Staying in this country and absorbing its culture and values serves to prepare me for my concert in a very big way, muses harpist Gwyneth Wentink, who is part of a world music ensemble scheduled to pl

What do Kabir, Frida Kahlo and lopsided umbrellas have in common? These divergent strains inform three independent performance projects by young performers in Mumbai and Bengaluru.

Veteran singer K.L. Saigal is said to be the first person to record ghazals on long-playing records (LPs). He began singing for films in 1930s, right after sound cinema made its appearance in India. Beginning his film career in Calcutta and then moving to Bombay, he constituted a formidable part of the film industry in his short but eventful life.

If I am preoccupied with thoughts of survival, how will I pursue my goal with complete bhakti?

A young dancer recently interviewed by this correspondent admitted that she preferred performing to teaching, though she enjoyed both.

In Jayadeva’s Gita Govinda, the sakhi says to Radha — “O young woman, your pace is already slowed down by the weight of your broad hips; don’t delay your tryst with Krishna any longer, she goes on.” Ancient India prized the hourglass figure long before beauty pageants endowed ’36-24-36’ with iconic meaning. There are no lanky, androgynous women on the walls of Konark.

Classical music — I prefer calling it ‘art music’, is constantly changing.

Where does dance and cinema intersect with histrionics that would put a Balaji Telefilms scriptwriter to shame? Veteran Telugu director and actor Kasinadhuni Vishwanath would know, for his actresses were being slapped thrice in repetitive frames to create an explosive effect long before the triple slap on cheek became a defining motif of soap operas.

Indian music, in some ways, thrives on a “vocal” audience, one that constantly engages with the artiste.

Art exists for thinking, not just for enjoyment,” opines twenty-five year old Mohiniattam dancer Rachitha Ravi. Rachitha grew up surrounded by art. Her father was an actor in a drama troupe. She watched them perform countless times and would later imitate their expressions and movements herself.