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Lavani Bandish, expressing extremes of love, in a blend of Lavani and Bharatanatyam. This combination of Indian folk dance and Indian classical dance depicts two Nayikas, two women who are in love and their contrasting display of emotions and attitude. The Swadhinapatika, the more confident of the two maidens, cajoles her lord with the subtle sensuality of Lavani, “Rajasa jawali jara basa, jiv ha pisa, tumha vin bai (Please sit by me, because when you leave, it hurts)”. The heartbroken Khandita, the more docile maiden, laments the absence of her lord, “Gharava Nahi Aaye” (my beloved has not come home). This blend of two different genres of Indian dance was choreographed by Kathak artist and guru Pallavi Degwekar Shaikh, who performs Lavani with Shyama Iyer, the Bharatanatyam dancer. The music for this piece is an IndianRaga 2015 production.
