AT CHENNAI
There were three performances of "Adhirohana" in this city that had a range of reactions.
The first performance in December 1999 at the Narada Gana Sabha was to a largely
conservative audience and half way through the show many walked out. There were only 20
people left by the end of the performance! None of them wanted to interface with Anita or
her dancers. Only two foreigners – a German and an American- came forward and
expressed their deepest appreciation.
Eight days later, we presented it at Bharat Kalachar to a standing ovation!! The audience
was in large part non-resident Indians who had arrived for the holidays. The interface was
lively and animated.
Our third performance in December was at Krishna Gana Sabha. Here again the response
was mixed but inspiring. Valuable insights provided by scholar/critic Sri Sunil Kothari were
immediately incorporated into the production.
AT BANGALORE
Performed during the annual Sharad Vaibhav festival organized by noted danseuse Pratibha
Prahalad in January 2000, "Adhirohana" was rated as one among the best of works of the
three-day festival. Since the audience had a great many dancers as well, the interface was
enthusiastic and lively. Pratibha herself rated the work as "Absolutely lovely!" The media
reviews were rapturous. We have even received an invitation to perform the piece in the
USA in 2001, besides other cities of India this year.