This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 15, 2016.

An upcoming dance double bill magically fetes both the differences and the similarities of bharatanatyam and Odissi, two of the most well-known schools of classical Indian dance, while celebrating the strength of the female form. Presented by the Kuala Lumpur-based Kalpana Dance Theatre, Mahamaya: Transcending Illusion pays tribute to the divine feminine energy of the universe and how she is alternately creator, preserver and destroyer.  

A total of eight individual pieces are performed by bharatanatyam dancer Datin Sri Umayal Eswaran and university student Nritta Ganeshi Manoharan, a remarkably talented Odissi dancer who has already performed on stages all over the world. Through the regal and resplendent linear lines of bharatanatyam and the sublime elegance of Odissi, dancers and musicians from India and Malaysia come together to explore the underlying essence of bhakti, or devotion, through this unique production.

“We have been talking about a production centred on Devi for some time now,” Umayal says, referring to discussions between her and Kalpana Dance Theatre founder Shangita Namasivayam. “While this subject itself isn’t new, we have never put bharatanatyam and Odissi on the same stage quite like this before.”

Mahamaya seeks to explore the concepts of faith and divine love as it is showered by the female energy of the universe. “The power of the divine mother is central to the Hindu faith, and it resonates with all of us too — the mother is often the anchor of a household. In Mahamaya, the idea was to showcase the power of Shakti, or the divine female power, and how it is expressed in the form of a mother, wife or daughter,” Umayal adds. 

The bharatanatyam repertoire of the show was choreographed by Chennai-based PT Narendran, a graduate of the prestigious Kalakshetra Dance Academy who has taught and performed all over the world. Meanwhile, the Odissi pieces bear the handiwork of Leena Mohanty, an award-winning dancer and the artistic director of Bansi Bilas, an institution in Orissa devoted to training young and upcoming dancers of Guru Deba Prasad Das’ School of Odissi. 

The show will be accompanied by two live orchestras, situated on either side of the stage — OS Arun lends his voice to the bharatanatyam section, while all the Odissi pieces are composed and sung by Dheeraj Kumar Mohapatra, whose late father Kelucharan Mohapatra was one of the foremost proponents of the art form and is hugely credited for its revival in the 20th century. 

Proceeds from Mahamaya will be channelled to Taarana, a centre for children with special educational needs set up by the Vijayaratnam Foundation.  

Catch Mahamaya at 7.30pm on Feb 20 and 21 at the Auditorium Kompleks Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah, Persiaran Subang Mewah, USJ 1, Subang Jaya. Tickets are RM300, RM200 and RM50, call (017) 672 5672 or (012) 264 6453 to book or for other details.