Vasundhara - Odyssey of a Dancer

George S. Paul

Okt 2019 · Notion Press

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Odyssey of a Dancer captivates the reader right from the first page as it portrays the insurmountable barriers Vasundhara had to cross during the spirited journey to become a world-renowned Bharatanatyam artiste. Even as the nuances of the dance form are dealt with in depth, the book strives to underscore that tradition is not static. The insatiable urge for improvisations to enhance the aesthetic appeal of Bharatanatyam by incorporating elements of Yoga, the martial arts of Tang-Ta and Kalarippayattu and the sacrifices she had to make in this endeavour, makes the book a class of its own. As for Yoga, her exploits in ferreting out the intrinsic components and further correlating them to the fundamental parameters of Bharatanatyam are path-breaking. On the academic front, they provide enough grist to the research-mill that is unprecedentedly active at present in Indian classical dances. Vasundhara’s artistry is a testimony of the interdisciplinary approach to Bharatanatyam, as vouched by critics across the globe. The book further delves deep into the definition of a Guru and his/her role in moulding and influencing the disciples to get the best out of them in every walk of life – something all GenNext teachers must take note of.

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George S Paul (G S Paul) is a professor of Physics and an Art Journalist and Art Critic of repute. For the last three decades and more he has been a regular contributor of reviews, interviews and articles to the national dailies and magazines. His papers on performing arts presented in national seminars have been seminal and thought-provoking. An authority of Indian music, dance and dance-theatre forms, he has promoted many a young talent across the country. His book Swarangalude Sastram (Malayalam) dwells on the evolution of music from pre-historic times and explains the niceties of the raga system and the intricacies of harmony of the Classical Western music on the basis of Physics. The book has gone into the fifth edition and is the only one of its kind. The Government of Kerala nominated him to the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, the Kerala Kalamandalam and also to its award committees several times. The Kerala Kalamandalam Deemed to be University honoured him with the Mukunda Raja Puraskaram for his commendable services for promoting artistes of all hues. A deft organiser of cultural festivals and workshops, Prof Paul’s lectures on music and Art Journalism have captured the attention of many art training institutions.