KAY POURSINE
acclaimed exponent of
BharataNatyam, Sadir,
Classical dance from the Tanjore Court
Inspired by the legendary artistry of
T. BALASARASWATI
New
York Times
Jack
Anderson
"Kay
Poursine's performance was a reminder
that in art, talent can leap national boundaries. She made Padam "Velavare" a solo of poignant longing...and brought a
sense of quiet dismay to "Padam: Niddirayil" in which a woman
fears that she is losing her beauty...Yet she never exaggerated her gestures or
overplayed any emotional effects.... she at all times upheld the
dignity of a great art."
Video documentation of Ms. Poursine's concerts is available. For purchase or information on review copies of dance videos send queries to:
RESIDENCY OPTIONS: A full residency may be requested or various elements combined to suit your needs, with fees adjusted accordingly, for a one or two week residency.
- Master class
- Performance of a full program of Bharata Natyam
- Lecture-demonstrations
The source of Kay Poursine's inspiration:
Kay Poursine trained in dance and music in the US and India from 1972 to 1983 under the guidance of the late T. Balasaraswati (1918-1984), considered by many the greatest exponent of classical dance from South India, Bharata Natyam, of this century, assisted by her daughter, Lakshmi Knight, the internationally acclaimed performer and teacher who died December 23, 2001. After Balasaraswati's death in 1984 Kay received further instruction in this sampradaya from senior disciple, Nandini Ramani, a performer and educator in Chennai, INDIA.
While completing her MA at Wesleyan University, Ms. Poursine continued her music studies with Balasaraswati's brothers, T. Viswanathan and T. Ranganathan. She has performed and taught as a Visiting Artist in the Wesleyan Dance Department, the Wesleyan Graduate Liberal Studies Program and at residencies in the US and abroad. In 1982-83, 1986-87, and 1990-91, Ms. Poursine received three Smithsonian Institution Senior fellowships under the auspices of the American Institute of Indian studies for performances and private study in India.
Throughout this experience and up to the present day, Kay continues to be inspired by the powerful artistic vision of T. Balasaraswati.
- Introduction to a Bharata Natyam Concert
-
Photo: A.V. Srinivasan and Kay Poursine in front of the Maha Ganapati Sanctum at the Satyanarayana Temple in Middletown, Connecticut on May 30, 1999 after her performance during the Pranapratishtapana Mahotsav
SOUTH INDIAN TEMPLE CULTURE
Bharata Natyam
(explained)
photos: John Wareham
Balasaraswati's thoughts on
"The Bharata Natyam recital is structured like a Great Temple: we enter through the gopuram (outer hall) of alarippu, cross the ardhamandapam (half-way hall),... and enter the holy precinct of the deity in the varnam...
...the tillana breaks into movement like the final burning of camphor accompanied by a measure of din and bustle. In conclusion, the devotee takes to his heart the god he has so far glorified outside; and the dancer completes the traditional order by dancing to a simple devotional verse."
Copyright ©2001Kay Poursine. ® All rights reserved ®
performance...
Dancing to the padam
is akin to the juncture w
hen the cascading lights of worship are withdrawn
and
the drumbeats die down to the simple and solemn
chanting of sacred verses in the
closeness of god.
