Kalavaridhi Annual Day 2007

Glittering outfits, artfully angled hands and dancing dedicated to a higher purpose. I think. I stumbled across this performance of Indian dance by serendipity. I snuck into the auditorium, as I saw a sign that said, «free» and a plate with candies. How inviting. There were ladies on the stage stomping their bare feet and dancing artfully. I love deep bucket seats and the hush hush of an auditorium (that weird kind of hush caused by music and all the focus on the stage). Most of the seats were empty. There were at least five video cameras on tripods. There were camera flashes popping. The stage was simple with a small shrine candle in one corner downstage.
I sat down and enjoyed the dancing. Each dance lasted about five minutes. In between, a charming young lady came out and explained the story of the next dance. Since I’m ignorant of most things Indian, I didn’t know the characters but I still enjoyed watching the ladies dance. They were not as ferocious about the angles of their head wobbles but as I am not an expert, that’s my only comment. It was pleasant. And free.
This performance (or workshop or ceremony?) was in the James Lee Center which seems to be a fairly unknown community center off of route 50. The center houses many disparate organizations and it’s a shame that it’s not more publicized.
As a tall elegant young woman of great importance was invited up on the stage, handed flowers, gifts and kudos, I snuck out of the auditorium. I picked up a brochure. The subject seems to have been Bharathanatyam (don’t ask me, it just said that it’s an art form, and that the guru teaches it «with zest and zeal») dance and the guest is a teacher, performer and do-​gooder.
I just liked that it was a free cultural experience. How sweet!