Bharata natyam – Uttara Rao in Chennai

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Let’s be honest, we’re no big fans of traditional and other folks shows that one can find almost in every tourist place… We always feel like kids at Disneyland where people are trying to make you think that the Mickey mascot is the REAL Mickey.

Now, when it’s one of our friends, Uttara, who is performing, we knew it was a not to be missed show, even if it was in Chennai.

So at the end of last July, we reached the capital of Tamil Nadu for an easy-going week-end and to enjoy our first Bharata natyam show.
And then, the shock! Uttara, morphed into a kind of super-Hindu goddess performed relentlessly during an hour and a half with precise gestures and moves between the mime and the dance, the sacred and the secular to the rhythm of drums, chants or the solo jolting voice of her “guru”.

In the theatre, we were the only “tourists”, proof that this art is still well alive in this magical India always combining tradition and modernity.

If you ever want to organize shows with Uttara and her guru, don’t hesitate to contact us, we’ll put you in touch.