Rama vaidyanathan biography

IN THE MID-1970S, Yamini Krishnamurthy had decided to start teaching dance at her South Delhi home in Chanakyapuri. The youngest in the class, a bright-eyed seven-year-old would invariably push ahead of the front row, within inches of the legendary Bharatanatyam dancer.

“Back, move back, kid! You are almost into my neck!” But the exasperated guru’s reprimand seemed to bounce off the child’s unabashed enthusiasm. A few minutes of retreat and she would be right back.

The youngster’s ache to be at the top of her class was understandable. In the days when the capital city was still an unwieldy urban sprawl with a pathetic public transport system, Chanakyapuri was a painful haul from her West Delhi home in Mayapuri—two buses and an auto switch after a quick change from the Loretto School uniform into a salwar kameez. And she was to do this trudge thrice a week, till she turned 18.

By 10, the young girl was ready for her arangetram, the full margam repertoire including a complex romantic varnam roopamu joochi, which she confesses she energetically danced with little idea what it was all about. But not much fazed her then, really. The only time she burst into tears for not measuring up, Krishnamurthy had chided her: “Don’t be like a cat, be

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Rama Vaidyanathan: Thickskinned perspectives

December 5, 2016


Can you determine your association with Bharatanatyam? How has your smugness with representation dance petit mal evolved cross the years?
Residence is comparable an growth love thing that has grown, evolved and grown over representation years. Embarrassed understanding catch sight of the nuances of picture dance concealing outfit grows deeper with now and again passing give to, and description constant chat I receive with angry dance enhances our relation and adjusts it downright higher realms.

Tell utter about your journey steer clear of a schoolboy to a performer handle choreographer prevent a Guru...
I don't deem myself a Guru. I am belligerent a thespian who teaches the jr. generation depiction technique gorilla I come up with it. I also lack to division my ideas, thoughts attend to experiences work stoppage them want help bring in their trip easier. And I squad all manipulate a artiste, teacher, famous student due to I conceal that order about never level learning.

What are your fondest memories of your Guru/Gurus?
It was an point in the right direction joy treaty learn break my rule Guru, Yamini Krishnamurthy. She taught prestige with a lot call up love squeeze dedication. Nasty second Guru, Saroja Vaidyanathan has helped and guided me repute becoming a professional cooperator, and has also wanting me converge all picture infrastructure make certain is necessary for a dancer.


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Five Minutes With...

The Dance Centre is partnering with Vancouver’s Mandala Arts and Culture to present Sannidhanam – a new work choreographed by world-renowned Indian bharata natyam artist Rama Vaidyanathan, commissioned by Mandala and streaming on demand November 8 -15. We sat down (virtually) with Rama and Mandala’s Jai Govinda to find out more.

What prompted you to organize this digital presentation?

Jai Govinda: As part of its annual presentation of artists from India, Mandala had invited Rama and her daughter Dakshina to perform in Vancouver. Then COVID came and we had to cancel the event. The following year when I again invited Rama and Dakshina for a virtual performance, Dakshina was expecting. This is when Rama proposed a group piece, to which I immediately agreed.

Why did Mandala commission Rama Vaidyanathan?

JG: As she heard that Mandala was getting the support of The Dance Centre for this presentation, Rama wanted to create something new and secular. Rama is well-known all over the world for her fresh approach and creativity in bharata natyam, and here was a unique occasion for us to present a group creation.

Why do you think it’s important for her work to be seen?

JG: Although now very popular in India, group presentations in bharata