Imagine a classical concert in a yoga studio, or a performing arts quiz that captivates audiences, even virtually during a pandemic. This is the innovative spirit of Aalaap, a Chennai-based arts management and consultancy that is now celebrating its 13th year with an extraordinary festival called ‘Sthira’.
Akila Krishnamurthy, Aalaap’s visionary founder, embarked on this journey fueled by a deep passion for classical performing arts. She explains, “Though I am neither a dancer nor a musician, nor do I come from an artistic background, my goal was to elevate the Indian classical performing arts. I wanted to present them in a fresh, accessible way, ensuring that new and diverse audiences could engage without feeling intimidated.”
Krishnamurthy further shares her vision for ‘Sthira’: “Right here in Chennai, Aalaap’s home city, I envisioned a festival featuring artists I’ve collaborated with over the years. We wanted to present performances and host conversations in thoughtfully chosen, unconventional venues – spaces that encourage a more informal and experimental atmosphere.”
Bharatanatyam dancer Rama Vaidyanathan during ‘Aalaap in Movement’ at The Folly, Amethyst | Photo Credit: Santosh Janardhanan
The ‘Sthira’ festival kicked off on October 6th, offering a diverse array of events. Highlights included ‘Atittalam,’ an engaging adavu session led by Bharatanatyam and Kalaripayattu artist K. Sarveshan at the Kuchipudi Art Academy. Additionally, audiences were captivated by ‘Aalaap In Movement,’ a stunning Bharatanatyam performance curated and presented by the acclaimed artist Rama Vaidyanathan, held at The Folly, Amethyst.
“We’ve consciously chosen a variety of intriguing venues, from elegant designer boutiques to intimate art studios and cozy coffee shops,” Krishnamurthy explains. “We also adapted the timing of events, recognizing that modern audiences have different attention spans compared to the traditional two-to-three-hour performances.” As an example, dancers Priya Murle, Roja Kannan, Srekala Bharath, Urmila Sathyanarayanan, and Vidhya Subramanian offered a captivating evening of shorter, collective performances at Prego, Mandaveli.
Carnatic musician Rithvik Raja, set to present his ‘Raga as Weave, Tala as Thread’ session, shared his thoughts on the choice of Tvam Art & Design Studio in R.A. Puram as a venue. “Lakshmi Srinath, Tvam’s founder, has been creating my stage attire for quite some time,” Raja notes. “I always felt her studio space would be perfect for these kinds of immersive experiences, and it’s truly exciting to see it happen.”
Carnatic singer S Adhithyanarayanan during ‘Aalaap in Movement‘ at The Folly, Amethyst | Photo Credit: Santosh Janardhanan
Raja elaborates, “Traveling throughout the country, I’ve observed a strong desire for fresh, engaging artistic experiences. Many of my friends, for instance, might not typically attend a traditional sabha concert to hear me sing. However, they are often thrilled by the idea of attending a performance in a unique setting like an art studio or another unconventional space – something that feels both enjoyable and intriguing.”
Carnatic musician Rithvik Raja | Photo Credit: Amar Ramesh
The ‘Sthira’ festival runs until October 18th, featuring 15 distinct events over 13 days. The diverse program includes: ‘The Dancer as an Athlete’ on October 9th at Gobbelin, Adyar, where fitness coach Adarsh Gopalakrishnan will converse with dancers Dr. Srinidhi Chidambaram and Shweta Prachande; ‘Fugue’ on October 10th at Off Beat Studios, R.A. Puram, featuring celebrated musician and educator Anil Srinivasan with Naveen Napier; and an open house titled ‘Time Traveller: Staying the Course with Narthaki,’ with Anita Ratnam at The Brew Room, R.K. Salai on October 14th. Finally, on October 18th, Vinyl and Brew will host ‘Inside a Musical Mind,’ a special listening session with acclaimed musician T.M. Krishna and Sangeetha Sivakumar.
For the complete schedule and ticket information, follow @aalaap_concepts on Instagram or visit the ticketing platform.