With dusk approaching at Amphi-Sutra, Trinetra Seraikella Chhau (TSC) stage manager and Sutra Dance Theatre's (Sutra) lighting designer Sivarajah Natarajan position the stage lights.
The troupe's musicians join in to get a feel of the stage.
There! The stage is almost set ...
... and now for the dancers in quiet preparation in Sutra House's backyard-cum-backstage.
Now you know why the dancers are sitting on the floor! Bench space has been reserved for the Chhau masks, carefully removed from suitcases thickly lined with newspaper.
With red ink, dancers paint their feet and hands in the first of many costume rituals.
The first to start preparations, Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey is expertly fitted with swathes of cloth that ...
... help transform him into the character of a swan.
Jewellery comes next (see the video "Chhau 3") ...
... followed by the long-awaited moment of the wearing of the mask.
Besides the guru, the other dancers -- especially those playing female roles -- need help to tie their saris in a way suitable for dance.
Nope, no pre-sewn zip-up-and-go sari folds here!
Without much ado, troupe members help each put on their accessories.
Minutes before his turn, a dancer seeks blessings from the "wardrobe manager". If you work as a costume, make-up and hair crew member, I hope you're reading this!
Waiting in Amphi-Sutra's "wings", masks in hand for their moment on stage.
Keeping things going are the TSC musicians who are as celebrated as the troupe's dancers.
And the masks come alive! (See videos for more)
An entrancing solo ...
... that, together with everything else, goes towards a rousing applause when the dancers, musicians, crew and show organisers take a bow.
05. 11. 2007
Tembak Shots: Sutra Dance Theatre’s “Seraikella Chhau” by Veronica Shunmugam
The all-male troupe of six dancers and four musicians led by Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey Sri Narendra Kumar Suri have performed all over the world in an effort to promote and preserve the ancient dance. As such, they kindly allowed Kakiseni to record their hour-long backstage preparations and some parts of their repertoire.
If you were not able to catch the show, check out the glimpses backstage, in the wings and on the stage of one of India’s most famous masked dance that we’ve caught for you in photos and short videos.
Backstage of the Trinetra Seraikella Chhau dance at Sutra House, Kuala Lumpur, is where quite a bit of the action -- including some very expert sari tying -- happens.
A fellow dancer ties on ankle bells for Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey who has been fitted with his costume.
A dancer preparing for the role of the hunter in the upcoming piece "Sabara" (hunter) puts on his wig as the musicians begin to play the first song to applause.
In the “wings” of Amphi-Sutra, masks are worn only moments before the dancers’ turn on stage.
On stage, the masks find their mark.
Here is the piece everyone’s been waiting for; a swan-like dance called the "Hansa" performed by the troupe’s leader, Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey. Dancing in tribute to Nature is elemental to the Seraikella Chhau dance form and the "Hansa" refers to the swan's graceful movements on land and water.
A constant duet between mask and dancer is part of the charm of the Seraikella Chhau art form, as seen in this short segment of "Barasa Jhama Jhama" which reflects the joining of sky and earth during rain, and how this oft inspires lovers' longing to be united.
The final number, "Duryodhana - Urubhanga", is of the grim mace duel between Bhima and King Duryodhana on the climax of the epic Kurukshetra war. Duryodhana has insulted Bhima's wife, Draupadi, and an enraged Bhima takes on the arrogant ruler.
~~~
Veronica Shunmugam edits Kakiseni.
The Trinetra Seraikella Chhau dance troupe performed at Amphi-Sutra, Sutra Dance Theatre, Kuala Lumpur, from 26th to 27th October 2007.
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