Perini dancers create five records

The dancers pay their respects to dance maestro Nataraja Ramakrishna on his 6th death anniversary

​Hanamkonda: The city witnessed a rare spectacle on Friday on which, a large troupe of classical dancers created five records, besides paying their respects to legendary dance maestro, Nataraja Ramakrishna.

As many as 153 Perini dancers, both men and women took part in the performance at the JNS indoor stadium in Hanamkonda. The event was organised by Perini dance masters G Ranjith Kumar and Chatharaju Navyaja to offer homage to Nataraja Ramakrishna marking his 6th death anniversary.

Nataraja Ramakrishna, who passed away in June 2011, has been credited for the revival of a 700-year-old dance form Perini Sivatandavam and brought international acclaim to it. Perini, a dance of warriors, is the legacy of Kakatiyas and it has been reconstructed by him through extensive research works.

‘The performance by us is a form of paying tributes to the classical dance legend,’ said the organisers. The dancers drawn from different districts of the State performed Perini Lasyam, Perini Sivathandavam and Jugalbandi forms of the dance.

The event was also meant to create awareness among the public, mainly the young generation, about the Perini dance form. The influence of western dance on the young generation having a harmful effect on the Indian classical dance forms as well as Indian classical music. The event is an effort to highlight their significance, Ranjith Kumar said.

The performance has been recorded by Bharath Book of World Records, United Book of World records, Star Book of Records, Andhra Book of World Records and State Book of Records as one of the biggest performances of Perini dance conducted in the State.

Warangal (West) MLA D Vinay Bhasker, who inaugurated the event, has appreciated the efforts being made by Ranjith Kumar towards the promotion of the art form. It is because of people like him Perini dance form is being learnt and practiced, he lauded.