CHENNAI: A nine-year-old girl has rendered her 50th Bharathanatiyam performance here at the RK Swamy Hall. K Shahana performed four varieties of the traditional dance _ Murugan Kavuthuvam (Raga Kambeera Nattai), Varnam Mathe (Kamas), Ennalum Ambalithil (Kamboji) and Thillana (Kadanakudugalam), much to the applause of the audience. Speaking to City Express, Shahana said she began her training in dance at the age of 3 under the tutelage of Kalaimamani Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala.“Even before a formal arangetram, I gave my first public performance at ISCKON temple on East Coast Road,” she says with pride. Recalling her arangetram in 2009, the child dance enthusiast said that she had performed in many cities including Hyderabad, Bangalore, and London besides Chennai. “I have also performed at the Delhi Tamil Sangam and at the famed Sun Temple in Odisha,” she said.Stating that she had won several awards including the European Telugu Association Dance Award, Shahana added with joy that she had won the CCRT (Center for Culture and Research for Talent) scholarship for year 2011. Also, she had won the second prize in a dance competition held by the Tamil Nadu State government’s art and culture department at Pudukottai last year. On cherished memories of her journey in Bharathanatyam, she says, “It was a real privilege to be able to perform in front of Sri Sathya Sai Baba in Puttaparti on his birthday. I am happy that I was blessed by him and gifted with a gold chain.” Asked how she balanced her thirst for dance with studies, Shahana said she loved both. “I am studious too. I am a merit card holder and have won many prizes.” She is in class four at the P S Senior Secondary School here. On her future goals, she maintained that her ambition was to become an accomplished dancer. She says, “I am trying to learn more and more about this ancient art. Besides learning new things, I could perfect whatever I have already learnt as well.”
Comments
0 comment