Uttar Dakshin – The Ramayana Revisited will be performed in two halves: bharatanatyam and kathak, both performed by Singapore-based dancer Ponnamma Devaiah.
The timeless tales of the Indian epic Ramayana will be narrated through the two major Indian classical dance forms – bharatanatyam from the south and kathak from the north.
It will include verses from Ram Charith Manas by India’s lauded poet Tulsi Das and renowned composer Swati Tirunal’s Bhavayaami Raghuraama.
Ponnamma, who is well-versed in 15 Indian dance forms, has dedicated her life to both these exquisite dance forms for over 20 years, and aims to share the profound essence of the classic through this performance, which will feature original compositions.
The accomplished dancer studied bharatanatyam under Guru Minal Prabhu and kathak under Guru Maya Rao. Ponnamma is also trained in the ancient martial art forms of kalaripayattu from Kerala, thang ta from Manipur and ninjutsu from Japan.
Uttar Dakshin is elevated with the use of multimedia but retains the tradition and ethos in retelling the north-to-south journey of the Ramayana.
Celebrated choreographers Madhu Nataraj from India (kathak) and Shankar Kandasamy from Malaysia (baharatanatyam) have collaborated to craft a solo artist’s captivating portrayal of the Ramayana. The seamless fusion of the two dance forms brings a fresh perspective to the cultural history and milieu of this Indian epic.
