Shakti Dance - "Gods, Demons and Yogis"

New Works and Vancouver 2010 Cultural Olympiad presented Shakti Dance performance of "Gods, Demons and Yogis". Ancient tales of southeast came to life with a performance by Anusha Fernando of Shakti Dance accompanied by another dance, a storyteller and musicians. Shakti Dance was incorporated as a nonprofit society in August 11, 2004 to promote the ancient classical Indian dance known as Bhrata Natyam. Bhrata Natyam originated in the temples of South India and was performed by women who were named Deva-Dasis as a form of devotion. The dance tells stories of ancient myths, gods and the divine.

I was moved by the music which seem to lend itself out the mood of the story. I could feel the sadness, joy, fear and anger sing out in the drums, the flute, violin, cymbals, tambourine and other wondrous string instruments. The beauty of the storytelling was portrayed by the dancer with the quick and slow movements in the eye and hands. I feel drawn into her emotions. The dancer was often low and grounded moving stealthily through space and time. I liked the storytelling. I felt again like a child sitting at storytime only the stories told were ancient, timeless and appealed to all ages. This form of dance and storytelling is so magnetic because they derive from the beautiful writings of ancient Sanskrit poets. I saw one writing from the Shakti Dance website about ancient myth and I fell in love with longing for the divine.

We bow to Lord Shiva,
Whose limbs are the world,
Whose song and poetry is the essence
Of all language,
Whose costume is the moon and stars.

-Abhinaya Darpana