Conference to explore physical, emotional and spiritual impact of natyam

The 19th edition of the conference will be held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, on December 21 and 22.

The convener of Natya Darshan, Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Murle, says, “Though Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest classical dance forms of India, many aren’t aware of its physical, emotional and spiritual impact. Natyam is very often thought of as a work that is presented on stage. There is a metaphysical distance between the limited self and unlimited imagination. We need to make dancers aware of the importance of developing a consciousness to understand the sensitivity of life, to explore the physical, emotional and spiritual impact of the art form.”

The current vice president of ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India), Priya tells that the conference is a homage to Bharatanatyam and the discussions would delve deeper into the evolution of the classical dance over time. “Can an artistic practice evolve one’s own consciousness? To understand this, we need to build our knowledge on the grammar, emotion, and soul of the form — not just natyam but everything that makes the natyam. As each element of art influences us and weaves our imagination and expressions, the capacity to evolve personally becomes stronger. As we explore the layers of poetry, through sangeetham and natyam — the ability to comprehend the intellectual and metaphysical state increases. Apart from touching upon these nuances, the conference also addresses practical issues and contemporary concepts. All the sessions in the conference have been carefully crafted to deepen the consciousness and sensitivity towards the art form,” she adds.

The two-day conference will be having discussions, lecture demonstrations and performances by Bharatanatyam exponents.