“The Goddess“ , Rukmini Vijayakumar

“The Goddess“ By Raadha Kalpa Dance Company (excerpt from ’SUNDARI’) 3 city tour , Supported by Cycle Agarbatti Chennai: Oct 20th Bangalore: Nov 10th Hyderabad: Dec 17th Tickets Chennai: Bangalore & Hyderabad: The Goddess A Raadha kalpa Production By Rukmini Vijayakumar The archetype of power, strength and victory in india is depicted by a female form. Kali, Devi and Durga are the forms of goddess Parvati that represent strength and power. In most cultures, the representation of power is always held within a male form, but the goddesses in the Hindu pantheon carry the metaphor for courage amongst various other essential aspects of life. Knowledge & creation, wealth, nourishment and sustenance, strength, power, art, beauty, grace and kindness are all represented by the many goddesses. The production features three compositions that explore these various aspects of the Goddesses. SUNDARI Featured artist & Composer: Ambi Subramaniam The indian goddesses are adorned with pearls, rubies and diamonds, bedecked in jewellery and draped in flowing silks. They have long hair that billows like the clouds, beautiful voluptuous bodies, bangles around their delicate wrists and anklets that tinkle when they walk. The goddesses are seen as sensual, beautiful, graceful yet powerful. MANONMANI Featured artists & Composers: Sunaad Anoor & Anoor Vinod Shyam From thought comes creation. The creator and created are both Devi. They have no distance from one another, and yet they seem separate from one another. Birds take flight, flowers bloom, rivers flow, mountains rise and life begins as Devi gracefully walks. The rhythm of the universe begins. MAHARAJNI Featured artists: Keerthana Vaidyanathan & Raghuram Rajagopalan Composer: Raghuram Rajagopalan Power in a female form, in the modern world is often depicted without sensuality. A sensual woman in the contemporary world is objectified by commercial media. The indian goddesses hold power while also being sensual and sexual. Kali possesses supreme beauty while simultaneously exuding strength and ferocity. Maharajni, is the ruler of the universe. She instills fear while also being the kindest and most loving. Choreography & Direction Rukmini Vijayakumar Rehearsal Directors Padmashree & Asokavadhani Dancers Rukmini Vijayakumar Padmashree Asokavadhani Anusha Yash Priyadarshini Rajendran Samyuktha Jujare Surabhi Gopal Reanna Ranjan Manasvee Gupta Light Design Gyandev Singh Music Ambi Subramaniam : Violin Raghuram Rajagopalan : Vocals Sunaad Anoor : Percussion Anoor Vinod Shyam : Mridangam & Percussion Photography & Videography: Vivian Ambrose