Went to a performance last night of Katahali, a traditional form of dance, music, story telling. Staging performances that remain somehow true to the form for tourists is difficult (like the hula dancing in Hawaii around the pool, for example, while drinks are being served). But this was done from an educational, artistic and very sincere perspective...I was very impressed. The theatre was small; the overhead fans were going and beneath each seat was a fan of palm fronds. The dance was a short scene from the Ramayana; the singer was superb; and the costumes and makeup (you can go early and watch the makeup being applied)were stunning. I could imagine the impact of such performances in isolated villages up and down the coast in the days before movies and tv. Stories, stories...so much of India is about stories. No wonder it is the world's largest producer of movies.
