Pushpanjali Workshop

Pushpanjali – ‘offering of flowers’ invoking the gods is one of the oldest choreographies in Indian Dance. This 3 hour Workshop takes you to Hindu temples and royal courts of Tamil Nadu where
hereditary devadasis performed their Pushpanjalis.
How did Pushpanjali look then and how does it look today on a contemporary stage?
An introductory documentary “Bala..” by Satyajit Ray traces the migration of Smt.T. Balasaraswati
and her family from the Tanjore royal court to the first urban, national and global stages. After this
introduction, discussion and dance choreography one from modern stages
in comparison with one ancient, ritual Pushpanjali from the Murugan temple in Tiruttani…
Workshop by Dr. Saskia Kersenboom and Meenakshi Dora Bittner
The workshop is free, registration is required.

Paramparai Arts was founded by Dr.Saskia Kersenboom
who combined her academic studies in Indian languages and culture at Utrecht University (NL)
with practical training in Karnatik music and dance in Chennai since 1975. Her Bharata Natyam
debut in the style of Smt.T.Balasaraswati took place in1989 with Guru Smt.Nandini Ramani.
Her PhD thesis (1984) Nityasumangali – Devadasi Tradition in South India is based on research,
fieldwork and training with devadasis in Tiruttani, Chennai, Tiruvarur and Tanjavur. In 1987
Nityasumangali was published by Motilal Banarsidass and has seen so far 6 editions.
Dr.Saskia Kersenboom is Member of the Executive Committee of the International Dance Council
CID-UNESCO.
Kala Samarpana founded by Meenakshi Dora Bittner
is an Indian Performing Arts School in Budapest, Hungary, an accredited member of the
International Dance Council CID-UNESCO. Dora studied several years Bharatanatyam in
Chennai and performed her debut in 2005 with Guru Kalaimamani Jayanthi Subramanian, senior student of Guru Padmasri Adyar Laksman. His school represents Kalakshetra Foundation established in 1936 by Smt. Rukmini Arundale.

Venue: Mára Sándor Culture House
Date: 29 April
Time: 13:30

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