Natya Institute’s course in choreography
The Hindu
The Natya Institute under Madhu Natraj has restructured its courses for online teaching
As a participant at the dance improvisation programme held as part of the American Arts Festival, New Delhi, Madhu Natraj was told to show the many ways in which the index finger can be moved. Impressed by the young girl’s imagination, the mentor told her, “If the three joints of your index finger can be used to express, think of the limitless permutation and combination of movements you can create using all the muscles and joints of the body. This is the power of dance.” For someone who was not keen to pursue dance professionally, these words made a huge impact and Madhu found her calling in the performing arts. Daughter of renowned Kathak dancer and choreographer Maya Rao, she went beyond the training and structured repertoire to explore dance on her terms, finally going on to head the Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography that her mother, along with Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, had started in New Delhi in 1964. It was moved to Bengaluru at the behest of the late Karnataka Chief Minister Ramakrishna Hegde. Later, Madhu launched the STEM (Space, Time, Energy, Motion) Dance Kampni, to focus on contemporary choreography. “I combined martial arts and yoga with Kathak. Since I choreographed my first production in 1995, I have always collaborated with other disciplines like sculpture, painting and theatre to offer a wholesome experience to the audience.”More Related News