Ānanda: Dance of Joy — Christopher Gurusamy

— Redefining Bharathanatyam, finding freedom within the framework.

From Sydney to Chennai, and now Melbourne, experience the ecstatic repertoire of critically acclaimed soloist Christopher Gurusamy, one of Australia’s foremost international exponents of Bharatanatyam.

The Sanskrit Ānanda means “the place in which one finds bliss”. And for Gurusamy, dancing itself is the incomparable and universal path to joy.

Whether performing the bliss of spiritual devotion, or the sensuous yearning of a lover, Ānanda: Dance of Joy bursts with complex rhythms, explosive movement, verve, and virtuosity.

This captivating collection is influenced as much by Hindu philosophy, Indian poetry, and Carnatic music as it is love, desire, and Western pop culture.

“To watch the Bharatanatyam dancing of Christopher Gurusamy is to see an age-old genre recharged, brilliantly revitalized from within.” – Alastair Macaulay, New York Times

Performer/Choreographer: Christopher Gurusamy
Guru/Choreographer: Smt Bragha Bessell (Chennai)
Recorded Musicians: Adithya Madhavan (vocals), Madan Mohan (violin), Anirudh Athreya (ghanjira), Rakesh KP (nattuvangam), Kiran Pai (mridangam), MT Adithya (sound)