I agree with Bunty for the most part. Indian classical dances have so much history and religion to them that you need the theory behind it as well as the technical dance aspects.
First, I didn't think it was fair that some contestants got pure classical whereas others didn't. Dharmesh by far had the easiest challenge of all.
I think Amar did pretty well. I think this kind of a dance is not really a STAGE dance! It's more of a worshipping temple, celebration type of dance which should be done in a group. I don't think this type of a dance is fit for a stage solo performance at all! So I don't think it was a smart decision on Geeta's part to give Amar this style. But the fact that Amar actually held a fast and kept on with the religious values associated with the dance is commendable. Hat's off to his dedication! 👏
I think Shakti also did okay. Although I wish the masters, especially Terrence, were more critical of her performance. That's what I think DID is lacking these days, the masters' comments need to be more critical. I thought Shakti lacked grace especially in the upper part of her body with all the shoulder movements and stuff. I loved her kathak spins though! They were beautiful! And she needed more softness and girlyness in her expressions and overall dance I thought. And that kathak jump step she did- I don't know the technical name for it, but I think she should've been more light footed for that. It looked very awkward. I remember that step when Kruti did it for her first solo performance on the song 'albela sajan'. And it looked SO light and graceful. So that's how I felt it should've been. I think Shaki is too trained in contemporary to have that natural grace, posture and softness for this dance but it wasn't bad for her first attempt I guess.
Binny's performance was really sweet. I don't know anything about Mohiniattam but I thought her expressions were really sweet and the steps suited the song well. And her expressions were really suited to the song so I liked her performance. I just felt that some of the portions of the dance, she was too hip-hoppy in those. Like some of the neck movements could've been softer and more graceful but she did them with more attitude which is better for hip hop but not classical. But overall it was a sweet sa performance.
Dharmesh was not very impressive at all. It could've been done without the whole fire walking thing. I thought that was pointless. And I didn't get that whole bhakti and celebration feeling that I should've gotten from this type of a performance. I guess just like Amar's dance, maybe this dance style wasn't a stage type dance either.
Punit's was boring. I think he totally missed the point of bharatnatyam. First bharatnatyam has a context, all the expressions and mudras have a religious meaning to them. You can't just do the steps and the dance for no reason. And I think Punit's concept/song was such that you don't need any variations in terms of expressions or mudras to it. If you're doing bharatnatyam you can't do it out of context. You need to choose a song that will allow this variation of expressions and mood and the changing of mudras and dance steps. Punit's song required only one solemn expression of desh bakti which could be maintained throughout the song. So I don't think bharatnatyam is the right dance for this song at all. That's probablly why I didn't connect or feel his performance at all! If you want to do classical dances such as these you have to study the theoretical aspects as well, you can't just copy the steps and fit it into any aira gaira song. Plus the basic armandi position wasn't even maintained which is like the most basic bharatnatyam position. The fact that Punit missed the most basic of moves and postures makes his performance a complete fail for me. 👎🏼
Like Bunty said, I didn't get the feel of the dances much in this episode. Out of all I think, Amar and Binny did the best. I think out of all, they tried to maintain that feel and concept of the dance the most. And then Shakti. Punit and Dharmesh were not even close.
I loved that kathak expressions moment of the three masters in this episode though. Especially Terrence was just amazing! I love watching him perform, he's so good! And Remo was awesome with the eyebrow thing.
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