A scintillating evening of Bharatnatyam

The Alliance Francaise, Karachi, on Saturday evening hosted a scintillating evening of ‘Bharatnatyam’ dance performance by Leila Rasul Khan.

Leila, who is a pupil of noted classical dancer Sheema Kermani, presented six dances, starting with the ‘Pushpanjali’. It is a dance where it is traditional for a dancer to make an offering of flowers to the heavens, to the earth, and to the guru.

This was followed by the ‘Alarippu’, a short and simple item but significant as a ritual dance that serves as a prelude to a performance. ‘Alarippu’ is connotative of the flowering; the opening of the body and limbs in preparation for performances to follow. 

It features a progression of movements beginning with the head and the eyes, later spreading to more body parts.

Another dance she performed was ‘Shabdam: Kahniya Ji Ki Raas’, choreographed by Sheema Kermani. It is set to a poem by noted Urdu poet Nazir Akbarabadi as a tribute to Hindu deity, Krishna, and the sound of his flute. It is an ode to spring.

Leila’s performance was absolutely meticulous, what with those exquisite hand and limb movements, a bewitching smile, and powerful facial expressions. All these had tales to tell on their own.

Leila started learning dance at the age of six and has been part of Sheema’s dance and theatre troupe. She has performed both locally and abroad. Among these are the ‘Faiz Mela’ in London, and the Asian Literature Day celebrated at the Embassy of Pakistan in Rome. She has learnt the ‘Bharatnatyam’, the ‘Odissi’, and the ‘Kathak’.