No. 10, Sri Labadie Colony in Chennai is abuzz with activity as preparations are underway to celebrate 50 years of Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) – Coordination. It is the grand home of Bharatnatyam exponent, guru and arts administrator Chitra Visvesvaran, who is turning 75 on October 12. It also doubles as an artistic space for CAPA.
Like the famous female trinity in Carnatic music, the names of experienced dancers in the field of Natyam, Padma Subramaniam, Sudharani Raghupathi and Chitra Visweswaran come to mind.
“Ever since I can remember, dance has been an intrinsic part of my existence,” says Chitra. At the age of three, her mother Rukmani Padmanabhan gave her dance lessons and then demonstrated her moves in Western classical ballet in London. An eclectic background covering Manipuri, Kathak, Rabindra dance and music, Carnatic music and theatre, propelled Chitra on an artistic journey of discovery at an early age in Kolkata. At the age of 10, she came under the tutelage of Thiruvidaimarudur TA Rajalakshmi and on April 12, 1962, she received the Arangetram.
advanced training
In 1970, after graduating with English Honors from the University of Calcutta, Chitra received a National Scholarship for advanced studies in Bharatanatyam from the Government of India. So she moved to Madras and spent four years learning from the legendary Vazhuvur Ramaiah Pillai. “If TA Rajalakshmi laid a strong foundation of grammar and technique, Vazhuvurer took me to unimaginable heights of creativity. His teaching methods were very unconventional. Vadyar, a great visionary, never saw or taught Bharatanatyam only at the physical level. He used analogies and awakened people to take inspiration from nature and life. ‘Think, think!’ He will say. I still follow his approach while teaching. At CAPA, I strive to help my students develop the seeing eye, the listening ear and the thinking mind.”
The scholarship period had expired and Ramaiah Pillai was unable to travel to conduct Chitra’s concerts. She recalls with sadness: “After much emotional trauma on both sides, he finally agreed to allow me to work independently, but circumstances prevented him from allowing someone else to do nattuvangam for those pieces. Stopped me from imparting what he had taught me. In those days there were hardly any freelance nattuvanars. So there I was, confused, with barely a month left before my next performance. With this a new chapter of my life began. I worked on refreshing Margams and expanding the repertoire. And given my background, I set out on a journey of discovery to expand my horizons in my chosen field.
With training in myriad dance styles, Chitra Visweswaran developed an individualistic philosophy of movement. , Photo Credit: Vedhan M
Soon, Chitra created her own curriculum, combining what she had learned from her gurus and knowledge of cognate forms of art, infusing them with an educational approach and developing an individualistic philosophy of movement. She was among the first women to tour abroad extensively and in the process trained herself and her students professionally in nattuvangam, acoustics and lighting design.
Her husband, R. Visvesvaran left his corporate career to involve himself fully in music. With his knowledge of the Carnatic and Hindustani systems as well as Western classical music, he began singing and composing music for their dances. Together they created many solo works, thematic presentations and group presentations. His style is characterized by its intensity, light leaps, flowing movements with pulsating pauses, rapid movements of the head and eyes, play of rhythms and cross rhythms, minimalistic but elegant jewelery and costumes, and intelligent coverage of space, subtle but communicative acting – all of which Is specific for. Expressing the joy of dance.
Dance class started in Chennai
Chitra Visvesvaran’s ‘Skandam’ presented by her students at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, T. Nagar on December 28, 2022. Photo Credit: Vedhan M
Fifty years ago, the versatile R. Two years after her marriage to Visvesvaran, with the support of her parents, the idea of starting dance classes in Chennai took shape in August 1974. Chitra started her dance classes in an informal manner in the drawing room of her home, which over time has evolved into her successful and fulfilling career in classical dance. The furniture in the room was cleared every time seven or eight children came to class. Within a year, the space for dance was appropriately formalized as the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts.
One of the first performances of Chitra Visvesvaran in Bonn in 1981. , Photo Courtesy: The Hindu Archives
Chitra was a popular and busy artiste, giving about 20 performances per month in India and abroad, but teaching was her passion and she wisely divided her time between dance and teaching. As the number of students increased, the dance classes were promoted from the drawing room to the more spacious and convenient dance hall on the first floor. Now, on the occasion of its golden jubilee, lectures are also being held in the aesthetically designed ‘Terracotta Terrace’ atop the house – suitable for chamber concerts.
Dancer Chitra Visweswaran and her students at CAPA, who will present the coordination in Chennai. , Photo Courtesy: Ravindran R
As the organization enters its 50th year, CAPA is hosting a series called Coordination. “I have always seen art as a totality. This is the coordination I have chosen to establish through this festival, which will bring diverse experiences through different genres. In this joyous festival of natyam, sangeetham, spoken word, poetry and puppetry, exemplary artistes are coming together to give us an experience of togetherness,” explains Chitra.
Sukanya Ravindra, director of Chidambaram Dance Company and Chitra’s senior disciple, who is conducting the rehearsals, says, “We feel a deep sense of pride in continuing to share the artistry imparted by our guru. The coordination brings together the rich influences that define our heritage.”
some milestones
Chitra Visvesvaran first composed a dance piece at the age of 11 and choreographed the life of Saint Tyagaraja as Varnam at the age of 13.
As a teenager, he introduced the concept of announcements on stage during his performances in Kolkata in the 1960s.
She was among the first dance teachers to impart Nattuvangam training to her students.
Having trained in lighting and lighting design under the renowned Tapas Sen in Kolkata, even as a teenager Chitra incorporated the concept of using light as an integral part of choreography.
Coordination – Kala Sangam
‘Samanvay – Ek Sangam’ will feature Dushyant Sridhar, Anupama Hoskere, Sikkil Gurucharan and Anil Srinivasan and Chidambaram Dance Company on September 28 and 29 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore, Chennai.
The event is organized in partnership with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai Centre, Ministry of Culture and Shreya Nagarajan Singh Arts Development Consultancy.
published – September 27, 2024 10:17 am IST
