Nartan School of Classical Dances will present the 27th Dikshant Samorah in Ahmedabad on Saturday 25th November at the open air auditorium of Samut Karsh Academy of Music, Yoga and Holistic Learning in Anand Nagar. The Dikshant Samaroh will celebrate the graduation ceremony in the Bharatanatyam style, successfully completing the seven years course of this divine classical dance form and the disciples are Hardi Thakkar, Tashvi Sharma and Trisha Bhogayata and their mentor is the renowned Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi exponent and mentor, Guru Smita Shastri.
The Diskhant Samaroh is a traditional ceremony in any form of learning, academics, arts or sports wherein the student achieves certain proficiency in their respective faculty and presents her art or form of learning in the public platform in order to grow and seek further advancement and development with the blessings of elders, parents, teachers and the audience.
Nartan School of Classical Dances was established by Guru Smita Shastri, over 53 years of her professional career, she has trained over 7000 aspirants in the field of Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi and is the recipient of the prestigious Sangeet Natak Akademi Award and is also the chairperson of the Gujarat Sangeet Natak Akademi. After her Arangetram way back in 1962 under the able guidance of the veteran mentor Guru Kitappa Pillai, Smita has been priveleged to be the disciple of the Kathakali maestro, Guru Chatunni Panicker, Guru Kalyansundaram Pillai and for Kuchipudi from Guru C R. Acharyalu. Smita is also inspired by the veteran danseuse and scholar Mrinalini Sarabhai from whom she learnt the various aspects of personality development and was a pioneer in the field of performing arts and established Darpana Academy of Performing Arts in Ahmedabad.
Guru Smita says “Initially it was not easy to convince Gujaratis as to what is the significance of classical dance but slowly students started coming and I started organising the Dikshant Samaroh and that further instigated the parents as they wanted their children to learn Bharata Natyam but I make it clear to the students that hardwork and discipline is really important as any classical dance is a complex art form, hence complete devotion and patience is required to achieve a certain level of proficiency. I wish Hardi,Tashvi and Trisha all the best and am sure they will dance well”.
The distinguished chief guests for the occasion are the Vice Chairman of Sangeet Natak Akdeami, New Delhi – Joraversinh Jadhav, Dr Sheela Unikrishnan, Dr Kabita Mohanty, Hiranya Mohanty and eminent arts critic of Mumbai, Guru Vijay Shanker.
