Blending the art of filmmaking with Bharatnatayam, dancer Padmini Ravi promises a performance that breaks the notion that classical dance is boring

Noted Bharatnatyam dancer Padmini Ravi believes that classical dance forms are deeply rooted in Indian culture and will never lose their charm.
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The dancer, who recently made a comeback on stage after a gap of nearly eight years, will perform at the Bangalore International Arts Festival. She tells The Guide what works for the contemporary audience.

You are back on stage after a long time. How does it feel?
It is wonderful. The gap ofu00a0 seven to years has actually helped me.u00a0 I am more mature and understanding as a performer now. The break has helped me reinvent myself as a better person and artiste.

What would you perform for this concert?
I will blend the art of making a film with the craft of Bharatnatyam. Film is a visual medium that has a story, screenplay and dialogues and communicates directly with the audience. You don't need to understand anything particular to understand a film unlike a classical dance performance. I will be tuning the art of filmmaking into my solo performance. It is a sizzling experiment.

Now that you are performing after years, do you find a difference in the audience?
The audience today has no time and doesn't want to make an effort. I don't blame them.u00a0 as the present lifestyle is so stressful. It is important to tell your children who Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra was.