Ragam: Hamsadhwani

Talam: Adi

This Ganesha Stuti dance is in reverence of Lord Ganesha, the lord with the elephant head, the remover of all obstacles, who the dancer asks for a sound performance.

Amala likes the upbeat feeling of this dance, the portrayal of Lord Ganesha with hand gestures and hopes you will enjoy her teacher's choreography as much as she does.

Ragam: Kalyani
Talam: Rupaka

A Jatiswaram is an example of a pure dance or nritta sequence, devoid of any abhinaya or emotions, in which the performer weaves intricate patterns on a basic musical composition. A Jathiswaram strives for perfect unity of the three aspects of dance – music, rhythm and movements.

What Amala likes about jathis are that even though the Jathis are already defined, a Jathiswaram allows each dancer to showcase their own distinctive style, and their energy and strength capabilities.

Composer: Shri Gangaimuthu Nattuvanar
Ragam: Hamsadhwani
Talam: Kanda chapu

A kauthuvam ​​is a hymn, a song of devotion in praise of a deity, in this case being Kali herself.

Kali is represented as a scary, bloodthirsty embodiment of destruction, and the ultimate protector against evil. She is the angry avatar of Mother Shakti channeling her anger in destruction of all evil forces.

Amala likes the bold and strong representation of Goddess Kali in this powerful dance.

Composer: Madurai N Krishnan
Ragam: Patuvarali
Talam: Adi

Varnam is the central and most elaborate piece in a Bharatnatyam recital. It is a demanding number, testing not only the stamina of a dancer but the training, the skill, the imaginative faculty of a dancer to improvise and to successfully alternate between pure dance and abhinaya.

Amala will be performing a 35-minute long Dashavataram (Dasha-ten, Avatar - incarnation) Varnam. This presents the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu (The Preserver).

The ten avatars are Matsya (Fish), Kurma (Tortoise), Varaha (Boar), Narasimha (half man-half lion), Vamana (the dwarf) , Parasurama (the warrior saint), Rama (the righteous man), Krishna (the teacher), and Kalki (the prophesized destroyer of current cycle of existence). It is said that these avatars represent evolution, as each incarnation takes a higher form each time.

Amala likes this varnam because she thinks its a very good balance of Jathis and emotive abhinaya which makes for a very interesting story-telling of the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu.

Composer: Priyadarshini Govind
Ragam: ragamalika
Talam: ragamalika

Om Hreem Shreem is a mantra to remove obstacles and guide to the path of enlightenment. The Hindu Goddess Devi is the Mother Goddess, a symbol of divine strength (Shakti). The dancer portrays Devi as Annapoorna (the divinity of food and nourishment, the giver of food), Ardhanarishvara (as the other half of Lord Shiva), and Kali (unleasher of divine wrath against the wicked for the liberation of the oppressed, she entails destruction to empower creation)

Amala likes the Devi Stuthi as she thinks this poem shows all the aspects of femininity such as the loving Parvathi, the compassionate Annapoorna , the powerful Shakti and the blood-thirsty Kali who is the destroyer of evil.

Composer: Maharaja Swathi Thirunaal
Ragam - Hamsanandi
Talam - Adi

Shankara Srigiri is a beautiful composition in dedication to Lord Shiva. The poet praises Lord Shiva's calming appearance and His dancing which is so perfect and in tune with natural rhythm, that the entire universe is mesmerized.

Amala loves the energetic and advanced adavus (moves) in this dance item. She thinks this praise of Lord Shiva will definitely energize the audience as well.

Composer: Oothukkadu Venkata Kavi (1700 - 1765)
Ragam: Chenjuruti
Talam: Adi (Tishram)

Madu Meikam Kanne is a sweet traditional Tamil song, taking the viewers through a dialogue between Mother Yashoda, and mischievious little Krishna. This child is daring to go out to play, but Yashoda has decided to make him stay at home for once, the whole day. So, she keeps giving reasons as to why he should stay, and little Krishna keeps giving explanations back as to why he should leave the house immediately. It is the mothers objections, vs the child's explanations.

Composer and Vocalist: Swathi Thirunal and Mr. Sai Sankar
Ragam: Dhanasree
Talam: Adi

Thillana is the culminating pure dance item with complex rhythmic patterns executed in the form of Korvais and has a short piece of Abhinaya. (Korvais are adavus when set to a particular Talam (Rhythm) and Kalam (speed) and usually conclude with a Theermanam.)

Amala likes the complex and unique Jathis and the series of unique abhinayas at the end.