KATHMANDU: Various elements and expressions of the South Indian classical dance Bharatanatyam performance mesmerised the audience on October 3 at the Theatre Mall, Sundhara. Presented by Bharatanatyam dancer Sulochana Gopali Dangol, her expressions, body movements, footwork and different dance routines captivated all at the ‘Bharatanatyam Solo Dance Presentation’ which was organised by Theatre Aakar.

It was the first solo performance of Gopali Dangol who has a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam from the Benaras Hindu University, India. A theatre artiste and a dance director, she cast her magic through her back-to-back six performances.

She started out with Puspanjali — praise to a deity where her facial expressions and various postures of Bharatanatyam were evident. It was followed by Bharatanatyam’s pure dance segments — Alarippu and Jathiswaram in which her talent came across in her excellent neck movements and footwork.

“Alarippu is the first part of Bharatanatyam dance. In this part, dancers perform their dance with happy faces. They have neck movements but the dancers do not emote while performing this dance,” Gopali Dangol informed about her dance.

Jathiswaram, the second part of Bharatanatyam, also “comes under pure dance and the performer doesn’t do any emoting while performing this form too”.

Thodayamangalam — praise for Tirupati Balaji — was up next in which various facial expressions came alive. In other mesmerising performances — Aigiri and Bho Shambho, she paid tribute to Goddess Durga and Lord

Shiva respectively.

In Aigiri, Gopali Dangol took the form of Goddess Durga and killed Mahishasura leaving the audience spellbound. And Bho Shambho was a great way to end her solo performance.

After watching her performance, Charya dance expert and Prof Honey Shrestha of Padma Kanya Multiple Campus was all praise for Gopali Dangol. He expressed, “She did a good job. Her dance had all the elements and was expressive. She was energetic in her performances like she was during her college days.”

Gopali Dangol also teaches dance in PK Campus and Srijana College of Fine Arts. Her first solo performance was opened with a bhajan by classical singer Menuka Poudel and she was accompanied by Uddhav Thapa on mridangam and Rasana Maharjan on flute.