathy and also learnt Nattuvangam from Karaikudi Krishnamurthy. A recipient of various awards including the Singapore National Arts Council’s “Young Artist Award”, Nirmala is also an arts educator and writer. Nirmala is currently a member of the Board of the National Arts Council.

Nirmala’s choreographic work is experimental in nature. In seeking contemporary expression through her classical form, she has gradually moved into a cross-cultural and interdisciplinary approach. Over the years, she has been pushing the boundaries of her dance form and discovering connections with music, poetry, theatre, film and visual art.

In her experiment with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra, Nirmala juxtaposed her dance with Chinese orchestral music, as well as with the poetry and painting of Singapore’s most celebrated multi-disciplinary artist, Tan Swie Hian. This culminated in her solo performance with the live 70-member orchestra.

Nirmala’s recent works include ‘Outcaste Eternal’, ‘Crossroads’, ‘Then & Now…’, ‘The Celestial Web’ and ‘Radha Now’.

CREDITS

Poetry- Dan Ying
Music- BV Balasai, TV Ramprasadh
Creative video - Chetan Shah
Lights – Zubin Mehta
Technical Support – Mrinalini Avadhani & Priyanka Seshadri
Artistic Support- Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan. Chandra
Concept & Choreography- Nirmala Seshadri

OUTCASTE ETERNAL - A DANCE THEATRE PRODUCTION

"What is my crime? That of being born a woman?"
1910 - Kerala, South India

Based on a true story of the sexual revenge a lone woman wreaked on an entire community that was rigid, oppressive and anti-women

Script & Direction:
Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan & Nirmala Seshadri

Music:
L. Vaidyanathan

"Only Bette Davis could have done a better job!"
... VAK Ranga Rao
dance writer, critic, film historian

"A Top Notch Production. Powerful, Beautiful And Moving"
... Chetan Shah
filmmaker, writer

"Congratulations!
Together you created memorable theatre"
... Mini Krishnan - Writer, Editor (Outcaste, the novel)

"Wonderful Production... A Very Courageous Attempt"
... Lata Pada
dancer, choreographer

"Wonderful Intensity!"
... Anita Ratnam
dancer, choreographer


OUTCASTE ETERNAL - CAST LIST
Paptikutty, Mother of Thazhamangalam
Nirmala Seshadri

Chematiri Otikkan, Young Otikkan
P.C. Ramakrishna

Akkithar, Ritualist
T.T. Srinath

Pachu Otikkan, Young Namboodiri
Amitash Pradhan

Achan Namboodiri, King
Shankar Sundaram

Itingayya, Unnikali, Raman’s Niece
Chandra

Nambyattan, Tundan, Thazath Moose, Murderer
Sachin Damodar

Mathukutty
Krishnakshi Sharma

Neelan, Chami, Informant, Kesavan, Murderer
Shyam Sunder

Little Paptikutty
Anitha

Paptikutty’s Mother
Nirmala Umashankar

Kaikottikali & Women’s Quarters
Nirmala Umashankar, Kamini N, Subhashini M, Jayashree S, Vishnupriya S, Reshika M, Sowpharneka U, Ishwarya D, Roshini M



CREDITS
Script & Direction
Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan & Nirmala Seshadri

Music Composition
late L.Vaidyanathan

Choreography
Nirmala Seshadri

Production Consultant
Chetan Shah

Production Manager
Gopi Nair

Lights
Venkatesh

Costumes
G. Jayraman

Theme Design
M. Natesh

Poster, Ticket, Brochure Design
Art-Ken-Kel Design (Singapore)
Victor Paulraj (Chennai)

Sound Management
Ram Bajekal, Anitha

Voice Overs
Kaveri Lalchand
Vasanthi Sankaranarayanan

Stills & Videography
Sujith Panicker

Audio Recording
Krishna, Sruthilaya Audio Recording



LIST OF SPONSORS & SUPPORTERS
Panasonic
Sundaram Finance Ltd
India Cements Ltd
The Hindu
Kalavardhini Arts Centre, Singapore
Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Singapore)
National Arts Council, Singapore
Arts Fund, Singapore
Singapore Arts Federation
Singapore cast- Outcaste Eternal
Macmillan India Ltd
AMM Matriculation Higher Secondary School
Landmark, Shilpi, Chamiers & Amethyst

Matampu Kunhukuttan
Nina Reddy
Anna George
Nirmala Umashankar
Kaveri Lalchand
K. Krishnakumar
P.M. Krishnan
Mini Krishnan
Lakshmi Jogarao
Maggie Thomas
Santha Bhaskar
Rahgavan Sachi
Bhagya Murthy
Dennis Wong

The Commissioner of Museums
The Staff of Museum Theatre