 |
Hyphenated - Critics Speak
30mins, September 2002
Ratnam's piece, Hyphenated, was arrestingly contemporary... Dressed in brightly coloured
tunics over black flared pants, Hyphenated incorporarted the dancers' daily experiences such
as putting on make-up, dressing up for a date or playing sports. To the jazz compositions of
Ernie Tollar and the percussion of Debashis Sinha, the young women created new mimes and
new recitative patterns that mirrored the classical techniques of Bharatanatyam. The piece
reached a climax when the dancers performed to a live rendition of "Fever" sung by Nandita
Das. The contemporary elements had the effect, in the best moments of Hyphenated, of
displaying the beauty and expressiveness of Indian dance.
-
SUSAN WALKER, Dance Writer, TORONTO STAR, Canada, September 2002
|
The background of Pada and Ratnam is bharatanatyam, the dance form which originated in
South India, but both have layered this ancient art with contemporary sensibility. As a result,
their fusion choreography is fascinating. They bring movement and gestures from the past
and merge them with present-day modernisms, although in different ways. Both women also
understand production values, and their set pieces and lighting were exquisite.
Completely different from the inner turmoil of Vaitharani, was the energetic Hyphenated that
dealt with the collision of cultures in young people born to immigrant families. This humorous
yet provocative work for four dancers, two musicians and a singer used text to reflect their
rebellion, while the dance and music cleverly merged South Asian and Western dance forms
to show their "hyphenation."
-
Paula Citron in THE GLOBE AND MAIL,Tuesday, October 1, 2002 - Page R4
|
|
|
|
