In conversation with Bijayini Satpathy, Director of the Odissi Gurukul at Nrityagram
Bijayini Satpathy is Director of the Odissi Gurukul at Nrityagram. This was an interview produced for and broadcast on TV in Sri Lanka, complementing the ½ hour interview I recorded and conducted for Groundviews in July 2009.
Expanding on some of the issues we talked about a year ago, Bijayini shared her views on how she negotiates, through her dance and in the interpretation of the form, the contest between modernity and tradition, her life and work at Nrityagram and what makes the school so special. We also talk about the parallels between Indian and Sri Lankan dance forms in general and her association with the Chitrasena and Vajira Kalayathanaya.
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Thanks for the wonderfull interview. Have seen Bijayini once in Edinburgh and was blown away. Well done Sanjana
On a parralal note.
I worry about calling Kandyan dancing Sri Lankan dancing. It is one of the many Sri Lankan dance forms. Bharata Natyam( a post colionial reconstruction like much of dance in South ASia) is also Sri Lankan dance. Deva dasis( temple dancers) were present in Vannar pannai Sivan Kovil and Nalloor Kandhaswamy kovil in Northern Sri Lnaka before the banning AND its subsequent revival . Its modern reconstruction – Bharata natyam is is very much a cultural heritAGE that Tamils and Sinahla practiioners in Sri Lanka take pride in.
In dance terms Kathakali and Theyyam from Kerala have the most similarities with Kandyan dancing.