Australia Dancing - Bharatam Dance Company (1986

Bharatam Dance Company (1986 - 2000)

Hooper, Jim: Chandrabhanu in Bharatam Dance Company production, Bodhissatva, at George Fairfax Studio, Melbourne Arts Centre, 25 November 1994

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Bharatam Dance Company was founded in Melbourne by dancer and choreographer Dr Chandrabhanu. Emerging from the Bharatalya Company of Indian Classical Dance, which was formed in 1980, the company became known as Bharatam Dance Company in 1986, later expanding and becoming incorporated in 1987. Its founding dancers were Chandrabhanu, Tina Yong, Arun Munozz and Ambika Docherty.

Under Chandrabhanu’s direction, the company produced two or three new full-length works each year in the Bharata-Natyam and Odissi styles of classical Indian dance as well as works incorporating Western contemporary and other Indian classical styles. The company took its main repertoire on tour within Australia and to Asia, and their dance-in-education programs throughout Australia.

Bharatam Dance Company placed significant emphasis on collaboration between choreographers and musicians, both from Australia and from Asia. Complementing this collaboration was the contribution of Geoffrey Goldie, the designer for all the company’s productions. The company folded in 2000 due to funding difficulties.

Bharatam Dance Company repertoire included Devi: Goddess Absolute (1985), The Blue God, Krishna (1986), Odissi (1986), Milarepa (1987), Dong S’on (1988), Osiriad (1988), The Dance of Shiva (1989), The Golden Mountain (1989), The Epic of the Anklet (1990), Rituals (1990), Odissi: the Sensuous Spirit (1991), Navagraha: the Planets of Destiny (1991), Shore Temple (1992), Medea (1992), Madara: the Mystic Flower (1992), Where the Eyes Go (1992), The Jungle Book (1993), Shakti: Goddess (1993), The Golden Lotus (1993), The Churning of the Ocean (1994), The Women of Karaikal (1996), Old Wives’ Tales (1997), Odissi Odyssey (1997) and Alice (1999).

Bibliography:

Information on Bharatam Dance Company and their repertoire from 1986 to 1994 can be found in The Ausdance Guide to Australian Dance Companies (Canberra: AGPS, 1994), pp. 62-71.

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