Nangiar Koothu (Traditional Dance of India)

Directed by Gopal Venu
Performed by Kapila Venu and Natanakairali
25 June at 12:30
26 June at 16:30

Ellipse Theatre DAENDO, Shizuoka Performing Arts Park
Duration:90 minutes (expected time)
In Sanskrit with Japanese subtitles

Young genius dancer Kapila Venu’s 5th Shizuoka performance!
The one body that can embody the story of the God’s of India.
A stage of solemnity and tranquility.

Director Gopal Venu has brought back to life in the modern age, the ancient theater form called Kutiyattam, founding Natanakairali, a Research and Performing Center for Traditional Arts. His Daughter, Kapila Venu, is a Nangiar Koothu Dancer, a particular form inside of Kutiyattam portrayed by women. Still only in her twenties, she has completely captured her brilliant abilities, already performing in various countries, mesmerizing many a spectators. She has danced for us in Shizuoka 4 times as of now, and the uniqueness of her movements has already gained an amazing following.

The base themes for Nangiar Koothu are myths of the Hindu religion; most of them being stories of heroic Indian gods performing feats beyond human intellect in order to save the world. Stories of this stature are what Kapila takes on by herself every performance. With body and eye movements that have a language of their own, she pulls the audience into the mythical world, showing a range of emotions in the cracks between traditional concrete movements. The enthusiasm of the traditional instruments cannot be left out either. This time, the performance will be held in the “DAENDO”(Oval Hall). You don’t want to miss what enigmatic experience awaits you in the oval hall of the Indian gods.

Summary

Govardhanodharanam (Lifting the Govardhana mountain) A Shizuoka First

Lord Krishna, at the time still a boy, in order to crush Lord Indra’s pride, stops the sacrificial ceremony that the town’s cow herders were going to hold, and has them worship Mt. Govardhana instead. Lord Indra, the god of rain, becomes infuriated at this act and creates a storm to kill all of the town’s cows. However…

Parvati Viraham (Parvati’s Love Quarrel) A Shizuoka First

Lord Shiva’s wife, Goddess Parvati, becomes suspicious of Shiva’s relationship with the beautiful Goddess Ganga and argues with him about it. She leaves him, unable to stand the jealousy and anger she feels towards Ganga, when all of a sudden the evil god Lavana causes the earth to shake…

Endorsed by:EMBASSY OF INDIA