Dance and music can be choreographed to inspire audiences to learn and reflect. Stories can be told orally or in writing, drawing on both real experiences and imagination. On 20th September 2026 at the Chowdiah Hall in Bangalore, a dance production titled ‘Dancing Tales: Panchatantra’ was held. ‘Pancha’ meaning ‘five’ and ‘tantra’ meaning ‘stories.’ The dancers presented five moral tales, using expressive movements on the stage with matching lighting, sets and props to bring them to life.
The production conveyed simple moral lessons through stories. Guided by senior dancer, a Padmashri awardee, Ananda Shankar Jayant of Shankarananda Kalakshetra and Mithun Shyam of Vaishnavi Natyalaya, the dancers portrayed the stories with grace and energy.
The production was a blend of Bharatanatyam and many other dance forms such as Kathak and Odissi, apart from folk dances of India.
Music composed by the well-known musician Prema Ramamurthy, shifted from joyful and pleasant to sad and frightening, matching the mood of each scene.
The production featured five Panchatantra stories: – The Lion and the Rabbit, The Monkey and the Woodcutter, The Crane and the Tortoise, The Crocodile and the Monkey and The Birds and the Hunter
Blending comedy, suspense, and mystery, each tale delivered a memorable moral lesson to the young and a lot of childhood memory for the adults who had come in large numbers for the event.
The breathtaking performance showed how dance music, and storytelling can make timeless stories memorable.
Photos: Katyayani Chodavarapu
Student Reporter for the year 2026-27