Dance studies across genres require multiple approaches for an understanding of the sociological, phenomenological, political, cultural, philosophical and aesthetical practices that influences the dance's kinesthetic and existential character. In the context of Bharatanatyam, the moment of explaining shifting ideologies and its impact on the form, content and process, is a moment of convergence, of past and present, dancer and society. This convergence has been so enduring that while dancers' have found new ways of expressing in the language of Bharatanatyam, recourse is taken to the traditional texts for understanding the tenets of its practice. The second, revised and updated edition of Message in Movements, 'Abhinaya Darpanam, An Illustrated Translation', attempts for the first time an illustrative description of the aesthetic movement/suggestion in Bharatanatyam so learners may reconnect and experience its unique definitional identity to its source in nature and reestablish practical-theoretical, subject- object connections. This edition collates verses from the two available translated and edited texts of Manmohan Ghosh (328 verses), and P.S.R. Appa Rao (814 verses). The detailed illustration of every nuanced element is presented to offer a paradigm for exploring and understanding the embodied art within the broader context of performance, representation and re-presentation.
Anita Vallabh Ph.D is an affiliate professor at the Theatre and Dance department, University of Hawaii; Visiting Scholar at MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science, Chennai; Certified Yoga Instructor, and the Creative Director of Aeka Academy, an Institution of Fine Arts. She is a widely travelled Bharatanatyam dancer with thirty eight years of performing and teaching experience. She received her doctorate from the University of Madras in 2002.
Anita is the recipient of the national Award for the best Dancer (1992-1993) from the National Hindi Academy, Calcutta, and was conferred the title of 'Kala Bharati'. In recognition of her work in propagating the art form in the schools at Yangon, the Tamil Association in Myanmar conferred upon her the title 'Bharatanatya Pracharamani'. In 2011 she received 'Certificate of Honor' from The Council of City and County of Honolulu.
She resides in Boston and is presently working on her fourth book.
Indian dramaturgy has had documented history of more than two thousand years. The earliest available treatise to this day is Bharata's Natyasastra. There have been many works on dance and drama after Bharata. Ali of them invariably followed the tenets of Natyasastra. While treatises of dance or dramaturgy have also included chapters of music in their content, treatises on music have included chapters on dance showing how dance and music have always been inseparable. In fact the body of a dancer is viewed as another music instrument with gestures and movements to embellish music. These nuances have lead to many more works dealing with various components of music and dance highlighting their interdisciplinary affiliations.
Then came a time when it was essential to author a treatise just confined to the movements and gestures in dance. Works like Hasta Lakshana Deepika, Hasta Muktavali are texts dealing with various hand gestures. Abhinaya Darpana occupies a very unique position among such focussed works dealing with abhinaya. There have been translations and commentaries to this work in many Indian languages with regional emphases. With the advent of technology and with many non- Indian students learning Indian Classical dances, there is a need for a practice oriented theory book by a teacher and a dancer.
Anita more than just fits into this slot being herself a performing artiste, a teacher, a choreographer, a researcher and above all as one who has been teaching foreign students. The fact that this book is in its second edition is in itself a proof of its usefulness. The second, revised and updated edition of Message in Movements is an Illustrated Translation of the Abhinaya Darpanam. What Anita has been doing is to find ways to improve upon her first edition based on the feed back she received from various sources and based on what she herself felt could make it more useful.
For privacy concerns, please view our Privacy Policy
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Manage Wishlist