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Apsara 2 set for May 23
Last year, Apsara pounced on the dance scene like a maddening lion on a quest to devour; they wanted to push the boundaries of dance, particularly Indian dance, and to erase the myth somehow that Indian dance needs to be conservative.
They wanted to prove that the intricate dance forms of India could be experimented with and fused with enough ‘masti’ to bring the house down. For Apsara, dance forms such as Kathak need not be reserved for the admiration of those interested in Kathak. Rather, dance, in whatever its form, should entertain beyond the borders of race, class and creed.
Last year, they achieved that with brilliance. This showed in particular in the choreography titled “Flamenco-Natyam.” In what could have easily been mistaken for a violent Pasa Doble with its dramatic flair and high energy performance, dancers in flowing red attire tangled with the highly-costumed Kathak dancers for supremacy.
It was a beautiful example of the “fusion” that came to exemplify the entire performance. And so while there was the experiment with Indian dance, the production was flavoured with the exotic and tantalising dance moves of the Arab world and the street moves of the American ghetto.
Even in set, they achieved excellence. There was the luxury of the royal courts of the Mughal Empire and then there was the inspiration of the ‘mahkhana’, where the nawabs (princes) would invite the highly-cultured courtesans to humour them with sweet poetry and alluring dance.
This year, director of Apsara Chandini Ramnarine says the choreographers have taken more liberties to produce a show that will leave the audience spellbound. There is no reason to doubt they will deliver.
Apsara has emerged as a force to reckon with and no other dance production has done as much for the world of dance that they have in just one year.
Guyana has come to be accustomed to typical dance theatre, which focuses on dance from a particular region; Apsara goes beyond to grab influences from the world and create their own choreographies, rather than mimicking what is seen in music videos.
With Apsara, world music suddenly becomes appealing, thanks to dance team that is bent on being different. And that’s perhaps their greatest strength. They are not content with being comfortable.
“If the previous shows are a guide, then we can expect a performance that will be a resounding success, marked by stunning sets and costumes, beautiful choreography and a strong performance by a talented young company of dancers,” Ramnarine says.
This year, Ramnarine says she has had help from seasoned dancer Kiran Mattai, and her sisters Padmini Rambalak (reigning Miss India Guyana Worldwide) and Lucria Rambalak. Last year’s show was taken to Berbice and the group has also performed to a sold-out show at the Pegasus.
The show has also served as a springboard for an arts and entertainment magazine bearing the title of the show. The third edition of the magazine will be released on the night of the second Apsara dance production.
Apsara 2 comes to the National Cultural Centre on May 23. (Neil Marks)
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