In a tribute to the International Dance Day, exponent of Manipuri dance Sanjib Bhattacharya rendered a performance in the morning sea breeze under the rising sun.
“It is for the first time I am performing on the beach overlooking the Bay of Bengal, though this is my third visit to the City. It was an exhilarating experience to be so close to nature and pay tribute to Lord Surya,” he told The Hindu .
Performing to a limited audience in such an ambience was a treat as I could dance naturally without having to be conscious of the expectations of the audience of a packed hall.
It was emotionally satisfying, he said.
“I performed Suryanamaskar as a bhakta and not as Lord Krishna, which is what I become after I don the attire,” he explained. Violin maestro A Satya Vishal gave an impromptu accompaniment to Mr Bhattacharya’s Suryanamaskar.
The three-tiered stage was not a hindrance to the Manipuri dance maestro who with grace flitted over the steps. “It was as though he was aware of the steps. It was an amazing performance,” Kanchi Kamakoti Peetham Asthana Vidwan Parupalli Satyanarayana who along with his father Carnatic guru Parupalli Sri Ramachandra Murthy was among the handful of rasikas who attended the performance.
Founder trustee of Tarakeswara Foundation Sehdev Singh who organised the performance was present.
Some of the morning walkers on the beach road also took a break and watched the performance.
Earlier, A Satya Vishal gave a violin concert. He was accompanied by Mullapudi Raja Lakshmana Rao on the Mridangam.
‘It was exhilarating experience to be so close to nature and pay tribute to Lord Surya