About :
Namaskaram! I am Sangeetha Shyam . I do not claim to be a great artist, guru or a reviewer… But I would introduce myself as a ” Bharathanatyam enthusiast…”
This blog became an extension of the emails that I for years shared with a few friends and relatives. Nov. 2007 saw the birth of BN and WWW. The blog uses the fantastic free services of WordPress and there are no commercial undertones whatsoever. The blog hopes to be a platform for information and discussion about “what’s happening in the world of Bharathanatyam”. I currently have a few friends helping me out with the actual blogging tasks. I will introduce them here shortly.
Friends, yester-year classmates and a few readers-turned-supporters pitch in to identify and provide ideas or information for the posts on this blog. I also post in this blog excerpts of writings/thoughts that I find interesting; from what I read , hear and see. More often than not, it is a friends email or a readers’s comment that determines the topics that appear on this blog. I will cite the sources of articles, if they had one, with the best of intentions and to the best of my ability. But I cannot attest to the authenticity of all the articles, and comments from readers and other statements . I would suggest that contributors please submit the citation as I do not condone plagiarism. Readers are also requested to use their discretion 
..
“Bharathanatyam” is my passion and I am happy to share it with all my readers. I believe that “Art is greater than the Artist”. And that “There is no Art without Artists”….
My humble pranams to all those who have lovingly carried Bharthanatyam along the way .
Have something to say or add to our posts?
Readers are welcome to introduce themselves, express their thoughts and opinions on the articles posted. But do not slander or malign people for such comments are never going to see the light of the day in this blog. I personally moderate all the comments in this blog and if I have overlooked a real mean comment I always have friends who notice and bring to notice. Its quite a guillotine here for the malicious and weird comments.
Have an event to share?
If you would like to share with us Bharathanatyam event, please leave a small note in the comment. Please dont forget to include the following:-
- Name of the event/dancer
- Venue: Auditorium/city/country
- Time/duration
- Other details like ticketing info/synopsis etc
We will add it up to our event calendar. In the past if a few of yours have not been added, it is solely because some important detail has been missing.
Have an article to share?
If you are interested in sharing your article on Bharathanatyam and related matters, please leave a comment stating your name and the topic you are interested in sharing with us. We would love to see a short abstract. I will get back to you through email
Important
If you are interested in our replies please be sure to furnish correct email IDS in the comment.
i would like to inform my talents in this web site bcz i verified the site it is very usefull and giving more informations about indian classical dance
thanq.
Sangeetha: I am extremely honored with your trust. Thank you.
You are free to introduce yourself in this thread.
http://sangeethas.wordpress.com/2007/11/21/artistes/
You could provide your details, links etc.
http://www.sivaramkuchipudi.com is not working.
hai sangeetha akka….
u r doing a wonderful job…i have nt seen u nor u know me…but i m really impressed by ur dedication towards the profession…..this will be a great guidance 4 the up coming artist all over the world….may god bless u….
with regards and prayers…
hari kishan
Sangeetha :Thanks Hari Kishan
Hi sangeetha akka,
This is a great way of contirbuting towards your passion as well the asr form. I am happy to see this blog, and hope that this blog will be very very useful to many a dancers out there and many an enthusiasts out there, like you, who are dying to do something for the art form. Thank you,
Umaa Sathya Narayanan
Sangeetha :Thank you too! Uma
Thank you for allowing us to post our event. Malathi.
Sangeetha: Event details moved to a new post.
Respected sangeetha,
a great webpage we need to really bring in some discipline in to the art of bharatanatyam and bring in youngsters to perform .
iam also a dance enthusiast please give me an appointment so as to meet u and discuss certain topics.
thanking you
yours truly
v s sriraam
SS JAY
98401-47624
Hi Sriram,
Somehow missed reading your comment earlier.. I am happy to meet another dance enthusiast here.. You are welcome to share your suggestions and comment here.
Rangoli Dance Company along with guest artists from India presents
Patanjali: Legends of Yoga and Dance
August 9, 2008
MAIN STAGE, Santa Monica College, 1900 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica, CA 90405
Unwritten Rhythms: 7:30 pm
Patanjali Dance Concert: 8:00 pm.
Dear Malathi,
Thanks for sharing the info with us..I have moved the details to a new post.
Regards,
Sangeetha
This an exclusive one night performance entitled UJJWALA – AWAKENING THE INNER FLAME, will be staged at the Malaysian Tourist Center, Auditorium Dewan Tuaku Abdul Rahman. 109, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur
on 30th August at 7.30pm, by Ajith Bhaskaran Dass
See link for details:
http://nmadasamy.com/AJIT/ujjwala.html
Hi !
I am just back from a Bharathanatyam performance in Brickfields.. Coincidentally I met Smt. Usha Ramachandran and she told me about this program.(She is doing the nattuvangam , isnt she?). Well, I will move this comment of yours into a new post as soon as possible for greater visibility. And I hope to make it there too!
Regards,
Sangeetha
Truly good work! Your blog is a really interesting read. Keep the Bharatanatyam fire burning.
Thanks for the comment on Sa.
Sneha
Hi Sneha,
Thanks..
I just dont want to say the usual “I love your blog too” thingy! Iam truly inspired and impressed by your blog “sa vadati” . Your blog really speaks…
Best wishes,
Sangeetha
Hi,
)
We just added you to our Blogroll. (In fact you’re the first person on our roll
Great blog!
Sneha and Shweta
Thanks Sneha and Shweta,
I am honored.
Well that’s exactly what I say about your blog to all my friends. “Great Blog” from 2 really thoughtful girls
Regards,
Sangeetha
Dear Sangeetha Shyam,
Namaskaram!It was great visiting your site! Keep up the good work! We have sent our website address. Hope you can add some of our reviews and program details on your site.
Thank you
Regards
Shijith N Parvathy
Hi Shijith and Parvathy,
Namaskarams to you too. Glad to see you both here. Would sure do it…
Your website is beautiful, another expression of your fine aesthetics.
I have heard and read about you, though havent had the oppurtunity to watch you live… I hope that happens soon!
Best wishes,
Sangeetha
Namaskarama…
Very nice to here theese words from u.. I too have interest in Art forms.. Iam the editor of Kannada languge Art journal Noopurabhramari…If u know kannada it would be great pleasure for myself…
thank u… keep in touch,.. and best wishes in this journey of Art…
Thanks Manorama…
I did visit your website, but unfortunately I cant read Kannada. I can see that some serious study is happening at your place. You could try providing an English version with the automatic translating programs..
Best wishes,
Sangeetha
Hi Sangeetha:
I would like to post my daughter’s upcoming Bharathnatyam performances in Dec.08. How would I go about do that? Please let me know.
Thanks
With Regards
Pushkala.
Dear Pushkala,
You may do so by posting it here in the comment section.. I will also email you at the ID you have registered here. So if you have a a flyer or a JPEG Image to go with it you can send it in there.
Regards,
Sangeetha
Hello Sangeeta,
I am great fan of your blog and thoroughly enjoy reading the articles, interviews you post on the blog. When i was reading about Santosh Menon, i was reminded about another wonderful performering artiste, Renjith Babu- A Kalakshetra graduate and who has been undergoing advanced training under Prof. C.V. Chandrasekar sir.
It would be nice IF you could also have an article or an interview of his done and posted on the blog. He is someone who deserves to be appreciated.
Just a thought….
Keep up the good work !!!
good luck
Dear Archana,
Sorry about the late reply… Am just back from a vacation. Would love to interview Renjith Babu. Do you have a contact Id? Do you have specific questions in mind that you want to ask? Please let me know and let us see how we can do it.
Regards,
Sangeetha
HI SANGGTEHA,
At the outset i apologise to have u taken for granted for being the dancer “sangeetha Eswaran” from chennai.
well,in that case let me intorduce myself…Iam SUHASINI MUTHUKRISHAN,basically an alumnus of kalakshetra ,Chennai and went for specailised training for “BHARATHANATYAM “under
prof. Shri.C.V.CHANDRASEKAR,Smt. MANJARI.Alos,I had a short stint of training under Smt.PUSHPA SHANKAR and Smt. NIRMALA both being teaching faculty in kalakshetra.
presently ,iam in U.S., and have taken a short break from dancing .
KUDOS to ur dance enthusiasm and the efforts which has taken its shape in the form of this blog -for people like me.
regards,
suhasini .
Hi again Suhasini !,
.. they were under the impression that I was the “Sangeetha Iswaran” who had worked with them a couple of years ago. Sangeetha is just too common a name:)
Glad to hear about you. You don’t have to apologize for the “mistaken identity”.This has happened a lot of times and even in some personal interactions. While at Indonesia, a couple of Balinese dancers were talking to me like they really knew me
Thanks for your comment..
Keep in touch!
Regards,
Sangeetha
I have a 4 year old daughter. i wanted to get your advice to know when is the appropriate age to learn bharthantyam for her. We live in dayton, OH. She already goes to Ballet, tap dances, but doesnt really shake herself out, so I am not sure how to proceed. Your guidance is much appreciated.
Hi Meenal!
Glad to hear that your daughter is into dancing. Bharathanatyam is pretty intense – the araimandi position and firm taps of the feet work on the lower back, thighs, the knees,the calf, the ankle, heel and the feet. It is believed that physically and mentally a child is ready for Bharathanatyam not before 5 years of age. Most people even say 7 years, but I think its more a case of individual milestone achievement. But generally it may be said children are usually ready between 5 and 7 years of age. The child apart form being physically fit should have attained enough cognition development to mirror movements to the right and left. I believe this usually happens when they can successfully draw a diamond, which occurs at around 6 years of age.
Initial lessons can be strenuous and if the child is not ready physically or mentally, then she may not keep at it. So there readiness is an important factor in the success of their initial training and adherence to it apart from the fact that it may have a medical dimension to it.
Best Wishes,
Sangeetha
Sangeetha,
Please accept my compliments on a prolific blog.
I write to seek your suggestion on a text on bharatnatyam which explores the philosophical underpinnings of the dance form as expressed in Varnam. A recommendation would be greatly appreciated and form an excellent reference for my travel this coming monsoons to India.
Look forward to a response.
Best,
Hi Gaurav,
Nice to meet you here.
Well the reference depends on the depth of treatment you are looking for. As a start you could look at Dr. Sunil Kothari’s “Bharata Natyam”. Particularly the following chapters may be of interest to you.
Chapter1- In Praise of Bharata Natyam by Mulk Raj Anand
Chapter 2- Spiritual Background by Rukmini Devi
Chapter 3- History, Growth and Revival
Chapter8 – Margam repertoire: Alarippu to Thillana.
The philosophical or spiritual undertones are not restricted to the Varnam alone, though it is the central/main piece in a Bharathanatyam recital. You could also look into padams, javalis which are supposed to convey the longing of the jeevatma(soul) to unite with the Paramatama(Supreme Soul).
Here is an amazon reference to the book
http://www.amazon.com/Bharata-Natyam-Sunil-Kothari/dp/818502636X
Hi,
I’m actually a student of Vijay Anna (Vijay Madhavan),and I’m doing my masters degree in Arizona State University. I came across your blog and I really love it. There aren’t that many “web-presences” for Bharatnatyam like the other dance forms, unfortunately! I feel motivated to contribute too, but I’m just a student and I dont know enough to contribute like you or the other great people who contribute to your blog!
I have my own blog too (purple-poise.blogspot.com), but its not very specific to dance, though I’m working on putting up one; there is just one article – my opinion about a performance I saw here in Phoenix.
I’m planning to write about dance from a student’s perspective (especially one who misses it!) among a few other things that I have learnt or realized in dance.
I guess I’m rambling something here! But what I really wanted to say was, thank you very much for making such a powerful, sharp, much needed web presence for BharatNatyam. this kind of proves that digital contribution to the artform is also possible!
Oh by the way, when you are free, it would be nice if you could check out what I felt about a performance here – http://purple-poise.blogspot.com/2009/03/poised-performance-by-shrishti-creation.html . It is just my thoughts on the performance, I should warn you, it is a pretty long article! I would like to know what you think of it, and your feedback would help me grow!
Thanks once again,
Soumya
Hi Soumya!
Glad to meet you here… I am emailing you!
Regards,
Sangeetha
Hi Sangeetha,
I really enjoy reading through your blog..especially about upcoming program all around the world.I am a student of Smt Shantha Bhaskar ( Singapore) and Smt and Sri Hariharan ( Kalakshetra and Disciples of the Dhananjayans). Currently I live in Arizona Phoenix and take dance classes here too. Its really nice to be able to come to your site and get my weekly knowings on what is happening in the dance scences all over. Just wanted to say KUDOS to the great blog and look forward for more interesting happenings.
Thanks
Shyla Ganesan.
Thanks for dropping by Shyla!
regards,
Sangeetha
Hi Sangeetha,
This is Meena (narrator from Ujjwala). There’s a dance production Ananda Absolute! coming up in June 20th and 21st 2009 at the MTC Auditorium Jalan Ampang. It’s a double bill production by Ajith Bhaskaran Dass and Nadarajan Muniandy. It’s two separate repertoire’s in one production. Ajith & Suvarna Fine Arts present Shree Stree Sakthi while Nadarajan & Subraanjali Dance Theatre present Harismaranam.
Please let me know how I can get this posted on this site. I also have a flyer and how can I send that to you?
Thanks
Meena
Hi Meena!
I have emailed you (at the Id you have provided) Would sure add it up!
Best wishes,
Sangeetha
Hi Sangeetha,
I didn’t get your email. Could you please resend to meena@my.scomioiltools.com and devmen7179@gmail.com
Thanks
Meena
Hi Meena,
I have resent the email to both the email Ids. i hope it reaches you this time.
Regards,
Sangeetha