Brisbane Tamil School - Inaugural function of the 4th campus in North Brisbane (Albany Creek State High School)
Courtesy BTS ON April 22nd 2017, Brisbane Tamil School Inc. inaugurated their 4th campus in Albany Creek State High School of Brisbane to encourage students residing in Northern suburbs of Brisbane to learn Tamil language and culture. Brisbane Tamil School (BTS) was established in 1985 and has been teaching Tamil Language and promoting Tamil culture to the younger generations who trace their origins to a diverse range of countries including India, Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia and South Africa. Brisbane Tamil School is also a member of the Ethnic Schools Association of Queensland (ESAQ) for the past 32 years. It has now over 100 students learning Tamil in their other three campuses – Brisbane (Holland Park), Gold coast, Toowoomba. Each year BTS conducts sports meet, cultural concert and dinner night in addition to school competitions, reading challenge and open day event to showcase their students’ talents to community. BTS students have also actively participated in National level Tamil exams and have successfully won several national level prizes. The inaugural event was conducted in tradi-
tional style with the lighting of lamps by chief guests and supporters to indicate that they as educators bring brightness to life through education. It was followed by boiling over of milk to signify that the place be overflowing with love. By sharing the boiled milk they signify that everything will be shared here including the knowledge and joys of life. These traditions were followed by the speeches by our school principal Mr. Ramanan and chief guests Mr. Sri Jeyanthirakumar and Mr. Sri who are active members in the community and parents of past students of our Tamil School. In their speeches they remarked how our Brisbane Tamil School is
growing stronger every day and becoming the cultural hub in our Tamil community. It was interesting to note that the children of past students are also attending the school now. The day ended on a festive note, with traditional and contemporary foods being enjoyed by all. The next major event of Brisbane Tamil school is the 32nd Annual Sports day to be held on 21st May 2017 from 8am to 5:30pm in Centenary State High School in Jindalee. This includes track and field events and group events for both school students, adults and seniors in the community. Weekly Tamil classes are conducted for children and teenagers every Saturday afternoon (2 – 4:30 pm) during school term with a 15 min break time. A welcome gift pack will be provided for new enrolments. If you would like to join Brisbane Tamil School to learn about Tamil culture and language please contact Mr. Ramanan, School President (0435 602 864) or Dr. Satha Iyathurai, School Coordinator(0423 545 283) or Dr. Sangeetha Kutty, Cultural Co-ordinator(0401074738) or Dr. Eswaran Velayutham, Toowoomba Coordinator(0432 980 338). For more information, please check the school website www.brisbanetamilschool.org.
Arch Lane to shape up as outdoor exercise area BRISBANE City Council is creating new lifestyle and leisure opportunities in the CBD, with works commencing on a project to deliver new outdoor exercise equipment at Arch Lane. City Planning Chairman Julian Simmonds said the $100,000 project would liven up the laneway, and encourage more people to head outdoors and enjoy our active and vibrant lifestyle. “Council is committed to ensuring residents have access to a range of services and facilities that encourage them to make the most of our great city lifestyle,” Cr Simmonds said. “As part of Council’s Vibrant Laneways initiative, Council is delivering a flexible, robust, multi-use exercise and recreational area for residents and visitors looking to workout in our city centre. “The project will deliver a number of exercise stations at the end of Arch Lane including chin up and parallel bars, sit up bars and rails, multi-height platforms and rubber impact surfacing.” Cr Simmonds said Council continued to activate more parts of the CBD by implementing initiatives that appeal to a range of interests. “Our Vibrant Laneways initiative is transforming our city’s laneways into imaginative, fun and engaging spaces and this new addition will provide another great opportunity to enjoy exercising while making the most of our city’s outdoor, subtropical lifestyle,” he said. “Council already offers free exercise equipment at outdoor gyms across more than 90 of our city’s parks to enable residents to stay active and healthy and I’m sure this latest addition will prove a popular one in the heart of the city.” Local Councillor Vicki Howard said the equipment would breathe new life into the laneway and provide an alternative for residents to meet and exercise. “Council’s free outdoor gyms offered a wide variety of exercise equipment for users of all ages and abilities. For more information on exercise equipment in Council parks, visit www.brisbane.qld.gov.au or call Council on (07) 3403 8888.
The Bharathanatyam Arangetram of Rithika Preethi RITHIKA Preethi, age 16, disciple of Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta and daughter of Dr. Suraj Gopalakrishnan and Dr. Preethi Suraj, staged her Bharathanatyam Arangetram on 08th April 2017 at Iona Performing Arts Centre, Brisbane. Rithika started learning Bharathanatyam from the age of 6 and with dedication and vigor has mastered this art with grace and style. Supporting the dancer was the esteemed orchestra consisting of Sri. Ahilan Sivanandan as Vocalist, Sri. Arthavan Selvanathan on Mrithangam, Sri. Mudikondan S N Ramesh on Veena, and Sri. Ghanavenothan Retnam on flute. Present amongst the audience was her Guru’s Guru Smt. Balasundari Prathalingam and Swami Athmeshandaji of Vedanta Society – Sydney, Brisbane Chapter. Bharathanatyam is one of the popular classical dances of India, which combines bhaavam, raagam, thaalam, and naatyam in unique and dynamic movements. Rhythmic dance movements are achieved by the dancer by the stamping of the feet, pirouettes, and postures in sophistic patterns as well as harmonized movements of eyes, hands and body. An Arangetram traditionally consists of 9 dance pieces, illustrating the range of the Bharathanatyam repertoire and synchronizing ‘nritta’ (pure dance), ‘nritya’ (facial expression), and ‘nattya’ (a dramatic element combining both nritta & nritya). The dance is performed to Carnatic music involving intricate rhythmic beats and melodies that blend with the dance theme. The Arangetram, which lasted for about 3 hours and 15 minutes, started with the Welcome Speech of Dr. Suraj Gopalakrishnan, father of Rithika. Rithika took up the challenge graciously and successfully impressed the audience with her mastery of this ancient art form. Rithika started her Arangetram with the 16 — THE BRISBANE INDIAN TIMES, May, 2017
Pushpanjali, the traditional opening item meaning ‘offering of flowers’ orchestrated in Gambheera Nattai Raagam and Aadi Thaalam. This was followed by Vinayagar Anjali, set in Sriranjini Raagam and Aadi Thaalam. This dance was in praise of Lord Ganesha, the remover of all obstacles. Both items were choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta. In ‘Jathiswaram’, set in Kedara Gowla Raagam and Roopakam Thaalam and choreographed by the Guru’s Guru Smt. Balasundari Prathalingam, Rithika easily performed the intricate rhythmic movements demanded by the ‘nritta’ made up of Jathis and Swaras (rhythmic syllables and musical notes). Rithika continued to amaze the audience with her performance of ‘Vaakdevi Vishwajanani Mookambike’, a ‘Keerthanam’ in her mother tongue, Malayalam, describing the beauty of Goddess Saraswathi. The dance was choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta and was orchestrated in Aarabhi Raagam and Aadi Thaalam. The entertainment continued with the ‘Var-
nam’, the longest item in the Bharathanatyam repertoire. Varnam tests the performer’s mastery of all three aspects of Bharathanatyam (nritta, nritya, & natya). The song ‘Konjum Salangai’, set in Lathangi Raagam and Aadi Thaalam, praises the supreme dancer Lord Nataraja. Rithika performed the dance, choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta, with elegance. Her synchronization of facial expressions, hand gestures and intricate footwork lead the audience to be absorbed in ‘rasa’ (artistic flavor). The dance piece ‘Keerthanam’choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta followed the intermission and used the song ‘Neelavaanam Thannil’ set in Punnakavarali Raagam and Aadi Thaalam. Rithika conveyed to the audience the delicate feelings of ‘yearning for the love of Lord Krishna’. The next two dance pieces were ‘Padams’. Rithika surprised the audience with her performance of ’Yaarukkum Adangaatha Neeli‘, which required a perfect combination of dance movements and facial expressions to convey the virtues of Goddess Lakshmi. The song was set in Abhogi Raagam and Aadi Thaalam and choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta. It was followed with the patham ‘Mar-
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avein Maravein’ set in Senchuruti Raagam and Aadi Thaalam and choreographed by Smt. Balasundari Prathalingam. Rithika successfully portrayed a young maiden who tells a peacock of her intense love for Lord Murugan and compels the peacock to ask Lord Murugan why he has forgotten her. This was followed with the awarding of the graduation certificate to Rithika by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhanta along with the felicitation of the Gurus and musicians. The vote of thanks by Rithika elicited audience applause. The final performance by Rithika was ‘Thillana’, considered to be the most brilliant and appealing amongst all Bharathanatyam items. This item, choreographed by Guru Smt. Chitra Yogi Srikhantain praise of Goddess Meenakshi, included intricate footwork, fast rhythmic movements and posture. The Arangetram concluded with ‘Mangalam’, where Rithika depicted the spirit and beauty of the art Bharathanatyam. The Nadananjali School of Dance students, community members, friends, relatives and well-wishers enthusiastically appreciated and saluted Rithika in achieving this milestone. All present were visibly moved and amazed at her skill, grace and stamina in this spectacular and ancient art form. Call 07 3865 6533