Narrating traditional Indian stories through dance production

An alumna of Kalakshetra Foundation, the multi-faceted personality will be presenting her critically acclaimed dance production called Tales From the Bull and the Tiger in Chennai on November 29 at Bharata Kalakshetra Auditorium, Kalakshetra Foundation. Though she has performed at her alma matter before, every time she feels excited to come back to her ‘second home’.

“Bringing a dance performance with 25 artistes is an exciting process for me. We will be presenting an 82-minute production called Tales from the Bull and the Tiger. We will be narrating traditional stories from the perspective of a bull and a tiger in Sanskrit and Tamil and little English to connect the links. What are these tales? Whose stories will they tell, and to whom? What are the narratives they will choose? How will they bring to life, centuries of knowledge, wisdom, philosophy, poetry and music? — the audience will get an answer to all these questions when they watch the production,” says Ananda. 

Her group choreographies have been acclaimed as lyrical, sublime, graphic beauty in motion, thought-provoking and daring by many critics. “Teaching dance to young aspirants at my dance institution Shankarananda Kalakshetra rejuvenates me. I pass on a tradition to a younger generation and am very gratified to see youngsters make stunning debuts and strike out as performers and teachers,” explains the classical dancer. In 2008, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and Ananda says that dance helped her deal with the illness. “I didn’t stop dancing even while going through treatment. What I wish to convey through my life is that one shouldn’t give up on their passions and dreams. Hold on to them and nurture it,” she says.

A senior officer in the Indian Railway Traffic Service, Ananda has explored both traditional and contemporary areas in dance. The dancer says that everybody is a multi-tasker and it depends on the way we look at life and how we deal with it.