Students of School of Indian Dance (USA) celebrated "Salangai Pooja" with the presentation of selected items from the Bharata Natyam repertoire, commencing with Pushpanjali and Natesa Kautavam and concluding with Marathi Abhang in praise of Lord Vitthal. It is amazing that in spite of residing overseas, Indian classical dance, particularly Bharata Natyam, is promoted well, maintaining its pristine and divine quality. The performance was held with a lot of excitement and enthusiasm.

School of Indian Dance is headed by accomplished Bharata Natyam exponent and mentor, Guru Rani Sunil, who is a strict dance teacher, On the occasion, Guru Rani Sunil said "I am strict dance teacher, if the student does not execute the basic "adavus"(steps) properly, I will not teach her further, the basic steps forms the base of the technique, hence the discipline has to be maintained to learn properly and dance well".

The dancers who performed were Subiksha S Palaniswamy, Amelia Benny, Rithika Aneesh, Surabhi G Adiga, Theertha Prasad and Sneha Nair. After the invocations with Pushpanjali and Natesa Kautvam, the dancers performed the Vasanta Jatiswaram in Roopam talam that forms a fine synthesis with music, melody and rhythm, executed with stylized and rhythmic movements performed with precision. "Edathu Padam Thooki Aada" depicts the cosmic dance of Lord Shiva as 'Nataraja", when Lord Krishna plays the flute.Nandi plays the mridangam and Lord Brahma maintains the rhythm, attended by all celestial beings, proclaiming sheer bliss or "anandam" Devi Keertanam was in praise of goddess with virile and benevolent virtues. After the intricate and complex Thillana, a composition of veteran maestro Dr Balamuralikrishna, the young and devoted dancers concluded the performance with the Marathi Abhang in praise of Lord Vitthal. A grand performance indeed.

The dancers received fine orchestral support from Guru Rani Sunil on the nattuvangam, veteran percussion maestro Dr Thanjavur R Kesavan on mridangam, Vikram Raghukumar on violin, melodious vocal support who regaled the audience - Sivaprasad N Namboodiri.

It is really gratifying and heart warming  to watch and see young children and youth learning and performing Bharata natyam and other classical dances in the United States of America, European and Asian countries.

By Guru Vijay Shanker