We are delighted to welcome Mavin Khoo to curate this event for our Midday Mantra: Dance Series (which will be broadcast live on Sampad’s Facebook page) and he is thrilled to present two exceptional dancers, Divya Ravi and Pallavi Anand.
Mavin Khoo is internationally recognised as a dance artist, teacher, choreographer and artist scholar, Mavin Khoo tours with a focus on solo Bharata Natyam performances and specifically commissioned contemporary duet works. He also acts as Rehearsal Director to Akram Khan (Company).
Divya Ravi presents a thrilling performance choreographed by Mavin Khoo – an excerpt from a Tanjore Quartet Varnam that explores unabashed love and romanticism, interweaving verses from a Narayanateertha Tarangam and Madhurashtakam. Combining poetry, classical dance and music, the unmissable performance will feature vocals rendered by the renowned Dr. Sharan Subramanian.
Divya has performed at coveted dance festivals in India, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kuwait, Hong Kong, the UK and China. Her solo works Manjari, Sarvasya, Poems of Love, Saarini and Narmada have been lauded for their thought-provoking premise and creative choreography. Divya’s sound technique stems from rigorous formative training under the guidance of Sri. Kiran Subramanyam & Smt. Sandhya Kiran, Dr. Soundarya Srivathsa, and mentoring in Abhinaya under Smt. Bragha Bessel. She is also intensively trained in the Navarasa Sadhana actor training module under Sri G Venu, and she continues to explore her artistic pursuits in the UK, actively training with Sri. Mavin Khoo.
Pallavi Anand starts her breathtaking performance with an invocatory dance in praise of Lord Vishnu in his various avatars as Rama, Venkateshwara and Krishna. Following this will be a nritta or abstract dance piece, Jathiswaram, which highlights intricate adavu sequences alongside the repetitive musical notes.
Pallavi’s training in Bharatanatyam began and developed with her mother, Smt. Shalini Shivashankar (Director of Upahaar School of Dance, London) from the age of 5. She continued to complete her arangetram or graduation in 2008 and later received further guidance in Chennai at Bharata Kalanjali School of Natya, founded by the Natyachaaryas, the Dhananjayans and Smt. Bragha Bessel. She is the winner of Akademi’s YUVA 2016, South Asian Youth Dance Competition and has presented solo, duet and group recitals in the UK, India, Canada, Latvia and Dubai. Pallavi continues to train and find her voice in dance under the mentorship and guidance of Sri. Mavin Khoo.
This event will be broadcast live on Sampad’s Facebook page on Saturday 19 December, from 12pm.
Image (from left to right): Pallavi Anand, Mavin Khoo and Divya Ravi.