With your mother’s overbearing force, many of you were introduced to Bharathanatyam at a delicate age. While some worked diligently in class, others dreaded the experience entirely. Growing up, I had absolutely no appreciation for this art form. My distaste was cultivated from the expectation to stay quiet in one lone chair for hours and hours, program after program. The idea of Bharathanatyam was tarnished for me, which remained the case until I revisited the art form in my University years.
On Sunday, July 27, 2014, students of Sathangai Narthanalaya put on a ‘Magical’ production at Markham Flato Theatre, reenacting some of our favourite Disney tales to raise funds towards two great charitable organizations – The Markham Stoufville Hospital and the South Asian Autism Awareness Centre (SAAAC). It was heartening to see the event sell out, knowing that the crowd’s presence was in support of a charitable cause and the meticulous effort put into the show. From the opening of the crimson red curtains to the final curtain call, I was thrilled.
Snow White, Belle, Mulan, Jasmine, Rapunzel, Pocahontas, Ariel, and Cinderella!
As a Disney enthusiast, I was interested to see the characters unfold on stage. How were these childhood classics going to be carried out? I was truly amazed at how well these girls were able to re-enact the princesses' stories by highlighting significant moments. From a plot perspective, everything was covered and was done so beautifully. There was just something about how the Seven Dwarfs were staged. It did not take long for me to fall in love with each and every one of them, including Grumpy. The Dwarfs are kind-hearted characters who looked out for Snow White and I was pleased to see them come to life. A few other moments that struck a chord with me include the conscription and training scenes in Mulan.
The music selection was excellent. Every pivotal moment was captivated with an appropriate instrumental that was a perfect balance of either familiar or unfamiliar music. I personally enjoyed the softer medleys, the jingles, and extra sounds that added to the experience. The familiar songs and complimenting production work was really what stunned the crowd. With regards to costumes, each dancer not only played the part, but looked the part also. A memorable aspect of the show was how well everyone complemented one another and brought the story to life – from the dancers representing all the colours of the wind, to the huntsman and beast, everyone performed with charm. What took me by surprise surpassing any preconceptions about the spectacle, was the usage of the fog machines, stage lighting, and the overall allocated time for each princesses’ story. It is difficult to forget the impact of Ariel’s underwater life through the special effects the theatre had to offer. There were just too many great moments to reflect on. I was left in awe throughout the entire production.
Bharathanatyam is one of the most oldest dance forms our world has seen. It is one that cannot properly be executed by anyone without reverence for both technique and spiritual life. Bharathanatyam is a composite art whose message is to the senses and far beyond, spiritually. Despite this, what these dancers from Sathangai Narthanalaya Students Association did was take their education from years of learning dance and shape it into a relatable production for all ages, while still staying loyal to the art form and respecting it thoroughly. To the team behind Magical 2014, thank you kindly for what you have done for dance and for the charities you sponsored. You should all be very proud of your beautiful work.
