Saturday, September 27, 2014

Brazil : Love knows no colors ..

 People watching has been my favorite pastime since I landed in Brazil. I could sit endlessly and just watch the people going by. A mind boggling mix of African, South American, Native American and European people. Brazil is the ultimate melting pot of world cultures!




You can find all shades of skin color from the lightest to the darkest ivory. All types of hair color and texture. Each person had an unexplainable beauty. My brain would jump at solving the 'ancestry' jigsaw puzzle.

The men are handsome with amazingly fit bodies and a soft, gentle face which make them even more attractive. The women are vivacious, brown skinned with curly hair and soft curvacious bodies and a generous, warm smile. It appears that the brazileiros are the most masculine men on the planet and the brazileiras, the most feminine.

What makes these people so unique? I figure it is ..
  A spontaneous and free flowing expressiveness
 The camaraderie and warmth that comes straight from the heart  
 A passionate love for music and dance
 A love for the sun, sports and the outdoors and
 
An intense love of life that resonates in every cell in the body !

Monday, September 22, 2014

Bharatanayam - Grade 1 Exam

Syllabus from Thamil Isai Kalaa Manram of Ontario (Dance Examination 2014)

THEORY (Oral test only)
1) Namaskaram and its importance
2) Dhyaana Shlokam
3) Mudras - Asamyuta Hastas
4) Explanation of Bhava, Raga, Tala 

PRACTICAL
1) Thattadavu (Total:8)
2) Nattadavu (Total:8)
3) Tha Thei Thei Tha (Total:4)
4) Kudhithu (Jump) Mettadavu (Total:4)
5) Theiya Theiyie (Total: 4)
6) Thath Thei Thaha (Total: 4)
7) Thath Thei Tham (Total:6 only 2 of these are included for Grade 1)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

THEORY

1) Namaskaram and its importance:
Namaskaram (Obeisance) is the traditional way to start and end a dance practice or a performance. The dancer pays respect to the Lord, Guru and the audience and asks for forgiveness from Mother Earth for stamping on her during the dance. The dancer also prays for protection to the Ashta Dikpalas, the eight deities that guard the eight quarters of the world.

2) Dhyaana Shlokam
In Sanskrit Dhyaana means “meditation” and Shlokam means “prayer”. It is a tradition to start a dance practice with a recitation of the Dhyaana shlokam.
Angikam Bhuvanam Yasya  ( Whose body is the entire Universe)
Vachikam Sarva Vangmayam (
Whose speech is all the language of the Universe)
 Aaharyam Chandra Taradi (Whose ornaments are the moon and the stars)
Tam Numah Saattvikam Shivam (
Him, we bow to, that pure Lord Shiva!)
Word for word meaning: Angikam : body , Bhuvanam : universe, Yasya : whose, Vachikam : speech, Sarva : all, Vangmayam : languages, Aaharyam : ornaments, Chandra : moon, Taradi : stars, Tam : Him, Numah : bow, Saattvikam : pure, Shivam : Lord Shiva 
Hand gestures used in Angikam Bhuvanam : uses a few special hand gestures 
Angikam : ( ? ), Bhuvanam : suchi, Yasya :  ( ? ), Vachikam : ( ? ), Sarva: patakam, Vangmayam: (mukulam to alapadmam), Aaharyam: ( ? ), Chandra : (alapadmam), Taradi: ( ? ), Tam : (suchi), Numah: (anjali), Saattvikam : ( ? ), Shivam: (ardhachandran, shikharam) 

3) Asamyuta Hastas (Single hand gestures - 28 mudras) 
Shlokam: || Patakas tripatako ardhapatakaha kartarimukhaha
Mayurasyo ardhachandrashcha arla shukatundakaha
Mushtishcha shikarakhyashcha kapittha katakamukhaha
Suchi chandrakala padmakoshakaha sarpashirstatha
Mrigashirshaha simhamukhaha kangulashcha alapadmakaha
Chaturobramarashchaiva hamsasyo hamsapakshakaha
Samdamsho mukulashchaiva tamrachuda trishulakaha
Ityasamyutahasta hastaanaam ashtavinshatiririta ||


The literal meaning and usage of the hand gestures. 
pathaka : flag -> natyarambham, night, river, clouds
tripathaka: a triangular flag -> Indra (both hands in tripatakam)
arthapathaka : half flag -> showing a branch
kartharimukha: scissors -> show lightning, separation of man and woman, disagreement
mayura : peacock -> vomiting, forehead, wipe away tears
ardhachandra: half moon ->moon, seizing the neck
arala: bent  -> drinking poison, nectar
shukathunda:  parrot's beak (? or head?) -> shooting an arrow
mushti : fist -> grabbing the hair, wrestling
shikharam: peak -> shiva lingam, manmatha
kapitham: wood apple -> lakshmi, saraswathi, milking the cow
katakhamukham: opening in a bracelet -> plucking flowers, wearing a pearl necklace
2nd katakhamukham: (double headed kapitham) : holding out a mirror, use both hands
3rd katakhamukham: mother
suchi : needle ->threatening, sun, twirl the hair, pointing at a distance, once upon a time
chandrakala: digit of the moon -> moon, face
padmakosha : lotus bud -> bowl of food, fruit, coconut
sarpashirsha : snake hood -> sandal paste, sprinkle
mrigashirsha : deer head -> animal's head
simhamukham : lion face -> used to show deer, drop of water
kangulam : lime (any fruit) -> bells, garland, white water lily
alapadmam: bloomed lotus -> beautiful, full moon, full moon, thinking about beauty
chaturam: four, square-> eye, color
bhramaram : bee
hamsasyam: swan beak-> eye brow, painting
hamsapaksham:swan wing
samdamsha: pincers
mukula: blossom
tamrachuda: cock
trishula: trident


4) Explanation of Bhava, Raga, Tala
The origin of the name Bharatanatyam came from 4 Sanskrit words Bha-ra-ta-natyam
Bha comes from Bhava, which means expression.
Ra comes from Raga, which means melody.
Ta comes from Tala, which means rhythm.
Bhava (Expression): Bhava is the emotional expression of the performer. It is a visual expression by which a dancer can convey her inner feelings. Examples: happy, dad, shy, anger, fear (navarasas)
Raga(Melody): A raga is identified by a particular combination of musical phrases (swaras) that gives it its unique melodic character, and expresses certain moods or emotions.Eg: Vasantha ragam
Tala (Rhythm): The tala is a rhythmic cycle containing a fixed number of beats. Talam provides the rhythemic foundation for the melodic structure.Eg Adi, Rupakam

PRACTICAL 
Thattadavu (Total 8)
 Right legLeft legTalam
1TheiyaThei 
2Theiya TheiTheiya Thei 
3Theiya Theiya TheiTheiya Theiya Thei 
4Theiya Theiya Theiya TheiTheiya Theiya Theiya Thei 
5Theiya Theiya Thei Thei ThamTheiya Theiya Thei Thei Tham 
6Thei Thei Tham ,, Thei Thei Tham ,,  
 Thei Thei Tham ,,Thei Thei Tham ,, 
7Thei Thei ThathThath 
 Thei Thei Tham  
8TheiThei 
 TheiThei 
 DhidhDhidh 
 Thie 

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Listen to the wind of change ..

I love reading quotes especially the ones that fit well with a particular situation in my life. It is a time of change for me as I make a career change. These quotes inspire me to embrace change and open myself to the new challenges and the new people I will meet.

The only way that we can live is if we grow; the only way we can grow is if we change; the only way we can change is if we learn; the only way we can learn is if we are exposed; the only way we can be exposed is if we throw ourselves out into the open. - C. JoyBell C 

The Scorpions song "Wind of Change" is playing in my head.
I follow the Moskva, down to Gorky Park, listening to the wind of change
An August summer night, soldiers passing by, listening to the wind of change
...
The future's in the air, I can feel it everywhere
Blowing with the wind of change

Take me to the magic of the moment, on a glory night
Where the children of tomorrow dream away, in the wind of change

Walking down the street, distant memories
Are buried in the past forever
....

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Twenty idyllic days

I am in the middle of a career change. The job where I spent the last decade is ending and my new job is yet to start. I now have the luxury of twenty idyllic days to spend as I please.

I want to ...
        slowdown and relax
        jog along the nature trails and enjoy the fall season
        hang around a lot with my kids, in the parks and trails    

        watch movies and chat with my husband
        read and browse to my heart's content
        leisurely practice my dance and violin
        meet friends and neighbors

        spend time with my parents 
        enjoy the chance to visit Salvador, Brazil