The art of stories in motion

IN a world that's always in a hurry, we rarely stop to notice the stories in an old temple pillar, the quiet message in a painting, or the feelings tucked into a line of poetry. Art asks us to slow down, take a breath, and reconnect with the things that make us human. For Bharatanatyam exponent Lakshmi Ramaswamy, this is what her forthcoming performances aim to achieve.

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Returning to the stage after a hiatus, Lakshmi invites audiences into a world where dance, music, and visual art converge to narrate timeless tales. On January 2, 2025, at Krishna Gana Sabha, she will present Pramaanam, a solo performance inspired by the evocative paintings of Shri Keshav Venkatraghavan. "Paintings are frozen moments in time, and they reveal a story beyond time," she says. "I am so fond of paintings and architecture, especially temple architecture. When Natyarangam invited me to be part of their Chitra Bharatam project in 2018, that too an opportunity to interact with my favourite painter Shri Keshav Venkatraghavan, it was a big delight. To me, this challenge of representing the paintings and unusual dances was inspiring."