Jayanthi performing at R.K.Swami Hall (Sri Parthasarathi Swami Sabha)

"A forum to further talent" - An article in "The Hindu"

A forum to further talent

By CHARUKESI

Young Bharatanatyam dancers from different schools have formed ‘Prayathnam’ a unique endeavour for the promotion of classical dance.

Photo: N. Sridharan

One banner: Prayathnam Dance Teachers Group.

A couple of decades ago, it was well nigh impossible to form a group of young Bharatanatyam dancers belonging to different schools. Communication between students of one school and another was almost taboo. When Fine Arts Foundation - India entered the scene two decades ago, with programmes featuring students of different gurus, there was a glimmer of hope that like YACM, these young girls would form a group for their own benefit. With a handful of young promising dancers organising themselves under a common banner, ‘Lakshya’ was born. It did not, however, take strong roots. Now a group has given a concrete shape to the idea. The result is ‘Prayathnam.’

Founded in August 2008 with a dozen members, its strength is now 40.
“We are a small group started by Divyasena, Sasirekha Rammohan and me,” says Sreelatha Vinod, a prime disciple of the Dhananjayans and a brilliant dancer in her own right. “Our idea is to continue the process of learning in specific areas from experts and professionals, while continuing our performances alongside. We launched ‘Prayathnam,’ in August last with a lecture series. Gurus like M.V. Narasimhachari, Chitra Visveswaran, Sudharani Raghupathi and V.P. Dhananjayan were the motivating force and it is their inspiration that has strengthened our forum.”

Lectures and classes

With lectures on ‘Chitrilakkiyam’ by Prof. Raghuraman, lec-dems by Nandini Ramani on the Thanjavur style of Bharatanatyam, karanas workshop by Piyal Bhattacharya in two batches, Vilasini Natyam by Swapna Sundari, and lec-dem by Bharat Gupt this March. Although Kalanidhi Narayanan did not believe in lectures, she came forward to conduct special padam classes and they are on-going sessions at her residence on Wednesday mornings, while V.A.K Ranga Rao’s classes are on Tuesday mornings.

“We hold our classes in different venues depending upon the teachers,” says Sasirekha. “Yes, we meet once a month and also as often as necessary. The initial meeting was with guru M.V. Narasimhachari. He advised us to have a common syllabus. While Chitra Visveswaran offered space in her school for lectures/chamber concerts, Sudharani Raghupathy urged us to collect some rare songs with their meanings and offered to co-operate to interpret them with other teachers’ inputs. Prof. Raghuraman welcomed the idea of constantly updating knowledge of Bharatanatyam and its allied disciplines of music and literature.”

“Udipi Lakshminarayana is also a Sanskrit scholar, besides being a Bharatanatyam guru and he has a lot of information on theory and practice which he readily offered to share with us. Krishnakumari Narendran gave valuable information on presentation aspects and stressed the reasons to harness technology in a production for a better audience appeal. Leela Shekar gave inputs on how to conduct a festival and urged us to pay as much importance to music as in teaching dance,” explains Sasirekha.

Nirmala Ramachandran was another senior guru who offered to conduct padam classes in Pandanallur bani. Sujatha Vijayaraghavan came forward to share her collection of songs to help them enrich their repertoire. Savithri Jagannatha Rao was keen to help and even agreed to conduct orientation programmes for the first and second year syllabi, while Dhananjayan offered his services to draft them. Adyar Lakshman was prepared to conduct Nattuvangam classes; so was Bhagavathulu Seetharama Sharma. . Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar advised us to upgrade ourselves in theory and practice and came forward to teach abhinaya darpana at his premises. Kalakshetra has been very helpful too. While Leela Samson joined hands in organising a workshop with Swapna Sundari, senior guru Balagopal agreed to conduct classes on Netra Abhinaya. Janardhan will teach ashtapatis.

“So, it has been a very good augury. ,” says Sreelatha Vinod. “This way, we are achieving our objectives of broadening the scope of learning,” she smiles. “ We are in the process of making a data base for existing lyrics and their meanings. We also plan to institute a diploma course with specific syllabus and assessment with graded certification. We want to go to local schools and rural areas to conduct classes and quiz competitions and present lec-dems. Needless to say we intend making provisions to facilitate compilation of theory notes to be used for advanced students. We aspire to conduct dance festivals in temples and later other venues so as to give different schools an opportunity to perform,” concludes Sasirekha.

For more details contact 2255 3852.

Vasanth TV-Participate

Hi Members,
Interested to present a Bharatanatyam recital(along with your group) in Vasanth TV?
If yes, call Gayathri at 9940194625.

Lec-Dem For the month of April

Dear  Prayathnam members

Lec-dem for the month of April :- Smt. Chitra Viswewaran

Topic : Bridging theory and practise….an understanding

Date : 22.04.09

Time – 10.30am – 12.30pm

Venue : Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts
1, Sri Labdi Colony, Alwarpet, Chennai - 600018

For directions – Contact Sukanya Ravinder 98840 01525


Vacancy in Music Acdemy

Person needed for documenting their music archives.

Qualification : degree / diploma, Interest in dance/music

Timings : 10 to 4

Salary : 8000 – 10000

Contact : Music Academy office or e-mail with curriculum

Vitae to Mr. Pappu Venugopal Rao

Natyarangam - April Program

18.04.09  - 6 pm - Arupa Lahiri & 7.15 - Anusuya Banerjee
                   (Both are disciples of Padmashri.Smt.Chitra Visweswaran)

19.04.09 - Lec-dem by  Padmashri.Smt.Chitra Visweswaran

Feedback for Syllabus

We have outlined the course at 6 levels to be implemented in dance schools as a model syllabus irrespective of the style that the students train in. It will mean that any additional information given by the respected schools is only a bonus for that student. It is understood that this is only a mandatory requisite for basic training in Bharathanatyam. And we await your response after going through the same.

Level-1
· Thattadavu
· Naatadavu
· Paraval Adavu
· Kuditha mettu Adavu
· Korvai Adavu
· Utplavana Adavu
· Sutru / Bramari Adavu
· Folk dance - Garba
· Guru Slokam
· Dhyna Slokam
· Natyaramba Slokam
· Bhumidevi Slokam
· Asamyutha Hasthas
· Samyutha Hasthas
· Story of Ramayana
Level – 2
· Thath thai tha ha
· Mandi Adavu
· Karthari Adavu
· Sarukkal Adavu
· Mei Adavu
· Theermana Adavu
· Thatti mettadavu
· Alarippu
· Kummi Natyashastra slokam
· 10 qualities of a dancer
· Appearance of a dancer
· Asamyutha Viniyoga [pathaka-sukhathunda]
· Names [Gods, Goddess, weapons, vehicles]
· Story of Muruga & Ganesha
Level-3
· Jathiswaram
· Shabdham
· Bharathiyar paadal
· Combination of adavus & korvais in different nadais
· Suppada / Bhangra
· Natyarambham Slokam
· Elements of Dance
· Mythological origin of dance
· Shiro, Grieva, Drishti Bhedha
· Asamyutha Viniyoga [Mushti – Simhamukha]
· Composers of Dance
· Stories – Dasavathara, Tripura, Markandeya, Dhaksha Yagam
Level – 4
· Kowthuvam
· Pushpanjali
· Padam
· Thillana
· Kavadi Chindu
· Thiruppugazh
· Pionners of Bharathanatyam
· Raas / Santhaal Slokas – [ Thandava – Lasya, Abhinaya, Rasas, Benefits of Natya, Pushpanjali, Rangasthuthi]
· Bru & Ura Bhedha
· Padha & Sthanaka Bhedha
· Asamyutha Viniyoga [ Kaangoola – Trisula]
· Stories – Kuchela, Nala Dhamayanthi, Panchaali, Gitopadasam, drona, Bheeshma, Kunti
Level –5
· Ashtapadi
· Javali
· Keerthanam
· Padham - Muthu Thandavar
- Ganam Krishnayyar
· Naga Folk Dance
· Jaathi, Bandhava Hasthas
· Ashtadikpaalaas
· Navagraha & Raasi Hasthas
· Utplavana & Brahmari Bhedhas
· Samyutha Viniyogas
· Thalam
· Stories – Panchasthala of Nataraja, Tirupati, Kapali, Chidambaram, Padmanabha Swamy & Aarupadai veedu
Level-6
· Varnam
· Slokam
· Tevaram
· Paasuram
· Kaikotti Kali
· Thalam
· Nayaka Nayaki prakarna
· Chitrilakkiyam
· History of Tanjore Quartettte
· Temple & its architecture
· Biographies – famous Nattuvanars & Dancers

BFAC Lecture

Date: Wednesday, 18 March, 2009, 9:04 PM
Dr. PADMA SUBRAHMANYAM Managing Trustee, BHARATAMUNI FOUNDATION FOR ASIAN CULTURE cordially invites you for a lecture (with visuals) byDr. R. NAGASWAMY, Former Director, Dept. of Archaeology, Govt. of Tamilnadu & Former Vice Chancellor, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasawati Visva Mahavidyalaya,Kancheepuram, at Subrahmanyam Hall (A/C) Old No: 5, IV Main Road, Gandhinagar, Chennai –600 020 from 6-30 to 7-30 PM followed by an interaction for 30 minutes.

Date: Friday, March 20, 2009Topic: Art of South East Asia with special reference toCombodia & Thailand.
Looking forward to your presence and participation:
BFAC Trustees:R. KrishnaswamiV. Jayaraman IRS., (Retd)P.R. KrishnakumarM. Krishna KishoreDr. Gayatri KannanB. Kannan

Profile of Dr.R. Nagaswamy:
Former Director, Dept. of Archaeology, Govt. of Tamilnadu and Former Vice Chancellor, Sri Chandrasekharendra Sarasawati Visva Mahavidyalaya, Kancheepuram, had obtained M.A., in Sanskrit from Madras University and Ph.D in Indian Art on Tantric Cult from Pune University. He served as Curator for Art and Archaeology, Madras Museum and was later transferred to Dept. of Archaeology. His mentor was Padma Bhushan Dr. T.N. Ramachandran, the great Archaeologist and Vedic scholar who served as Joint Director General of the Archaeology Survey of India (ASI). Dr. Nagaswamy was the first Director of Archaeology in Tamilnadu who made Archaeology very popular in this state. Has conducted many excavations and under his direction, the Thirumalai Nayak Mahal was restored and the sound and light programme installed. An expert in Epigraphy, Archaeology, Numismatics and in Tamil and Sanskrit literature, he was awarded the Kalaimamani Award by the Govt. of Tamilnadu. He has widely traveled both in the east and west and he is now specialising in South East Asian art. His single contribution was when he appeared as an expert witness in the London High Court for the Pattur Nataraja case and was mainly instrumental in getting the Nataraja idol back to India. He also initiated under water exploration at Poompuhar for the first time. Deeply interested in dance and music, he started the Natyanjali festival at Chidambarm with Dr. Kapila Vatsyayan and has himself produced over ten dance dramas (mainly historical themes) that have been staged in Germany, Sweden, England, Canada and USA. A scholar of international repute, he is the living authority on South Indian Bronzes. Author of several books, he has conducted several international conferences and exhibitions.

5 Days Program on Natyasastra by Dr.Bharat Gupt

This is to let you know about a 5 day lecture on Natyasastra, by Dr.Bharat Gupt, well known personality in the area of theatre and culture. The program is arranged by Madras University and is open to outsiders also, including teachers and serious learners ofdance.
Dates: 9th to 13th march, 2009
5 days with 2 sessions each day
Intention: to cover the whole natya sastra
A fee of Rs.1,000/ is charged. Registration may be made thru phone/person with Dept of Music Fee to be paid by 15th Feb Bharat Gupt: Theatre Theorist and Cultural Analyst Associate Professor of English , College of Vocational Studies, University of Delhi. Born in 1946 in Moradabad, a small town in the Uttar Pradesh province of India of mixed Hindu-Muslim population, best known for its engraved art on brassware and a little less for hindustani music and urdu poetry. Parents moved inearly fifties to Delhi, the new capital of modernity and political intrigue, where he went to school and college and studied English, Hindi, Sanskrit and philosophy, but spent every summer in the district town. Spent a year in the US at the end of Counter-Cultural days and took a Master's degree from Toronto. He learnt to play the sitar and surbahar under the eminent musician Uma Shankar Mishra and studied musicology , yoga sutras andclassics under Acarya Brihaspati and Swami Kripalvananda. Trained both in modern European and traditional Indian educational systems, he has worked in classical studies, theatre, music, culture and media studies and researched as Senior Onassis Fellow in Greece on revival of ancient Greek theatre. As a classicist he came to realise that ancient Greek drama and culture as a whole, was given an unduly empirical color by the modern West. He felt that Greek theatre was closer to ancient Indian theatre as an ethical and religiousact or hieropraxis and instead of being seen as Western and Eastern, Greek and Indian theatres should be seen rooted in the Indo-European cultural beliefs, myths and idolatory and the aesthetics of emotional arousal. He has lectured on theatre and music at various Universities in India, North America and Greece and is a visiting faculty at the National School of Drama, Delhi and the Bhartendu Academy for Dramatic Arts , Lucknow. His published books are : Dramatic Concepts Greek and Indian (1994) and Natyashastra , Chapter 28: Ancient Scales of Indian Music (1996). He writes for research journals and national newspapers also on cultural and educational issues.

Call for proposals for 23rd World Congress on Dance Research

Confirmed professionals are invited to submit proposals for: performances, classes, research reports, lecture-demonstrations, exhibitions/sales, video projections.
All forms of dance: ballet, modern, folk, ballroom, contemporary, traditional, classical, ethnic etc. All approaches: teaching, performing, research, therapy, criticism, recreation, management, journalism etc.
The largest gathering of dance experts in the world. Largest number of conferees. Largest number of countries. Maximum publicity. Official recognition. Scientific Committee.
Strictly non-commercial. Not to be confused with festivals, conferences, workshops, symposiums, trade fairs, competitions etc., while containing their most important features

visit www.orchesis-portal.org/cdr/

Natana Sol Kalanjium by Dr.S.Raghuraman

Cordially invite you for the book release function on 20th Dec '08 at Kothambalam Kalakshetra at 6pm.
"Natana Sol Kalanjium"
Authored by Dr.S.Raghuraman and Co-authored by Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy
Welcome speech - Ms.Leela Samson
Book Release by Smt. Kalanidhi Narayan
Felicitations - Smt. Chitra Visweswaran & Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy
Key note Address - Prof. C.V.Chandrasekar
Vote of Thanks - Smt. Lakshmi Ramaswamy

A tribute to Padmabhushan.Kalanidhi Narayanan

Kalanidhi Aunty's 80th Birthday Celebrations

We are happy to inform you that we will be celebrating Kalanidhi Mami’s 80th Birthday on the 8th of December,2008, at Kalakshethra Auditorium at 6.30 pm .On this momentous occasion, three important events will be taking place.

1) Release of a book on select padams of Kshetrayya and Sarangapani by Sri.V.A.K.Ranga Rao.

2) Release of a Documentary on Kalanidhi Mami by E-Parampara.

3) Release of a pictorial biography of Kalanidhi Mami,authored by Mrs.Lakshmi Lal.

Dance Therapy Certificate Course - CFSIDMT

Dance Therapy Certificate Course (CFSIDMT)
Certified Fellow Of Shristi Institute Of Dance And Movement Therapy

Shristi institute of dance therapy is an premier dance therapy institute in india and Dr.A.A.Satyanarayana is the pioneer in dance therapy with international and medical acclimation. Shristi Institute of Dance Therapy conducted more than 100 dance therapy workshop both in india and abroad since 2001. More than 1000 people attended the workshop for different ailments and for physical fitness. Dance therapy certificate course is the result of study research innovation and application of therapeutic values of dance. Dance therapy certificate course is the first of its kind in india.

Dance therapy is presented in the following prestigious medical platforms.
• All Indian Congress Of Gynecology, Bangalore – 2003 Agra – 2004 Kolkattta-2007.
• 4th Singapore Congress Obestrics And Gynecology, Singapore 2003
• First International Prenatal Congress At Dhaka 2003 ( 1 -2 Feb)
• South Asian Federation Of Obestrics And Gynecology Conference At Mumbai 2003
• European Congress Of Prenatal Medicine, Athens (Greece) October 2004.
• World Conference Expanding Paradigms Science Consciousness And Spirituality -All India Institute Of Medical Science 2006.
• International Congress Of Integrated Value Education At Art Of Living Foundation Bangalore 2006
• Sayyajirao University Baroada
• National Conference Of Sexology-Bangalore India 2006
• World Congress Of Obestrics And Gynecology-2006,
• Kulalampur –Malyasia Nov 2006
• World Congress Of Dance Organised By The International Dance Association An Unit Of Unesco-2007 at Athens-Greece.
• World Congress Of Perinatal Medeicine. Florence -Italy-2007.

The subject for study in dance therapy certificate course
• Basics of classical and folk dance forms.
• Basic of music.
• Basics of anatomy and physiology.
• Basics of physiotherapy
• Basics of psychology.
• Practical application of dance therapy
• Interaction with patients and visiting of hospitals.
• Study research innovation and application of New dance therapy techniques.

Duration of course- 6 months
Classes will commence from january 2009
Prospectus and application rs.100/- usd 5/-
Admission fees rs.20000/-
No distance learning at present
www.dancetherapyindia.com

Group Dance Competition at Chinnara HabbaDear

Competetions in January-2009

1. Competition conducted for Sub-Junior, Junior and Seniors by

Navya Nataka Samiti,

From JAN 5^th to JAN 10^th

at

1-8-522 / 12 Chikkadpalli,

Hyderabad 500020

ANDHRAPRADESH

Ph # 040 – 27661403

# 040 – 66361660

2. National & International Dance Festival conducted by

Theatre Movement,

Kala Vikas Kendra

From JAN 15^th to JAN 28^th

At Varavathi Stadium,

Theatre Movement

C/o Mr. G.B.Das Mohapatra

Buxi Bazaar

P.O # 80

Cuttack – 753110

ORISSA

Ph # 06712 – 349097

# 0 – 94376 04185

# 0 – 98612 52763

Performance allowed :

One act play,

Dance competition –

Solo , Duet & Group Dance ( a group of minimum 4 members required )

Permitted style of Dance :

Classical

Semi-classical

Folk

Valedictory function will be conducted on 28^th of January, 2009.

Age Groups fall under the following categories :

A. 5yr – 12 yrs

B. 13yr – 18 yrs

C. 19 yr – 25 yrs

D. 25yr – 35 yrs

E. 35 yrs & above

JAN 10^th , 2009 DANCE PROGRAM OPPORTUNITY :

There is a program opportunity given to Ms. Divya Sena

which in turn is given to PRAYATHNAM GROUP MEMBERS

at " The Mylapore Fine Arts " .

This is exclusively for members who had not availed the opportunity at Chromepet.

The available time slot is from 7.15 pm to 8.45 pm.

Live Orchestra is a must.

A group should comprise of 4 to 5 members .

Workshop by Piyal Bhattacharya on Karanas

Workshop by Piyal Bhattacharya on Karanas from Oct 15- 25th . Those with some background in Karanas can join the advanced class which is from 915- 11.15 am for 10 days
Those new to Karanas can join the class scheduled from 12- 2 pm on the same days. Venue- HASTA- No 1 5th cross street Karpagam Gardens. Chennai.


A brief profile of Piyal Bhattacharya :-

Born in an artistic environment in Kolkata, Piyal have always have sought for the new and the mystic. This has led him to the ancient world of Kathakali and Karanas after completing his double degree In anthropology and Sanskrit from Kolkata University.He got his initial training under Guru Govindan Kutti and thereafter completed the 6 year Diploma from Kerala Kalamandalam under Kalamandalam Bala Subhramanium.Presently, Piyal have carved a niche for himself among dancers, art lovers and scholars for his noteworthy research on the Karanas.

Objectives of Prayathnam

· To broaden the scope of learning by conducting workshops amidst seasoned and experienced professionals.

· To start a database fro competitions, examinations and festivals with details on itineraries and list of concerned organization.

· To collate a database for existing songs and their lyrics with their respective inferences

· To institute a diploma course for 1-6 levels with specific syllabus and assessment with graded certification given by Prayathnam and recognized by a reputed body.

· To draw guidelines on the requisites of a dance school recognized by Prayathnam

· To go to local schools and rural areas to conduct workshops, lecture demonstrations and quiz competitions.

· To make provision to facilitate compilation of theory notes to be used for advanced students of dance.

· To conduct festivals in temples and later other venues giving different dace schools a platform for performance through the process of rotation and drawing of lots.

· To institute a scholarship awarded by Prayathnam to the most serious student and best performer of the year in performance and theory.

· To propagate the ideals of Prayathnam by creating a web page and updating information of its members and their activities.

· To start the family of Prayathnam with an annual subscription of Rs.500.

Members

Names of our esteemed members in the alphabetical order :-

1. AISHWARYA NARAYANSWAMY

2. AMRITHA

3. ANJANA ANAND

4. ASHWINI VISWANANTHAN

5. ATHENA MADHU

6. BRAGHA BESSEL

7. DHIVYA SHIVSUNDAR

8. DIVYASENA.S

9. DURGA

10. GAYATHRI

11. GAYATHRI SASIDARAN

12. GOPINATH. K

13. HARIHARAN M.S

14. HEMALATHA RAMACHANDRAN

15. HIMAJA RAMSHARAN

16. JANAKI GANESH

17. JAYANTHI SUBRAMANIAM

18. JAYANTHI SUNDAR

19. KALYANI.M

20. KAVITHA RAMU

21. KRISHANTHY NAGARAJ

22. KRISHNAKUMAR

23. KRITHIKA

24. LAKSHMI RAMASWAMY

25. LAKSHMI VENKATESH

26. LAVANYA SHANKAR

27. LAVANYA VIKRAM

28. MADHUMATHY PRAKASH

29. MANJARI  CHANDRASEKAR

30. MEENAKSHI SRINIVASAN

31. NAGAPRIYA KARTHIKEYAN

32. PRAVEENA BHASKAR

33. PREMALAKSHMI

34. PRITHVIJA BALAGOPAL 

35. PRIYA BHANDHAVI

36. PRIYA KRISHNADAS

37. PRIYA MURLE

38. RADHIKA VAIRAVELAVAN

39. RAJESWARI

40. RAMA DURAISWAMINATHAN

41. SAIKRIPA

42. SASIREKHA RAAMMOHAN

43. SENTHIL KUMAR

44. SHARADHA SETHURAMAN

45. SHEELA UNNIKRISHNAN

46. SHOBA KORAMBIL

47. SHYAMALA

48. SREEDEVI PRIYA

49. SREELATHA VINODH

50. SUBASHRI NATARAJAN

51. SUDHA VIJAYAKUMAR

52. SUJATHA MOHAN

53. SUNITHA GOPINATH

54. SURESH SRIDHAR

55. UDUMALAI SENTHIL

56. UMA NAMBOODARIPAD

57. VANEE GAYATHRI