Shri Ram Chandra

Another piece that I am performing is Shri Ram Chrandra, a poem by Shri Tulsidas.
Here is the transliteration into English:

॥ Sri Ramachandra kripalu ॥

Shri Ramacandra kripalu bhaju, mana, harana bhava bhaya darunam ।

navakanja-lochana kanja-mukha, kara-kanja pada-kanjarunam ॥1॥

Kandarpa aganita amita chavi, navalnila niraj sundaram ।

patapita manahu tarita ruchi suchi, naumi Janaka-sutavaram ॥2॥

Bhaju Dinabhandu Dinesha danava-daitya-vansha nikandanam ।

Raghunanda anandakanda, Kaushalachanda Dasharatha-nandanam ॥3॥

Sira mukuta kundala tilaka charu, udaru anga vibhushanam ।

ajanu bhuja shara chapadhar, sangrama-jita Khara-Dhushanam ॥4॥

Iti vadati Tulasidasa Shankara, Shesha munimana ranjanam ।

mama hridaya-kanja nivasa kuru, kamadi khaladala ganjanam ॥5॥

and here is a good translation of it:

O mind! Revere the benign Shree Ramachandra, who can remove the fear of rebirths ।

Who has fresh lotus eyes, lotus face and lotus hands, feet like lotus and like the rising sun ॥1॥

His image exceeds myriad Cupids, like a fresh, blue-hued cloud — magnificent ।

His amber-robes appear like lightning, pure, captivating. Revere this groom of Janaka’s daughter ॥2॥

Sing hymns of the brother of destitute, Lord of the daylight, the destroyer of the clan of Danu-Diti demons ।

The progeny of Raghu, limitless 'joy', the moon to Kosala, sing hymns of Dasharatha’s son ॥3॥

His head bears the crown, ear pendants, tilak on forehead, his adorned, shapely limbs are resplendent

Arms extend to the knees, studded with bows-arrows, who won battles against Khara and Dooshana ॥4॥

Thus says Tulsidas, O joy of Shankara, Shesh (Nag), Mind and Sages ।

Reside in the lotus of my heart, O slayer of the vices-troops of Kaama and the like ॥5॥

The poem is about Ram. Each line is performed twice and there are gestures that accompany each. For the first verse, the dancer forms a lotus with hands and gestures to the eyes, face, hands and feet. 

The gestures make the story come alive. I feel like I get to embody Ram and that I get to act like he does. I like making the facial expressions. For the first verse as well, for the first lines, I stand up very tall with a stern face whereas in the last verse, I gesture like I am writing the poem myself. 

Playing with gestures and emotions has been a fun challenge. First I had to be able to understand the Sanksrit before I could learn what how to gesture or make facial expressions. I have loved learning this and love it especially because this poem is very important to many Hindu people. The dance ties me to the religious culture.