Click to play videoChennai: It's Kutchery season in Chennai but it's not carnatic music that's keeping Chennaiites busy this weekend. Russsia's famous Bolshoi ballet is in the city and has opened to packed houses and standing ovations.
Fifty ballet dancers and as many musicians are treating the city to its first such experience in 40 years.
"I think they really understand what's happening on the stage, what we're acting, the ballet-I feel-when they're clapping," said Ballet dancer Ellen Desherre.
It's unususal for a ballet performance to take place during the music season. And this makes one wonder if the kutchery-addicted Chennaite is opening up to other art forms as well?
"I don't know why there is this impression that Chennaiites are open only to carnatic music-it's not at all, true-they're open to other art forms," said businessman Paranthaman.
"I don't see a dichotomy in coming to the music academy and seeing the ballet. And you could even argue that the ballet in it's land of origin is a classical dance form-so there's tremendous synergy with that," explained artist Parvathy Nair.
"Of course, there is a lot of change in the attitude of the audience.They want to see something new, especially the younger generation," said dancers
P. Dhananjayan and Shanta.
A ballet performance in the middle of December festival would have been unthinkable a few years back. But today, the Bolshoi ballet can charm Chennaiites as much as Bharathanatyam can.
(For updates you can share with your friends, follow IBNLive on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and Pinterest)
More on IBNLive Right Now
MOST SHARED
PHOTOGALLERY
