Nimagna, a spiritual odyssey through Bharatnatyam by Delhi-based Ganesa Natyalaya

Nimagna, a spiritual odyssey through Bharatanatyam weaves together four segments in a 75-minute immersive dance production.

“As the soul merges with the divine, the boundaries of existence dissolve, and the universe becomes one.” The quote sets the tone for Nimagna, a dance production that weaves together four distinct segments to create a spiritual odyssey. Choreographed by Bharatanatyam exponent Rama Vaidyanathan and performed by an ensemble of 25 talented dancers from Delhi-based Ganesa Natyalaya, the 75-minute production is an immersive experience that delves into the depths of spiritual emotion.

Presented by Parampara, the dance production was held on the shores of Ramakrishna Beach in Visakhapatnam on Maha Sivaratri evening. Rama Vaidyanathan, president of Ganesa Natyalaya says, “The inspiration has been to create an ensemble work in Bharatanatyam that can have emotional as well as visual imagery.” The sequence of four segments began with Guru Stotram, a poignant tribute to the institution’s founder, Saroja Vaidyanathan, on the occasion of Ganesa Natyalaya’s 50th anniversary. The invocation set the tone for the rest of the performance.

The second segment, Tribute to Devi, was a homage to the feminine divine, extolling the virtues of the Goddess through a keerthanam, celebrating the feminine principle, acknowledging its power and grace.

Taking the audience on a journey to the sacred city, Kashi, the third segment, explored the complexities of human emotions and the transformative power of spirituality. In this segment, the choreography explored the divine and transformative energies of Kashi, where devotees seek absolution and a sense of peace.

An exploration of the cosmic dance of Lord Krishna and Gopikas, the final segment Raasa Leela, was a sublime presentation of the universal human yearning to unite with the Supreme Power. This piece was a masterful depiction of the cosmic dance, where the boundaries between the individual and the divine dissolve, and the dancers become one with the universe.

Ganesa Natyalaya, which was founded by Saroja Vaidyanathan in 1984, has nurtured over 315 arangetrams, with both Indian and international students. Over the years, the Natyalaya has also been dedicated to uplifting underprivileged communities through collaborations with NGOs like the Guild of Service, Aravindam Foundation, and SARVAM, providing Bharatanatyam training to deserving students.