It started in a slow pace and flow that screams Mohiniyattam. However, the sharp turns and jumps are so uncharacteristic of anything Indian. But then it shifts into the tiny foot movements inspired by Kathak. The energetic turns and twists come to an end all of a sudden in a practised pose we have seen on many a Kathak dancer. Thus concluded ‘Happiness? Identity’, the latest production of Anne Dietrich, the accomplished German danseuse whose Kathak recital followed by the western contemporary performance had the hundreds assembled at Chavara Cultural Centre in the city glued to their seats on Monday evening.
Ms. Dietrich, a culture and dance educationalist, has been trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance and jazz. Her interest in Mohiniyattam brought her to Kerala Kalamandalam in 2005 where she was trained under Kalamandalam Leelamma. She became a disciple of Pallavi Krishnan after graduation and then Bharathi Sivaji. She is also being trained in Kathak by Geethanjali Lal.
On Monday, Ms. Dietrich performed four pieces composed by Geethanjali Lal. Starting with a Ganesh stuti, she performed a piece on Mahadev and one on Kaliyamardhanam.
She concluded her Kathak session with a Tarana that showcased the technical aspects of the dance form through rhythmic pattens.
In the second session, she demonstrated how her training in Indian classical dance had influenced her contemporary performances, thereby creating her own inimitable style of dancing. The Western contemporary dance, she said, was devoid of any facial expressions and involved sharp body movements and gravity defying acts. But the influence of Mohiniyattam and Kathak has brought in the graceful flow which makes her style stand out.
After the performance, she had an interactive session with the students and dance enthusiasts of Kozhikode. The event was organised by Kabani Tours and Dyuthi, a dance studio headed by dancer Gayathri Madhusoodanan.
Ms. Dietrich, is a faculty of the National School of Drama, Delhi; founder of the German-Indian artist collective Prateeksha and Atmadhvani, and artistic director of Prospect Dance Company as well as TanzART - Center for Dance, Movement and Art.