Keerthika Ravikumar (Keerthi) successfully
completed her Bharathanrithyam Arangetram on Jul 23, 2016 at the beautiful Rose
and Alfred Miniaci Performing Arts Center in Ft. Lauderdale, FL.
Let me start with a small episode that took place a few years ago. Ravi and Usha brought Keerthi to our house for a function. During dinner as usual I was serving water to everyone. Keerthi said “Uncle, I should be serving water to you!”. How thoughtful? I said “There will be a time you will return the favor”. Performing her Arangetram Keerthi has gone beyond returning that favor! Thank you, Keerthi!
Overall, Keerthi’s strength is her bhavam or the display of emotions. Sangeetha Sridhar, the teacher, turned out another one of her gems. Keerthi has very strong posture, forms and strength because of her training in Martial Arts. All the same she can act out a scene with grace. Sangeetha played it to Keerthi’s strength. It was like watching a colorful bundle of joy moving through the stage painting a beautiful picture for the audience. Keerthi had a permanent and genuine smile on her face through the entire program. Keerthi, with the able guidance of Sangeetha, managed to blend the subtle moves of Bharathanrithyam with high kicks of mixed martial art. It was a joy for the entire audience.
Let us go to song-by-song:
Thodayamangalam – traditional invocatory song seeking the blessings of the greatest dancer and dance master of all, Lord Shiva.
Pushpanjali in Gambeera Nattai/Adi – Salutations and floral offering to mother earth, guru, god, musicians and the audience.
Varnam in Simhendra Madhyamam/Adi – this is the main piece depicting various stories of Goddess Meenakshi. Varnam in any traditional margham (sequence of dances) is the most difficult piece testing the endurance and all aspects of dance. Keerthi beautifully enacted the stories of Goddess Meenakshi in the song. Meenakshi was born to a king in Madurai in South India after a penance. She comes to life from a sacred fire (homam) as a three-year old child and the king brings her up as a son teaching her the warfare etc. She kills the evil king who was trying to conquer her kingdom and finally vanquishes the demon Mahishasur. These are difficult pieces requiring Keerthi to show anger in her face. Story telling is an important of successfully completing the Varnam. Keerthi is passing the test in flying colors – literally and figuratively.
Aarupadai Veedamarnda in Ragamalika/Adi – Keerthi takes us on a tour of Tamil Nadu showing the six main temples of Lord Muruga. Each temple has its own unique characteristics. Very nicely depicted.
Theruvil Varana in Khamas/Rupakam – in this song the heroine is waiting for her Lord. You can imagine the scope for abhinaya and bhavam in this song. Keerthi does full justice to situation – nice work.
Thillana in Nalinakanthi/Adi – fast paced number that suited very well for Keerthi’s personality. Thillana has several combinations of steps and tastefully placed pauses. During these pauses the dancer will stop to give a pose. It is very enjoyable to watch. Nice choreography which is always an expectation in a dance arranged by Sangeetha.
The performance ended with a Thiruppugazh song in Shanmugapriya/Misra Chapu and Mangalam
Jayanthi aunty joins me in blessing Keerthi for a successful college experience at Mercer and get everything her heart desires. Lots of love.
Let me start with a small episode that took place a few years ago. Ravi and Usha brought Keerthi to our house for a function. During dinner as usual I was serving water to everyone. Keerthi said “Uncle, I should be serving water to you!”. How thoughtful? I said “There will be a time you will return the favor”. Performing her Arangetram Keerthi has gone beyond returning that favor! Thank you, Keerthi!
Overall, Keerthi’s strength is her bhavam or the display of emotions. Sangeetha Sridhar, the teacher, turned out another one of her gems. Keerthi has very strong posture, forms and strength because of her training in Martial Arts. All the same she can act out a scene with grace. Sangeetha played it to Keerthi’s strength. It was like watching a colorful bundle of joy moving through the stage painting a beautiful picture for the audience. Keerthi had a permanent and genuine smile on her face through the entire program. Keerthi, with the able guidance of Sangeetha, managed to blend the subtle moves of Bharathanrithyam with high kicks of mixed martial art. It was a joy for the entire audience.
Let us go to song-by-song:
Thodayamangalam – traditional invocatory song seeking the blessings of the greatest dancer and dance master of all, Lord Shiva.
Pushpanjali in Gambeera Nattai/Adi – Salutations and floral offering to mother earth, guru, god, musicians and the audience.
Sri Ganesha Charanam in Thilang/Adi – worship of
Lord Ganesha the remover of obstacles.
The song had a few opportunities for Keerthi to show her skills in abhinaya
(acting). Nicely done
Iruvinai Irul Agatrum in Hamsadhwani/Adi – the song
was written by a South Florida resident, Dr. Venkataraman Balu on the Lord
Surya. The song depicted the devotees
praying to Sun God for good health, success and prosperity. Varnam in Simhendra Madhyamam/Adi – this is the main piece depicting various stories of Goddess Meenakshi. Varnam in any traditional margham (sequence of dances) is the most difficult piece testing the endurance and all aspects of dance. Keerthi beautifully enacted the stories of Goddess Meenakshi in the song. Meenakshi was born to a king in Madurai in South India after a penance. She comes to life from a sacred fire (homam) as a three-year old child and the king brings her up as a son teaching her the warfare etc. She kills the evil king who was trying to conquer her kingdom and finally vanquishes the demon Mahishasur. These are difficult pieces requiring Keerthi to show anger in her face. Story telling is an important of successfully completing the Varnam. Keerthi is passing the test in flying colors – literally and figuratively.
Aarupadai Veedamarnda in Ragamalika/Adi – Keerthi takes us on a tour of Tamil Nadu showing the six main temples of Lord Muruga. Each temple has its own unique characteristics. Very nicely depicted.
Theruvil Varana in Khamas/Rupakam – in this song the heroine is waiting for her Lord. You can imagine the scope for abhinaya and bhavam in this song. Keerthi does full justice to situation – nice work.
Thillana in Nalinakanthi/Adi – fast paced number that suited very well for Keerthi’s personality. Thillana has several combinations of steps and tastefully placed pauses. During these pauses the dancer will stop to give a pose. It is very enjoyable to watch. Nice choreography which is always an expectation in a dance arranged by Sangeetha.
The performance ended with a Thiruppugazh song in Shanmugapriya/Misra Chapu and Mangalam
Jayanthi aunty joins me in blessing Keerthi for a successful college experience at Mercer and get everything her heart desires. Lots of love.
No comments:
Post a Comment