I find this clip incredibly moving. Srimathi Balasaraswathi was one of the last authentic Devadasi performers of Bharatanatyam. Old and stiff from poor health, she still moves with such grace and feeling. She finally reached the beach at Udupi to perform before the idol of her dear Krishna. When she passed away, a great part of the heritage of pre-reform, pre-gentrified Bharatanatyam dance went with her. She was actually a living treasure and repository of knowledge passed down through generations of Devadasi and Isai Vellalar dancers, composers, singers and nattuvanars... There are very few clips of her dancing or singing and all are of poor quality. I wish wed had better technology to preserve these things back then! Weve lost so much. (Sometimes she would sing while dancing, but in this clip her voice is added afterwards).
Posted on: Wed, 07 Jan 2015 01:46:55 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015