Day 57: Chitra Natyam

We went to a dance performance on campus and it was really interesting.  The dancer was performing kuchipudi which is a South Indian dance form.  She saved the most interesting dance for last, which was the chitra natyam, or picture dance.  A plastic sheet was taped down on the ground, and brown powder was spread out on the sheet.  Then a frame with a canvas stretched across it was set down on top of the sheet.  The dancer then performed the dance, all the while using her feet to create the image.  At the end, she then stepped off the canvas and the frame was lifted to reveal the picture.  Fascinating!