Indo-Italian dance duet binds diverse cultures

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru:

Love is universal, whichever part of the globe you come from. It is the thread of love that brings human beings together, and also binds diverse people coming from different nations and ethnicities. Bringing their unique cultural understandings of this complex emotion, the artists find distinctive as well as similar conceptions of love through music and dance from both countries.

The piece began with an exploration of love by Indian dancers and choreographers, Ayana Mukherjee (Kuchipudi) and Aranyani Bhargav (Bharatanatyam). It traced through abstract, yet technical Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi-based movements - the journey of love from its discovery of it, an exploration and blossoming of love, and finally fulfillment of love and beyond.

Both forms of dance are from southern India and have their origins in temple and court dancing. This was followed by a piece by Italian dancers Francesca Dario and Nunzio Perricone (choreographed by Michele Oliva and Francesca Dario).

The piece touched upon the question - How can you live as a couple in a relationship without misunderstanding, passion, and love? The finale was the coming together of the Italian and Indian artistes in an improvised culmination of a movement that embodies the ideas of love explored.

The music for Ayana and Aranyani was created by 'Fragment of Light' consisting of musicians Ganesh Krishnaswamy and Leslie Charles while the Italian dance duo used Italian composer Giovanni Sollima's music for their exploration of love. The finale also had Sitar player Dhruv Bedi creating music for the on-stage Indian-Italian collaboration