Celebrating our heritage through dance

On the occasion of the International Dance Day (April 29), these artistes have been selected to express what it is about their chosen dance form, Kuchipudi, the most widely learnt classical dance form in the state, that enthuses and inspires them.

All these youngsters, who are balancing their academics along with learning an ancient traditional art are an example to be followed and their parents and well-wishers are to be congratulated for their support.

Dance is a holistic endeavour where coordination of mind and body is essential. It is the mark of a cultured human being to take delight in the expression of any of the fine arts whether practised or appreciated.

Sivaranjani follows in her famous mother Padma Shri Dr Sobha Naidu's footsteps in taking on the mantle of the famous style of Padmabhushan Vempati Chinna Satyam. Tharishya is also a budding dancer, the youngest of all of them who takes pride in accompanying her mother and Guru Jyothi Reddy on the stage.

Yamini Kalluri is on a sabbatical in the United States adding ballet lessons to Kuchipudi as well as teaching the famous art to an International audience of enthusiastic young students. Padma Priya has recently given a stellar Rangapravesham at Ravindra Bharathi to enormous applause.

Sivaranjani, daughter of Padma Shri Dr Sobha Naidu has a long trek ahead before she can make a name for herself in dance. Being a daughter of a legend also takes time to establish, because in our country people start making comparisons and don’t give a chance for the dancer to establish herself. Student of Vasavi Public School, Sivaranjani who completed her Class X, 2017-18 academic year, she was awarded for her all-round performance.

Sivaranjani says, “I feel very proud that my mother is my Guru and I am learning dance from such a legend.” Dr Sobha Naidu apart from initiating Sivaranjani into dance also initiated her into music classes for an all-round understanding of the performing art. “I have been learning both the art forms since I was four years old. I may have skipped music classes, but I have not skipped dance classes,” says the young dancer. “I learn music from Dhulipalla Geeta,” she states.

Of late, Sivaranjani has been giving solo performances at various dance concerts. “Though I have not had my arangetram, I have been giving solos since the last four years,” she says. Recalling her first solo at Chennai, Sivaranjani says: “It was in February 2011 in Chennai at Kapilaswara Temple. When I peeped out and had a look at the audience, my heart skipped a beat.

There were many known and unknown faces in the crowd. I was worried what would happen? But, my mother and my Guru gave me the confidence to perform. She told me don’t identify people in the audience when you are on stage, just go on to the stage and concentrate on your dance. Since then, there has been no looking back, though I have a long way to go.”

The artist shares that her mother was keen that she would first perform in Chennai as it is the Mecca of performing arts and that was her home too for a long time. Not one to give dance practice a miss, Sivaranjani daily puts in a practice of two-hours.

“If we don’t practice daily, we will lose our stamina,” she says. Learning to do ballets like Krishna Parijatam, where in her mother has excelled as Satyabhama, Sivaranjani too eyes to don the iconic character. How is her mom as a Guru, does she show any favouritism, the dancer firmly says ‘NO’..

On what is her normal day like, Sivaranjani says, “My day starts at 6.30 am, earlier I would leave for school and return and finish my homework by 5 pm and then leave for the dance school. Now that I have holidays, it is dance and music, and leaning the intricacies from mom.” Before signing off, Sivaranjani says that apart from being a good human like her mother, she wants to be a good performer, good composer and good choreographer.

By Anna Rao Gangavalli