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Performers
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Bhakti Devi
"Sri Swami Madhavananda World Peace Summit and the Message of Mahatma Gandhi" will be opened by Bhakti Devi, one of the world's best performers of classical South Indian dance - Bharatanatyam. Bhakti Devi has dedicated her whole life to dancing: she had begun her dance education very early - at the age of 6 years, with ballet, folk-dances, stepping and social dances. Afterward she has learned Kathak - North Indian dance. She was also taking musical classes, solo and choir singing, piano and acting. She studied music and philosophy.
In secondary school she started to practice the System "Yoga in Daily Life" by Paramhans Swami Maheshwarananda. Years of practicing enabled her deeper insight in spirituality, Indian mythology and philosophy. Yogic principles and sattvic (pure) nourishment brought her to the spiritual dance. She was learning Bharatnatyjam from Radha Anjali - Bharatnatyam dancer in Austria and founder of Natya Mandir dance school in Vienna; Adyar K. Lakshman - famous dance teacher and musician, founder of "Bharata Choodamani Academy" in Cennai, India; Kalanidhi Narayanan - the leading performer and teacher of Abhinaya art - mimics in Bharatnatyam dances, in Cennai, India. Today Bhakti Devi lives in Vienna and she has performed in many European countries. Experts have appraised her performances of Bharatnatyam with the highest grades. She collaborates with many known artists and is frequent guest in TV shows all over Europe. She is the founder of International School on Indian Dances in Vienna (www.indische-tanzschule.com) and gives regular Indian dance classes in several European countries.
Bharatanatyam has its origins in South Indian state Tamil Nadu. It was first mentioned already 2000 years B.C. Originally it was a part of temple ceremonies and rituals. Under the influence of "Natya Satra" - ancient writ of rules in theatre performances, Bharatnayam has gradually evolved in spiritual cultural media. Its main characteristic is the inspiration of auditorium as well as dancer for noble thoughts and feelings and for uplifting from daily worries.
Bhakti Devi will perform Todaya Mangalam, an invocatory dance piece which combines descriptive prayer (abhinaya) and pure dance set to drum syllables (nritta). This piece in praise of the God Vishnu and his earthly incarnations begins with a description of Rama in KhandaChapu (5 beat rhythmic cylce). The second stanza set in tala Misra Chapu (7 beat cycle) describes the glory of Lord Venkateshwara. The third and fourth stanzas, each set to Adi tala (8 beat cycle), describe Krishna.
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