One of my work colleagues, Usha S, is an Indian Classical Dancer and she invited me to her performance and take some photographs and all the proceeds of the performance were to go to a charity. She is a brilliant dancer, i was gobsmacked. What a wonderful set of coincidences. Did I tell you that my mum is also a classical dancer? well, she was, now she just came out of a knee replacement. Anyway, I love Indian Classical Dance, its sheer poetry in motion, its intellectual dance. Something that I do not see in western classical dance that much. I mean, in Ballet, its showing emotion and actions but in Indian classical dance, there is a theory behind it which is rooted heavily in culture, religion, legends and mythology.
Anyway, I should stop wittering on. Plus it was for charity, tick and I can take photographs. Bigger tick. So took photographs with gay abandon. Here are few of the photos but if you have the patience, click here where you can see tons of these. If you are ever interested in me participating in your charity event by taking photographs, very happy to do so.
The sequence should be self explanatory.
I am setting up my tripod in the corner and people are starting to get ready. 
Empty hall for now
Nataraj
It was a bit dirty and needed a bit of a clean up. 
Testing the equipment, mikes, lights, etc. 
Dholak being tested. 
Cymbals and the songs. 
The ropes for the curtains. 
Testing the lights. 
Some ragas. 
The violinist is concentrating hard. 
The light and mike booth high up on the rear wall. 
The stage. 
People have started coming into the foyer. 
Buying tickets
The programmes being distributed. 
The artists have gone to get dressed. 
The audience starts to filter in. 
The artists are all ready. 
Usha appears. None of the following photographs need any explanation. 
The audience were spell bound. This is during the interval. 
We are back
Thanking the God, singers, the audience
A standing ovation. 
Nataraj
I caught up with her after the show. 
Meeting friends and family after the show. It was an amazing 4 hours, I loved her skill, expertise and in many of the places, felt like crying, she was that good. Very good indeed. Beautiful.
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