Classical dance in India often finds itself confined to a niche audience, sometimes leading dancers to opt for gimmicks that dilute the essence of the art form. However, the recent dance concert Smarana curated, produced, and presented by the talented young Bharatanatyam artist Aparna Srivastava at NCPA's Godrej Dance Theatre defied these norms. Performed on a red alert day in Mumbai, the concert drew a near-full house and demonstrated the power of thoughtful curation in introducing classical dance to new and diverse audiences.

“Smarana”, meaning “recall” in Sanskrit, was a Bharatanatyam performance that explored the concept of memory, not just as a nostalgic act of recalling tradition but as an artistic device within the dance itself. Srivastava opened the performance with a Mallari, a rhythmic and melodic composition known for its building tempo. This was followed by two abhinaya-centric pieces- a poetic padam, in which the protagonist recalls her beloved's betrayal, and a varnam, Nee Indha Mayam, where the heroine remembers her lover's playful tricks and unrequited affection, yet still falls for him, enamored by his beauty. The concert concluded with a rare rendition of the Desh Tillana, a celebratory piece marking the end of the performance.