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DANCE
INTERNATIONAL -
Canada
The
surprise of the three programms was Jai Govinda. Govinda called on his earlier
training in ballet to create Winds, a fusion of East and West that seemed
refreshingly all about French Canadian Jai Govinda himself. The shapes are
a mix of ballet and primarily Bharata Natyam, but with a rhythm and flow
that is uniquely loose and easy. In Govinda's choreography, the implications
of fusion are extremely weighty.
KALA
MAGAZINE
- Toronto
Dancers from several different backgrounds in movement style forged an impressive
and coherent unity of dance movement and presentation which seamlessly united
their several abilities and talents. It seems natural to regard Jai Govinda's
choreography as the fully realized blending of different traditions and
styles into an entirely new medium. The important feature of Offrande and
the Narcissus is quite simply that they were excellent dance and exciting
theatre. They worked!
INDIA
JOURNAL - Toronto
Jai
Govinda's Narcissus, which juxtaposed movements from ballet, modern dance,
and Indian dance, raise the Greek legend to a level of intensity of lyrical
sensuousness which held the audience captive to a thrill of genuine theatrical
experience. The festival turned out to be a celebration of male dancing,
which revealed to many of us an unexpected aspect of Indian dance.
THE
GEORGIA STRAIGHT
- Vancouver
"Entrancing Blue God A Hypnotic Fusion of the East and West":
Govinda's command of the technique shone through in his most recent performance,
The Blue God. His choreography is a seamless fusion of Bharata Natyam and
western contemporary and classical styles. Govinda's appearance was striking
when he entered the stage, his movements were mesmerizing. Govinda’s new
work made for a memorable evening of dance.
SRUTI
MAGAZINE
- India
The
production was unique in many ways. It had just the right touch. Jai Govinda
knows how to use the proscemium theatre in the most effective manner to
bring out his message. The Blue God is easily one of the best fusion dance
productions I have seen.
THE
UBESSEY - Vancouver
I have always thought that the appreciation for modern dance is an acquired
taste, but Jai Govinda's new work, The Blue God, proves me wrong. I cannot
imagine a single member of the audience not enjoying the forty-minute performance.
Their graceful long reaches and difficult footwork put the audience in awe.
The entire piece felt like a sweet dream, one that you long to experience
again.
THE
GEORGIA STRAIGHT
- Vancouver
Govinda
fuses styles so carefully that the lines between them are washed away in
a refreshing new language. John and Isabelle Ottman moved as delicately
as sprites then held sculptural poses inspired by Indian mythology.
THE
PEAK
- Vancouver
Jai Govinda has and continues to carve out a niche for himself in the dance
community. Govinda uses the chemistry and physical knowledge of the two
performers to create visual moment that touch the heart.
THE
STATEMAN - New Delhi
Jai's line were beautifully etched , there was a graceful flow in the execution
of his pure dance .As to rhythm ,he was pat on the beat negotiating footwork
with ease, grace and poise .This Prince charming of Bharata Natyam has much
to give and embellish this great style .
THE
GAZETTE - Montreal
In his first solo evening-long performance, Quebec city born classical Indian
dancer , Jai Govinda showed that he is prepared to join the best international
exponents of that difficult art . By any standards, Eastern or Western ,
Govinda's recital was remarkable . He concentrated on purity of line, showing
long balance reaches , a clarity of hand gesture and unhurried delicacy
of movements .
FREEPRESS
JOURNAL - Calcutta
Bharata Natyam which has facinated the world over for over a quarter century
is no longer an Indian monopoly . Jai Govinda strengthens such a belief
. The experts in unisson said the Canadian-born had the grace and abandon
of a native born to the dance . With his Greek-god figure , Jai Govinda
holds the audience's attention effortlessly .
PATRIOT
- New Delhi
There were things beyond expectations awaiting me in Jai Govinda's recital
. Apart from his dance being of high order , his devotion and prayer were
something unique not seen even among Indian artists .
THE LINK - Montreal
Govinda's presentation of the fusion of Eastern philosophy and physicality
were a success , the standing ovation was of no surprise .
THE
HINDUSTAN TIMES
- New Delhi
Jai Govinda of Canada enthraled the viewers with the maturity of his abhinaya
, it's inner peace and reflective strength .
THE HINDU - New Delhi
Across the Cultural Divide ; Spell-binding . It was an aesthetic experience
to watch Jai Govinda . It is not merely an Indian name that this Canadian
has acquired ; it is the very spirit of Indian dance that he has imbibed
.Impeccably profiled , the geometry of Jai Govinda's Bharata Natyam was
a pleasure to watch . With a finely honed sense of rhythm , the fractional
intervals of time created no problem to this dancer . But what lifted the
performance to great heights was the quality of the abhinaya .The verses
of the poetry set to music found a level of dance interpretation rarely
seen among male Bharata Natyam dancer . Each phrase vibrated with feeling
. The entire audience was seeped in the devotional fibre of the dance .
The interspersed pure dance portions were full of easy grace , and clarity
of rhythm . Jai govinda showed a uniform concern for aesthetics and in the
fine selection of items for a male dancer .
THE GAZETTE
- Montreal
Of Montreal's four top solo dancers , Margie Gillis ,Marie Chouinard,Dulcinee
Langfelder and Jai Govinda , the Quebecer with the Indian name is by far
the least known . Jai Govinda is the only one of these remarkable soloist
who works strictly within a severely codified dance vocabulary , one which
is even more regimented than ballet .
TIMES
OF INDIA
- New
Delhi
Cleanliness of lines , neat delivery and a supple form...the concluding
tillana establish Jai Govinda's well-honed training in pure dance .
THE
PIONNER - New Delhi
Jai Govinda is an accomplished and dedicated scholar . Lean and taut , his
body as a vehicle for movement is very elastic .He has made great strides
in his prowess to emote complex ideas through hand gestures and facial mime
. The image of Rama washing his face in a pool and being struck by the beauty
of Sita's face in the reflection was graphic.
THE
HINDU
- New Delhi
Jai Govinda showed that there is more to him than being a foreigner dabbling
in Indian art. Both the well outlined pure dance and the deeply felt abhinaya
were proof of unstinted effort and dedication of the dancer .
THE
HINDUSTAN TIMES - New Delhi
His lines are even more chiselled and taut than before , the arm and leg
stretches perfectly aligned and the footwork correctly assertive and precise
. There is a new depth to his abhinaya and a new fluidity in his use of
hand gesture in combination with facial exprression to convey delicate shading
of meanings .
THE GEORGIA STRAIGHT - Vancouver
It's not news that Montreal's dance scene has produced remarkable solo artists
, but it is surprising that one of those artists is a master of Indian Classical
dance form , the Bharata Natyam . Jai Govinda is making an impact on the
international dance scene . As a dancer , he has clean technique , strong
beautiful lines , and appealing stage presence that allows him to cross
cultural barriers .
Photos on this site are by:
Avinash
Pasricha ,
Ron
Sanga ,
Lionel Trudel ,
Daniel Collins ,
and Michael Tooland .
Copyright
© 2002 - all rights reserved - for info contact Jai
Govinda
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