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16 of 16 found the following review helpful:
 A decent DVDOct 02, 2004
By Stephanie
First of all, even though I don't find this DVD is specifically "instructional", I must say the quality of the picture and the sound is very good. I disagree with the reviewer who wrote "DVD with such an substandard music and performance" because its standards are pretty good if you live in the States and don't have a chance to attend special performances in South India. I would say that this DVD was made for those students who are learning Bharata Natyam as a hobby rather than as a career.
For those who are not familiar with what "Arangetram" stands for, it is basically a "graduation Margam", or the same as a any other full traditional recital. In this sense, it may be compared with any other Bharata Natyam DVDs like the ones featuring Medha Hari, for example. I hope David Morrison will continue to produce classical Indian dance DVDs, although he should pay more attention to the musicians' dancers' mastery and performance.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
Good to have oneJun 20, 2006
By Anita Balakrishnan
There are not many Bharatnatyam DVDs out there, and, if you have the cash, you should get this one for your collection - it is worth having as an intro into an adapted version of Bharatanatyam.
Although the performer is not in a good form, and although the items are incomplete here, unlike, for example in Sreelatha Suresh DVD or Nrithya Madhuri DVD, still we have to admit that David Morrison's production was superior in image quality.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
If you are a student, this is the right thing to buy!May 19, 2004
By Franca Richi
Padma Chebrolu's two DVD's are the ONLY instructional DVDs that are to be found in the whole world. Thanks to David Morrison, they are made by the American standards and with the international students in mind, and are way above any instructional VHS or VCD videos that have been produced.And because these two DVDs are instructional, and this Arangetram DVD in particular is formatted in a very academic way, there is no point comparing them to other DVDs for 2 reasons. First, Anita Ratnam's is a just brief (like an encyclopedia article) general introduction to Bharatanatyam, while Medha Hari's is a showcase of a top young dancer whose agility and facial abhinaya is naturally different from the older dancers' (it is unfair to compare a 50-year-old gymnast with a 16-year-old!) Secondly, Anita Ratnam's, P.Chebrolu's and Medha Hari's styles are all too different to be compared with each other. This is why by buying P.Chebrolu's videos you never risk coming across anything similar. And, at the Amazon.com price, this is a very good bargain.
8 of 8 found the following review helpful:
 Good Bharatanatyam video on DVDMay 16, 2004
By Jacques Bernard
You should buy it if you are seriously interested in the Indian Classical Dance as this is one of the first three Bharatanatyam videos that can be bought on DVD. It is professionally designed and filmed, and the dance performance is better than the one seen in Anita Ratnam's DVD, although the varnam part is less authentic and rather simple compared with far more elaborate elements seen in Medha Hari's DVD, as these elements require to be performed by a real virtuoso. All in all, unlike the other two Bharatanatyam DVDs, it is a good and clear introduction to Bharatanatyam done in the classical way, even though some elements of the technique may not be the purest Bharatanatyam, as Padma Chebrolu's style of Bharatanatyam, a US-based dancer, was heavily influenced by her studies in Kuchipudi, Andhra Natyam and Mohini Attam. I believe it is worth the price.
13 of 15 found the following review helpful:
 Terrible!Mar 04, 2006
By Raja Srinivasan
This video is terrible. The music is horrible. The dancer has no idea of what classical Bharatanatayam means. The depictions are so horrible that defies description. I consider this a total waste of my hard earned money! If you are looking for something worth while go and buy Bharatanatayam Abhinaya by Priyadarshini Govind. (PS. I am not related or connected in any way with either of these artists other than the fact I paid for these 2 sets of DVDs).
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based on 19 reviews
