Gazette No.1

| Issue No.1 | 5-27-20 | Lockdown Edition |

Darpanaa Reviews and Testimonials

~The Taala Darpanna workshop was a very fun experience. I learned a lot in this workshop. I enjoyed learning how to understand Taala in each Jathi. This helped me understand the rhythm of a dance piece. I also enjoyed being able to meet a new dance Guru from a different part of the world and learn something from them. The things that I learned in this workshop are things that I will use when I am learning dance. This workshop gave me a new perspective on understanding a dance piece. Now when I listen to the song of a dance piece, I will be listening to find the Taala of the dance. Thank you Sudha aunty and Darpanaa for this opportunity.

~Ananya Jayaraman

~Taala Darpana was an awesome workshop with vaibhav sir.It was a great debut beginning to Darpanaa.It was an opportunity to understand the details of Taalam and how jathi is composed based on the taalam.For me it was totally a new experience to know the details involved with so many variations in composing the jathis.Loved trying it out. And the new item taught was entirely different choreography which I have not danced or learnt.Thanks a lot Sudha Akka for giving us so many opportunities to learn and improvise in this art. Feeling very blessed.

~Priya Akilesh

-I thought that this workshop was very useful in understanding taala. It was interesting to learn about cross rhythms because you can recognize them as well as other patterns that were taught in many of the items we did. Overall, I had a great time learning about cross rhythms and the Ganesh item.

~Advika Sasikumar

If you are interested in joining the second session this Saturday and Sunday (30th and 31st May), fill out the registration form by clicking here. Taala Darpanaa will be rerunning in a second session for those on the waitlist and eager to join!

QUIZ TIME!

-Quiz for Darpanaa participants: Click Here

- Mythology quiz for all students: Click Here (The name might be a default, so remember to change it to your own name. This quiz is not mandatory to students who already took it).

NLD on social media

Quarantine time :: Productive Time...check out some postings made by NLD on FB and IG.

-Natamadum by Swara Krishnan

-Five PM Namaskar by Sudha Krishnan and Swara Krishnan

- Five pm namaskar by Priya Akilesh and Suhani Akilesh

- Rama Nama Methudi by Sudha Krishnan

- Meenakshi pancharatnam by Swara Krishnan

Blog by the Artistic Director

Did you know our teacher loves to write? To access her blog, click here

Q and A with Seniors

{Questions are open to parents and adult students as well- They can be sent to Swara or Suhani:swara.krishnan@gmail.com or lightnight2123@gmail.com }

~How many hours a day did you practice leading up to your arangetram?

-Professor Practice

~ Dear Professor Practice

I practiced my whole maargam almost everyday for the last few months leading up to my arangetram. A month before, I started controlling my dietary portions, and ran on treadmill morning and evening at the stamina setting upto 8-10, did interval training etc. lost close to 17-20 lbs in the last month. I could see a significant change in my stamina and breathing while dancing.

-Remya Vikram

~What motivates you to do dance even when your life gets busy?

-Adhvika Sasikumar

~Dear Adhvika,

Life gets very stressful. And if you think about dance as a chore, you will always feel like it's a burden to practice. But dance is an art form. It is a way to express yourself. Dance is like drawing, but with your whole body. Enjoy it.

-Dancing in the Rain

~What is the most difficult piece that you learned and what was hard about it?

-Curious Dancer

~ Dear Curious Dancer,

My Varnam was the most difficult piece for me to learn especially because of the bhava that you have to express. I had to learn how to communicate a story that had a logical flow to an audience without using my words and merely expressions and body language which was something I had to work on a lot.

-Shrinidhi Gopal

~What are the main aspects to performing a piece well?

~ Dear Raksha,

Main aspect of performing a piece well is understanding the meaning with relation to mythological reference if any, or just the understanding of deeper meaning of the composition and/or poet’s thought process behind creating the composition. As dancers we have immense responsibility to carry that inner meaning of the composition with which the composer has created it. This can only be achieved by repeated practicing of the piece until we can nail each and every minutest detail to our best of abilities. Many times, maturity of age plays a critical role on how the piece shapes up with each rendition.

-Dancing Soul

A Message from the Artistic Director.,

Dear Students,

Hope you are all doing well and safe, with the shelter in place. It’s a pleasure teaching you all, be it in person or over the zoom. I know life has not been the same for many of us but we must continue to keep our spirits high and continue to do our best in practicing and putting our “best foot” forward. One thing that I would certainly want to tell you all, (like I have not told you all already enough :D), learning this beautiful art form is a long journey that will last us a lifetime only if we allow it to. Many might already know that this is something they wish or desire to do their entire lifetime however to many this thought may not dawn until the time is right for them or may be doesn’t click at all. But what is important is to bear in mind is to continue to put in the effort, because the foundation must be strong to build a tower on top. If you have put in the hard work now, later when the passion quotient kicks in you will relish the outcome.

Love,

Sudha

Credits: Newsletter Content and Format: Suhani Akilesh, Swara Krishnan| Final Review & Edits: Sudha Krishnan