Kerala Kalakshetram (Vasai) presented the Bharatanatyam Arangetram, debut performance by ten young teenag dancers at the exquisite Lata Mangeshkar auditorium, Mumbai on 31st October. It was a dream come true for the aspiring young classical dancers, as they were ascending the stage for the first time in their life, hence the combination of nervousness and excitement too, both for the dancers and the parents as they assembled in large numbers to encourage the children.
Kerala Kalakshetram is headed by accomplished Bharatanatyam mentor, Kalamandalam Rajitha Nair, who has been conducting classes for the last 17 years and teaches Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi and the aspiring students pass out their examinations from the Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal.
It was quite thrilling to watch the ten dancers ascending the stage in the proper pattern as each one sought the blessings of Lord Nataraja, Lord Ganesha and Goddess Sarswathi, the mentors and elders in the audience in the Pushpanjali(offering of flowers), followed by invocations and then the first number that introduced the varied movements in a stylized manner in the Alarippu, fine combination of music and melody in the Jatiswaram. followed with Sabdam, then the elaborate number in praise of Lord Krishna – Varnam, after that the Dashavatram number incorporating the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu in a dramatic manner and finally the beautiful Swati Thirunal Dhanasri Thillana in praise of Lord Padbanabha which was performed by the dancers with precise execution of intricate rhythm and pleasing expressions. The dancers were Anamika Jairaj, Anika Mahesh, Anvi Shrivastava, Arya A Nair, Nandini N Patil, Shristhi Manchekar, Suhana Maity, Swasti Naik, Sreenedhi Amaradasan and Veda S. Kumar.
The musical orchestra was led by Guru Rajitha Nair on the nattuvangam, vocal by Dr Omanakuttan Nair, mridangam by R. Shaktidharan, violin by Shekar Tanjorkar and flute by Raghavendra Baliga The distinguished guest were Bharata Natyam mentor, Guru Sumitra Rajguru. Kuchipudi exponent and eminent arts critic, Guru Vijay Shanker and social worker Deepak Tripathi. The compere for the evening was Aishwarya Nair.
