Classical Indian Dance

Editorial Contact ~ Caroline Lavelle ~ tel: 07900 741472 ~ email: Tap.Indian@istd.org ~ www.istd.org/classical-indian-dance

DANCE FACULTIES

 issue no. 476 59

Srishti’s Silver JubileeAnjali Kale reports on a successful anniversary performance

Nina Rajarani MBE, a founder committee member

of the Classical Indian Dance Faculty of the ISTD

and a senior ISTD Bharatanatyam examiner, heads

Srishti, a classical Indian dance and music organisation

based in Harrow. Srishti celebrated its Silver Jubilee with a

performance on 10th April 2016, at the Harrow Arts Centre

where the organisation has been based for the past 25 years

and where it enjoys the status of Resident Company. Srishti’s

work has four branches: the professional, international

touring company; the school; the youth group and the

outreach education wing. This performance showcased

aspects from each of these strands, highlighting Nina’s many

achievements over the years.

The evening opened with a traditional invocation

performed by Nina and her sister Gita Bhatia. Having last

toured together in 1998, it was a treat to see them share the

stage once again for this celebration.

Current students from Srishti’s dance school then

performed a Ras Lila, Solkattu, and Tillana. The Ras Lila

was performed by students as young as five years. The

choreography of this piece in particular was very clever, as

basic Bharatanatyam was laced with elements of child’s play,

highlighting the playfulness of the characters and making

classical dance accessible to young children.

Y Yadavan’s vocal student’s then delighted us with classical

singing. This was made extra special with Pranay Yadavan

playing Indian Pony on the piano, and Vinay Yadavan on the

violin playing the famous William Tell Overture in full swing.

The first half closed with Kaleidoscope and Disa.

Kaleidoscope was performed by former advanced students

of Nina’s, some of who returned to perform on this special

occasion after a gap of 14 years, proving that the power of

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Images from Srishti’s Silver Jubilee celebration performance

on 10th April at the Harrow Arts Centre

DANCE FACULTIES

60 issue no. 476

good dance training can last a lifetime. Disa

was performed by Srishti’s youth group,

Yuva Culture, combining Bharatanatyam

with Kathak. Sooraj Subramaniam, who is

an excellent Bharatantyam dancer, showed

his mastery in this piece by taking on the

Kathak aspect and fully complimented the

seven Bharatanatyam dancers, like a peacock

among the flowers – stunning!

Post interval we were treated to a triple

bill including Quick!, Bend It, and the first

performance of Sevens, a new piece inspired

by the Saptapadi marriage vows from the

Vedic times, yet still relevant today. These

vows have a timeless quality and can be

applied not only to marriage, but to any

committed relationship. The piece was

composed and performed by Nina and

Yadavan, in their signature style with live

musicians on stage. Watching this piece

unfold was mesmerising – his velvety

smooth vocals and original composition,

and her unrivalled expression were like yin

and yang. It was heart-warming to watch two

soulmates express the sacred vows through

music and dance.

“It was heart-warming to watch two soulmates express the sacred vows through music and dance”

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DANCE FACULTIES

 issue no. 476 61

The sell-out evening was eloquently

compèred by Sooraj Subramaniam, who also

paired up with Pushkala Gopal to conduct

mini interviews between performances with

important people in Nina’s life who shared

some delightful anecdotes about her dance

journey. All in all, the evening was enjoyable

and inspiring, leaving the audience wanting

more.

Anjali Kale

Images from Srishti’s Silver Jubilee celebration

performance on 10th April at the Harrow

Arts Centre

Classical Indian Dance CPD Course

On Saturday 6th August, the CID faculty and

the Education & Training Department will

be holding a one day course open to Classical

Indian Dance teachers. See page 35 for more

information.

Bursary Awards Classical Indian Faculty Information

The Classical Indian Dance Faculty will

hold a special selection day on September

25th 2016, at the ISTD2 studios in London

to select candidates for the Bursary awards

performance.

Classical Indian Dance Around the World

By June of this year we had examined

Classical Indian Dance in Canada,

Dubai (163 candidates in April alone),

the USA and the Netherlands.

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