Embedded Files
| Issue No.2 | 7-23-20 | Lockdown Edition |
NEWSDAY REPORTS
As notified in our previous edition, multiple Arangetrams for 2020 had to take the back burner but that did not put the enthusiastic girls off and they continued to work through the shelter times even though on a virtual platform. Thanks to the positive and cheerful families of NLD, we were able to continue our regular routine during this rough tide and have been holding our classes on the virtual platform of zoom. They have been astonishingly productive and enjoyable. The details are in the Whatsapp Group description. We are looking forward to many different unique ways of cheering and motivating the girls through this progressive pandemic shelter. {See details below for new initiatives coming up}
~Monthly NLD Concerts
To motivate the girls and to give an opportunity for them to showcase their efforts NLD will be starting online concerts every first Sunday starting August. This will be a solo 30 min recital over zoom only for NLD families (and extended family of the performing student). Details will follow close to the concerts. We hope that everyone can attend the concerts and support your fellow classmates or seniors.
~Monthly NLD Competitions
We will also be starting a voluntary virtual competition for all the students. Here are the guidelines:
-Your piece must be under 7 minutes.
-The videos must be shared as a private YouTube link sent directly to Sudha Krishnan. The video will be evaluated, and judged by an external dancer.(Name will be disclosed only after the winner is announced)
-Submission video must be named in this format - FirstName_LastName_Beginner
-The deadline for submissions will be on August 15th.
The competition will be split into the three categories listed below, along with detailed instructions.
General Video instructions: When recording, your camera must be stationary, and your background must be either plain or neatly decorated.(it can also be a backyard recording) No extra video editing(the audio must be heard directly and clearly externally)
Beginner: To participate in this category you must be efficient in adavus, hastas, and your hasta viniyoga. You may send in a video of shlokas, hastas, and any adavu. When recording, you must be dressed in a proper costume with your hair braided, wearing earrings, and preferably wearing kajal below the eyes. We also prefer that you state your first and last name, and a very short reason for why you chose to learn bharatanatyam.
Intermediate: You may send in a video of an under 7 minute piece along with a description of the piece(ragam talam composer choreographer) as well as a short introduction about yourself and why you chose to start bharatanatyam. When recording, you must be dressed in full costume, along with jewelry, light makeup and bells.
Advanced: When participating in this category, you must give a detailed bio of yourself, along with an intro of each piece that you will perform. (Ragam, talam, composer, choreographer and small explanation of the piece) You must record three pieces in one stretch, given a limit of 30 minutes. [we suggest that you give it one shot:)]You must be dressed in full costume and jewelry. You must also be wearing bells while performing.
~Student of the Month
Every month starting July, a student will be picked, and will be recognized for their overall performance, across three levels of learning; beginner, intermediate, and advanced. While this has been frequently mentioned in class, this finally seems to be the right time to acknowledge the efforts these girls are putting in for their respective levels. This is just the beginning and hope is to see more girls win this recognition in the months to come and something for them to work towards, especially for the little ones. I take a lot of pride in each and every one of my students, and this is a way for me to show my appreciation to the ones who really put in all their effort. Congratulations to this month’s students! You guys have made me really proud!
-Beginner - Anagha Kurulkar, 7 year old. Congrats!
-Intermediate - Nivedita Warrier, 12 year old. Congrats! I would also like to announce that Nivedita will be performing a 30 minute solo live on FB on the NatyaAkademi page. Goodluck!
-Advanced-Varsha Punati,16 year old. Congrats!
DARPANAA ~ The Reflector Series
Yet another accomplishment in NLD’s journey has been the beginning of its new chapter. On 3rd March 2020, we launched a creative off-shoot called Darpanaa - The Reflector Series!
This will provide a platform and a forum for all Bharatanatyam students and aspirants, to reflect upon some valuable areas of the art form. Darpanaa hopes to achieve this through workshops and lecture demonstrations on focal points to be conducted by esteemed musicians and artists from our culturally rich Bay Area and visiting artists from India. This series will primarily focus upon various elements that relate to and benefit in growing from a dancer to an artiste (staying focused and grounded), and ultimately achieving pure joy and peace to the soul within.
Darpanaa would like to explore topics that drill vertically deep into the art form with esteemed artistes, opening up perspectives for sadhakas and allowing them to manifest in themselves a quality to aspire, be creative, think out of the box and become better artistes and human beings through the medium of art.
First session : Taala Darpanaa ~ Reflecting Upon Cross Rhythms in Dance, took place on May 16th and 17th, led by Shri. Vaibhav Arekar Ji. About 16 participants joined this first Darpanaa session and felt better at understanding the topic. All of them thought it was a very valuable and interactive workshop. The students are looking forward to many more of these neatly organized sessions. We thank Vaibhav Sir for this amazing and helpful session. Thank you for taking your time to teach these eager students!
Second Session: The second session of Darpanaa took place on the 30th and 31st of May led by Shri. Vaibhav Arekar. This workshop also talks about Cross Rhythms in dance and Taala. This was very helpful for the participants who were unable to attend the previous workshop. Thank you Vaibhav Sir again for the wonderful and helpful session.
Taala 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
Third Session: Tatva Darpanaa~Reflecting Upon the Five Elements. The form of Nataraja has been of great significance to all dancers across various styles of classical dance in India. The Shiva Panchakshari stotram is a classic example that describes the form of Nataraja and ties with the 5 primordial life sustaining elements that is embodied by Nataraja - Water, Wind, Fire, Earth and Space. Here is an opportunity to unfold this significant yet mysterious form of the Lord of all dance forms, one who holds great place especially in the classical style of Bharatanatyam. This comprehensive workshop will be conducted by none other than Dr. Sridhar Vasudevan who is a scholar/musician and dancer. Dr. Vasudevan is the disciple of the legendary artist Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali. It is our pleasure to have him lead this second web-based workshop series hosted by Darpanaa. This workshop will be held August 8th &9th, and 9:30- 11:30 AM PST. With an overwhelming response, we are already filled with registration. If you are interested to participate in knowledge filled sessions like these in the future, please subscribe to our mailing list on www.darpanaa.org or follow the page on Facebook and Instagram.
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. (you can click on the titles to view the videos)
-Narasimha Kauthuvam by Swara Krishnan
-NatyaAkademi Short Concert by Swara Krishnan
-NatyaAkademi Short Concert by Sudha Krishnan
-Five PM Namaskar by Sudha Krishnan and Swara Krishnan
- Five pm namaskar by Priya Akilesh and Suhani Akilesh
Blog by the Artistic Director
Did you know our teacher loves to write? To access her blog, click here . If you have some interesting stories that you would like to share with us, then feel free to email a link (to google documents) to the email provided. Your story can be completely your own imagination, or it can be a short story from your life, that you think can tell a good moral. [this segment is free for anyone to share, including adults:)]
Q and A with the Artistic Director
{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 }
What helps you to express difficult expressions in a piece, and what do you consider is the hardest bhava to express?
One thing that helps me bring about the most difficult expressions is to understand the meaning of the piece, and listen to the music over and over again. If the piece is a popular one taught to me by my guru, I try to bring the picture of my eyes as it was taught. This helps me recollect all class conversations in the class about how to express the piece. The hardest bhavam for me to express is Sringara bhavam.
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 Aunty
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse