This semester, I have started learning Sanskrit literature in Bharata Natyum. One of the pieces with literature is called Shabdum. This pieces consists of four stories of Krishna. Each story is separated with a short interlude of pure dance. The four stories are of Krishna stealing clothes, Krishna stealing milk, Vishnu and Laxmi, then also Krishna's embarrassment because of all of his pranks.
The first story is of how Krishna stole clothing from a group of maidens. This story has four variations in the telling. The first two narrate, the third is the perspective of the maiden and the third is Krishna stealing the clothes. I like pretending to be him; I like hoping around with my flute (just a hand gesture) and I like pretending to be the maiden as she creeps into the river. I like using the facial expressions seeing as it is not something I have ever done in class.
The second story is of how Krishna threw a rock at pots that contained milk. This story has two variations in gesture. They take the same point of view, both are fun.
The third is about how Krishna teases women. There is a cow herder woman, and she is teased by Vishnu. She scolds Vishnu (Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu) for teasing her. This story also has two variations from the same point of view.
The fourth is about how Krishna thinks that they world is laughing at him, so he hides in a cave in Kerala. The story has one variation, and ends with a prayer to the gods.
Each story is separated by a small section of dance. The count is an eight count and the same pattern starts and ends the piece.
This type of dance is so strange and new to me. I have never had to act. The facial expressions sometimes feel very ridiculous, but it is very fun. I have learned how to better control my face and my hand gestures. Precision is required to properly tell these stories.
The first story is of how Krishna stole clothing from a group of maidens. This story has four variations in the telling. The first two narrate, the third is the perspective of the maiden and the third is Krishna stealing the clothes. I like pretending to be him; I like hoping around with my flute (just a hand gesture) and I like pretending to be the maiden as she creeps into the river. I like using the facial expressions seeing as it is not something I have ever done in class.
The second story is of how Krishna threw a rock at pots that contained milk. This story has two variations in gesture. They take the same point of view, both are fun.
The third is about how Krishna teases women. There is a cow herder woman, and she is teased by Vishnu. She scolds Vishnu (Krishna is an avatar of Vishnu) for teasing her. This story also has two variations from the same point of view.
The fourth is about how Krishna thinks that they world is laughing at him, so he hides in a cave in Kerala. The story has one variation, and ends with a prayer to the gods.
Each story is separated by a small section of dance. The count is an eight count and the same pattern starts and ends the piece.
This type of dance is so strange and new to me. I have never had to act. The facial expressions sometimes feel very ridiculous, but it is very fun. I have learned how to better control my face and my hand gestures. Precision is required to properly tell these stories.
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