Rhythm's Expression

Abstract

I will choreograph an original dance that will be 15 minutes in length. I aim to present this work within the department's Winter Footholds January 2014, in the Earl Ernst Lab Theatre. I will fulfill the performance requirement of the degree with a solo in the same piece. Using Bharata Natyam movement vocabulary, this choreography will be my reP imagining of Bharata Natyam compositional elements that form the basis of "traditional" Bharata Natyam choreography. This choreography reflects my positionality as a Bharata Natyam practitioner. The three sections of the piece highlight the three components of Bharata Natyam movement. These are nritta, or pure/abstract movement, abhinaya, or modes of dramatic expression, and nrtiya or natya, the combination of both to convey a story. The movement for this piece is both abstractly and literally inspired a poem titled "World's Dance Stage," written by Tirupathi Chandrupatla. This poem describes the energy, beauty, and grace of various dance forms sharing a "world stage." I decided to use this poem as an underlying narrative as it poetically speaks to the root of my personal journey in dance, and in my life. The musical compositions used for this choreography are performed with music, and musical instrumentation, from various parts of India and outside of India to reflect the poem's title: "World Dance Stage."