The Porous Earth: A Thematic Dance Presentation By Kiranmayee Madupu & Priya Premanand

Renowned Bharatanatyam Guru, Smt. Hemamalini Arni, presents two of her senior students in a dance production choreographed by her. The Porous Earth/ a poem from Smt. Tejdeep Kaur Menon's third anthology, 'Minnamini' traces the compelling and moving journey of a river from source to sea.

Born in the pristine snow-clad mountains, she meanders down the slopes, drops down as cascades, cuts through mountains, giving them the shapes we know. Her rich waters bring forth life in many ways, her lapping waves bring happiness to many lives.

But...man chooses to curtail her carefree, life giving flow. His mighty dams halt, redirect her course against her will, going against what Nature has preordained for her. Man further denies her a peaceful journey by sullying her pristine waters with pollutants. Revered as a life giver once, she is despised today for her squalid depths. Yet, she surges forth undeterred. Determined to be one with the waiting sea.

The choreography, set to an original music score by Sri Ravi Kiran, depicts the river narrating her story through the medium of an alter ego. The narration is being done live on stage by the artiste.

The Choreographer
Guru Hemamalini Ami's association with Bharatanatyam dates back to over six decades.

She trained under two of India's most revered stalwarts, Smt. T Balasaraswathi and Sri Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai. Her teaching career spans over forty years having produced several exceptional performing artistes today. She has choreographed several acclaimed ballets over the years.

The Poet
Smt. Tejdeep Kaur Menon is a police officer by profession and poet by passion. She has published four anthologies - 'Caught in a Stampede,' 'Five Feet Six and a Half Inches,' 'Minnaminni' and 'Oysters in Pain' - assessed in at least three books by academics on critical perspectives, trends and techniques in contemporary Indian English Poetry. Select poems have been published in international collections of poetry from India including 'Dance of the Peacock' and 'Swarnarekha.' Poems 'What About Me' and 'An Easel Called Life' were presented earlier as Bharatanatyam ballets.

The Dancers
Kiranmayee Madupu is one of her senior disciples and an upcoming talent in Bharatanatyam. She has performed in various reputed festivals and venues across India and abroad. She also teaches Bharatanatyam and promotes arts and culture through her cultural foundation, Hema Arangam.

A senior disciple of Smt. Hemamalini Arni, Priya Premanand has danced for many reputed sabhas in Hyderabad and has participated in ballets choreographed by her Guru. She regularly comperes for dance recitals. She is a founder-director of AnandaPriya, a foundation to promote arts and the appreciation of arts.