#kuravanji

Sivanmalai Kuravanji Dance Drama (Live Orchestra) The tradition of Kuravanji dance drama appears to be three hundred years old. It is usually performed by a group of female dancers attached to the temples (Devadasis) and the technique employed was the classical Bharatanatyam, known earlier as Dasi Attam / Sadir Attam. King Raja Raja Cholan, who was instrumental in building the Thanjavur Peria Koil employed circa 400 devadasis and it was their descendants who performed the Kuravanji dance-dramas. There is a special platform built at the Thanjavur Peria Koil called ‘Kuravanji Medai’ where the devadasis performed the Kuravanji dance drama. Most Kuravanji dramas has a set theme where the heroin falls in love with the Lord in procession and pines union with him. Seeing her plight, her sakhis (female friends) seek the advice of the gypsy women (kurathi) who predicts the future of the heroin’s union with her Lord. Sivanmalai Kuravanji Dance Drama is based on the presiding deity Lord Murugan of Subramanyaswamy Temple at Sivanmalai in Kangeyam, Tamil Nadu. The Kuravanji dance drama is performed in full Bharatanatyam format with some songs dance in folk style. The very first Sivanmalai Kuravanji Dance Drama was performed at Sivanmalai in the year 1994, choreographed by the famed Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee, Kalaimamani Guru B Herambanathan of Thanjavur. The Malaysian Chapter of Thanjavur Heritage Arts & Cultural Academy is proud to present the same dance drama, which is to be staged for the first time on Malaysian soil. #kuravanji #heritage #300yrsoldheritagedrama #devadasis #bharatanatyam #dasiattam #sadirattam #rajarajacholan #heritageofthegreatking #dancedrama #mohini&murugan #lovestory #lordmurugan #kurathi #gypsy #subramanyaswamy #sivanmalai #folkstyle #firsttimeinmalaysia #gypsydrama (at The Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur) https://www.instagram.com/p/B2cMl0jB8fM/?igshid=1rq0jbl5s912s

A student of Radha Ganesan's performing the role of a Korathi (gypsy soothsayer). It's interesting to watch pieces like Kuravanji and Kavadi Chindu and how Tamil folk dances and melodies are interpreted through the classical lens. The jathi towards the end of this piece strings together a few squat-kick movements which are common in folk dances, along with other classical Bharatanatyam adavus.

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"Kuravanji is a popular type of dance-drama distinctive to the Tamils performed mainly in temples. The word Kura refers to the tribe ˜Kuravas or Chenchus where the men where nomadic hunters and the women folk were reputed fortune tellers. The kuratti may convey a nomadic gypsy image, but the Tamil tradition accords a dignified place for the tribe with its own ethos and accomplishments. The word Anjia is derived from adavus which means traditional dances. A blend of classical and folk art forms, it is said to have originated around the 17th Century."