Stories Behind
the Dance

Pushpanjali means an offering of flowers. Through graceful steps and cupped hands, the dancer symbolically places flowers at the feet of the divine and asks for blessings before beginning. Set in Arabhi and honoring Ganesha, remover of obstacles, this piece prepares the stage and the heart for all that follows.

What to noticeLook for the flower-offering gesture and the joyful, reverent welcome.

The word Alarippu suggests blossoming. This pure-dance piece begins with small, precise movements and gradually expands into the whole body. Dedicated here to Nataraja, Shiva as Lord of Dance, it is both a disciplined rhythmic invocation and a reminder that creation itself moves to a cosmic beat.

What to noticeWatch how isolated movements gradually join into complete rhythmic patterns.

Jatiswaram is nritta—pure dance without a narrative. Jatis, or rhythmic sequences, meet swaras, the notes of the melody. The dancer turns music into visible form through footwork, sculptural poses, lines, and balance. Its beauty lies in control, symmetry, stamina, and the effortless conversation between dancer and musicians.

What to noticeListen for the dialogue between the salangai ankle bells and the percussion.

Krishna grows up among the aayars, the cowherd community of Gokulam. He tends the cows, enchants the village with his flute, steals butter, and wins every heart with his mischief. Yet behind the playful child is the divine protector. The dancer moves between characters, revealing how ordinary village life becomes touched by the sacred.

What to noticeNotice the shifts in expression as the dancer becomes Krishna and those enchanted by him.

Andal, the only woman among the twelve Alvar poet-saints, expressed her love for Vishnu through exquisite Tamil verse. In the thirty hymns of the Thiruppavai, she becomes a young cowherd girl calling her companions to rise, bathe, sing, and undertake a sacred vow. Her longing is both deeply personal and universal: the soul’s yearning to unite with the divine.

What to noticeListen for the feeling of friends calling one another toward a shared spiritual journey.

When the shape-shifting Mahishasura could not be defeated by any man, the gods combined their divine energies to manifest Durga. Armed with their gifts, she fought for nine days and overcame the demon, a victory celebrated as the triumph of dharma over arrogance and disorder. Pahimam—‘protect me’—praises that same Goddess as both tender mother and invincible guardian.

What to noticeSee how compassion and courage coexist in the dancer’s expressions and strong poses.

Devotees of Muruga may carry a kavadi—a decorated offering—during pilgrimage as an act of gratitude, prayer, or devotion. Kavadi Sindhu songs capture the movement and communal joy of that journey. Muruga’s vel, or spear, represents the wisdom that pierces ignorance, while his peacock symbolizes the transformation of pride into beauty and service.

What to noticeFeel the lift and festive energy that suggest a devotional procession.

The Thillana is traditionally one of the culminating pieces in a Bharatanatyam recital. Its rhythmic syllables invite speed, precision, and joy, while brief lyrical passages offer a final touch of devotion. In the luminous raga Brindavana Saranga, the dance feels expansive and celebratory—a meeting of discipline, musicality, and delight.

What to noticeWatch for crisp endings, changing formations, and the dancer’s joyful command of rhythm.

In a cherished tradition, Krishna came to visit his devotee Pundalik. Busy caring for his parents, Pundalik offered the Lord a brick and asked him to wait. Krishna did—and became Vitthala, standing with hands upon his hips in Pandharpur. The story honors humble service and teaches that devotion is found not only in worship, but in caring faithfully for others.

What to noticeCarry with you the final message: love expressed through service is itself sacred.