Mesmerizing Performance by Miramar Sisters
Miramar sisters Sathivika Ramaji and Dhivyankka Ramaji completely mesmerized the audience with their Arangetram performance at the Aventura Arts and Cultural Center on Jul 30, 2011. They owned the stage and audience with a riveting performance in the Bharathanrithyam tradition.
Many of us knew that Sathvika, as the oder of the sisters, has grown very gracefully in this art form through many of her stage performances. Dhivvu, who has always been a darling of the community, has now become the darling on stage as well with her memorable performance at a tender age of 13. Especially when she came on to the stage as a solo performer in Andal costume we could hear the gasp among the audience. Sathvika was a beautiful picture of confidence and grace. Well done.
Jayanthi auntie joins me in congratulating both of you. We wish you to achieve everything your heart desires. Hope to see you continue this art form. It is rare to achieve up to this level in art and it is now your responsibility to maintain this as an ambassador of the art in America. As your guru Smt. Sangeetha Sridhar said in the end, Arangetram is only the beginning. Keep it up.
Thanks to Bhavani for reducing my work load. Below are her comments about the performance. Enjoy.
Mrs. Bhavani Nirmal wrote:
I have a compelling need to express my appreciation of yesterday's arangetram. I always come with great expectations when I come to witness any program in which Sangeetha is associated whether it be a dance drama or an arangetram of her students. Creativity and innovation flow from the stage and mesmerizes the audience always. Yesterday was no exception. I liked the choice of lyrics which was refreshingly out of the beaten path. Having learned our classical dance under the famous Late Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai, though for a very short while, I understand how difficult it is to teach the art form to young students who are torn between several curricular and extracurricular activities and interests. It requires not merely patience and excellence in the art form but the ability to motivate the youngsters and take on the role of a friend and a guide. When two dancers perform an arangetram on the stage, normally they both appear and perform together on the stage and at times it is distracting to the audience as we try to concentrate on one performer at a time. I really enjoyed how the two young artists moved in and out of the stage and showcased each one's talents both separately and together.
Coming to the items performed, the Varnam was superbly executed with very minor trepidations and that is easily forgiven in an arangetram. I enjoyed Dhivyankka's facial expressions throughout the performance. She flitted across the stage with gay abandon. Sathvika, being the older one showed great maturity and her footwork was almost flawless. Krishna Kaliya Nrityam according to me was the highlight of the performance, though it is difficult to choose between all the items presented. Vasumathi Swamy's choice of the Narayeeneeyam verses and the tune set by her and the performance by the young dancers took me to the banks of Yamuna. The choreography using Bhujanga Karanas will remain forever before my eyes and mind. I am not critiquing the performance but I have only positive feelings about the entire arangetram. The music and accompaniments was as usual great. Madhu, Sanjay and Murali are not new to our audience and they added to our bliss. I must of course say that I enjoyed Smt. Saraswathi Ranganathan's rendition in between the performance and I hope we can have a solo performance of her in the near future in South Florida.
I congratulate Janevi and Ramaji for having such talented daughters who no doubt could not have been such great achievers without the parent's wholehearted support and nurturing. (I must say that the jewelry in the goody bag was so artistically chosen that it will form a part of my heirloom collection.) Thank you, Sangeetha, Janevi, Ramaji, Sathvika and Dhivyankka for a very delightful performance. Dhivyankka and Sathvika: please keep up your interest in the art form and do everything in your might to nurture and propagate it. May Lord Nataraja bless you both with fulfillment of all your wishes.
Bhavani Nirmal
