‘Nrityadhara 3’: A Bharatanatyam showcase

A Bharatanatyam showcase titled Nrityadhara 3, presented by Aayam and conceived and directed by Guru Sindhu Mishra, will be held at LTG Auditorium on June 5. The annual production brings together more than 100 dancers, ranging from beginners to senior disciples, in a celebration of learning, lineage and classical tradition.

Founded over two decades ago, Aayam has trained generations of dancers in the Bharatanatyam bani of Guru KN Dandayudhapani Pillai, a style known for its rhythmic precision, geometric movement vocabulary and dramatic expressiveness. The lineage, passed on to Mishra through her guru Sri K.N. Dakshinamoorthy, remains central to the group’s pedagogy and choreographic approach.

The evening opens with Guru Stuti inspired by Meerabai, performed by senior disciples, followed by Chatusra Alarippu, which reinterprets the traditional invocatory form through the distinctive aesthetic of the bani. The programme then moves through a Jatiswaram in Ragamalika set to Misra Chapu tala, highlighting rhythmic complexity and structured movement.

Abhinaya takes centre stage with Krishna Nee Begane Baro, performed by senior disciple Arundhati Chakravarty, portraying Yashoda’s affectionate search for Krishna. This is followed by Shivashtakam, based on Adi Shankaracharya’s hymn, combining nritta and expressive storytelling to depict Lord Shiva as Nataraja.

Another highlight, Sogsuda, explores the emotional journey of separation and longing experienced by a nayika, while younger dancers present Angikam Bhuvanam and Mushak Vaahan, showcasing devotional invocations dedicated to Shiva and Ganesha.

The performance concludes with Kalinga Nartana Thillana, depicting Krishna’s dance on the serpent Kaliya. The finale, performed by senior disciples, blends intricate rhythm and energetic choreography in a vibrant closing segment.

For Sindhu Mishra, Nrityadhara is not only a performance but also a reflection of the learning process itself, where discipline, devotion and creativity come together. The production brings together over 100 students, each contributing to a collective expression of Bharatanatyam’s living tradition.

When: June 5; 6 PM onwards

Where: LTG Auditorium, New Delhi