RHYTHMIC SHOWCASE (An Exploration of Kuchipudi Jati System)

On the occasion of Vijayadasami, 2020 

as a part of 

Silver Jublee celebrations of 

Gnana Saraswati Music & Arts Academy 

(Estd by Dr Mangamamba, 1995 & 

run by Vandana Turaga from 2008 at North Carolina) 

presented in a Zoom meeting

Rhythmic Showcase 

(An Exploration of Kuchipudi Jati System) 

hosted by Dr Anahita Bharadwaj, Denver,Colarado and Dr Swarnabala

Amala Turaga, Rashmita Ganti & Sangeeta Prayaga presented the Housekeeping details, timing of the participants & design of the flyer.

We acknowledge and thank the Special appearance by 

Satish Kolluri & Vijaya Ramam

The UNIQUE EVENT, as proclaimed by all, was attended by senior dancers, teachers, practitioners of Kuchipudi dance.  Over 20-25 participants have rendered a jati, by putting their own talam and nattuvangam, recorded the audio in their own voice and have danced to it so that there is no lag during the performance across the globe - Hyderabad, Patna, Warangal, Nellore, Colarado, California, New Jersey and many others places.

The purpose of the Showcase was served as the dancers rendered the jati in their own voice, put talam and learnt the nuances of the jati system by way of discussion and learings.

Several diploma, certificate candidates have taken active part by being present to learn, listen and ask questions to the seniors who were present there.  They have discussed on the construction of the jati system.  Different talas and gatis that are followed in the making of the jati in trisra, chaturasra, khanda chaapu, misra, sankeerna gatis and tals.

There were five sessions - two for chaturasra, one each for trisra, khanda chaapu, misra and one for mix of trisra, chaturasra, khanda etc.

Each of the sessions was chaired by a senior member and it started by them giving detailed knowledge of the gati in that tala.  How it is chosen in different kuchipudi style items - solo or in yakshagana or group or team level.  Each gati had at least 4-5 participants presenting their own jati, rendered by them in their own voice.  They played their own audio to avoid lag in performance.

 The program was as follows:

Session 1 (Chaturasra) 

Chairperson: Uma Vaijayantimala/Sudhamala

- Uma Vaijayantimala - spoke about jati system and given several examples in different gatis and talas and rendered a number of jatis

- Adira (Roopaka, Chaturasra)

- Abhinaya (Adi, Chaturasra)

- Swarnabala (Adi, Chaturasra)

- Sudhamala - spoke about number of books, literature and given examples in different items how chaturasra gati, and talam are structured

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Session 2 (Chaturasra) 

Chairperson: Rajani Malladi/Vijay Palaparty

- Pankajam Thyagarajan (Adi, Chaturasra)

- Lalita Sree (Adi, Chaturasra… audio)

- Rajani Malladi (Adi, Chaturasra - audio)

- Vijay Palaparty - has discussed the jati system and its dynamics in a team and given difference when it is done as a solo performance

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Session 3 (Chaturasra) 

Chairperson: Sabita Krishna/Jwala Srikala

- Sangita (Aadi, Chaturasra)

- Preksha (Swarajathi… Adi, Chaturasra)

- Reni Sreejith (Adi, Chaturasra… video)

- Sravani (Adi, Chaturasra)

- Jwala Srikala - spoke about the jati system, its construction and in general how rhythm forms a basis for a dancer to be a good dancer who is recognized and how a jati is like a heart beat

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Session 4 (Trisra, Khanda) 

Chairperson: Rama Devi/Padmaja Kuppa

- Hridya Rao (Khanda chaapu)

- Sruti (Khanda chaapu)

- Gangadhar (Adi, tristra)

- Vani Sri (trisra… audio)

- Rama Devi (Kanda chaapu) - spoke about the jati construction and how she has learnt and has composed so many of them herself

- Padmaja Kuppa (trisra - audio)

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Session 5 (Misra, sankeerna, mix) 

Chairperson: Radhika Krishnaji

- Priyanka (Sankeerna)

- Anahita (Adi, Chaturasra+misra+trisra)

- Swati (Adi, Chaturasra+trisra)

- Teja Kondapalli (Adi, Chaturasra + trisra)

- Radhika Krishnaji (Misra chaapu) - she has rendered a jati and explained its importance in different types of Kuchipudi dance items and given nuiances of the same in the construction of the same

Special appearance:  Vandana Turaga - has explained the sapta talas and the 35 melakarta talas that are prevelant in Karnatic music and their importance in the construction of jati.

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Open Discussion

 Several of the following questions were addressed in the Showcase.

■      Did you notice any interesting presentations today? What was unique about these presentations?

■      What constitutes a jati?

■      How to build a jati?

■      What are some differences in taalam selection and performance in Carnatic music and Kuchipudi dance?

■      Sollukattu as an integral part of the Kuchipudi dance-drama tradition (daruvu-s etc.)

 

On the whole, the Showcase has given a great in depth knowledge of the jati construction and made it very interesting to the participants, especially the younger lot.

Seniors have contributed a lot to the Showcase and were a great welcome by all the participants.

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