Arangetram -Invitation

of Shivani Venkatesh & Ananya Kurup on Saturday, Aug 17th 2019 Disciples of Guru Smt. Rachita Nambiar, Rasika School of Dance Venue: Grace Milliman Pollock Performing Arts Center 340 N. 21st Street, Camp Hill, PA 17011

The Disciples

Shivani Shivani is 14 years old and will be a freshman at Cumberland Valley High School this fall. She has been learning Bharatanatyam for the past 7 years under the expert guidance of Guru Smt. Rachita Nambiar and plans to continue learning and performing this dance form after her arangetram. She has danced in many of her school annual programs, and other local cultural events such as AIACPA’s Silver Jubilee event and India Day. She has been finding pride in showcasing this Indian classical dance form in Cumberland Valley School District’s Diversity Day program for the past four years.

Shivani has had the opportunity of performing at the PA Governor’s Mansion in 2017 and also an opening performance for the world renowned Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod recital in 2019. Shivani has won first place in the 2018 Intermediate Indian Raga competition. Apart from dance, Shivani learns Carnatic music and enjoys playing flute. She also plays the piano. She has been part of Good Hope Middle School’s Science Olympiad team for past three years. She has participated in Capital Area Science and Engineering Fair, Pennsylvania Junior Academy of Science, qualified for Broadcom Masters (a national science fair), and also been part of various STEM teams such as a FIRST Lego League and FIRST Tech Challenge team.

She participates in many school competitions including National History Day and Future City.

Shivani is an honor roll student and has a great interest for science and plans on pursuing a career in medicine. She enjoys reading, singing and drawing in her free time.

Ananya Ananya is 15 years old and will be a sophomore at Cumberland Valley High School this upcoming fall.

Ananya has been learning Bharatanatyam Classical dance for the past 9 years first from Smt. Vijaylakshmi Shetty Ahuja in Chicago (2010), followed by Smt. Rachita Nambiar in Mechanicsburg for the past 6 years. Ananya is an avid singer and has been learning Hindustani Classical Music from Smt. Asha Subramaniam in Mumbai for the past 7 years. She was a member of the Chamber Singers Choir all throughout middle school and has performed at various venues such as the Giant Center, PA Farm Show and the City Islanders Game. She has also participated in many cultural programs like India Day and Geet Sangeet events as well as similar programs across PA and the Tri-State area. Ananya has also had the honor to perform at the PA Governor’s Mansion in 2017 during the Summer Arts Festival and has also been actively participating in Cumberland Valley School District’s Diversity Day Programs since she was 9. She recently had a performance for the world renowned Ustad Amjad Ali Khan’s Sarod recital in July 2019. Ananya has also won first place in the 2018 Intermediate Indian Raga competition. She is an honor roll student and had also represented CV School District at the State Level competition in the National History Day Competition while in 8th grade. She is an active participant in Key Club and has volunteered in many nonprofit organizations. Apart from music and dance her hobbies include: baking, cooking, reading and swimming. She aspires to venture into the Business Management field for her higher studies. She is keen on continuing to learn both music and dance to be able to impart knowledge of these fine arts from the rich indian heritage to others later on in life.

Nachiyar Kauthuvam: This opening devotional number is in the praise of Andal (A 10th century Tamil poet who is revered as a saint). The dancers offer flowers in praise of this Goddess in Hindu mythology and seek blessings from the Almighty, the audience and the orchestra.

Ragam: Malayamarutham Talam: Eka Composer: Gangaimuttu Nattuvanar

Jathiswaram: This is a melodious pure dance item where the “Jathis”(dance patterns) are interspersed with the “Swaras” (musical notes).

Ragam: Vasantha Talam: Rupakam Composer: Tanjore Quartet

Shabdam: An expression oriented number where the dancer describes Goddess Parvathy in all her glory and pleads for her compassion.

Varnam (Swami Nee Manam Irangi): This piece is the most elaborate item in a Bharatanatyam repertoire, extensively combining Nritta (Pure dance) and Natya (Expression). This particular Varnam describes the lovelorn Nayika (heroine) who waits to be united with her beloved, Lord Muruga.

Ragam: Ragamalika Talam: Mishra Chapu Composer: Madurai N Krishnan

The Nayika adorns herself with jewelry and lavish garments, only to be disappointed as he fails to show up at her doorstep. She is in pain and her anguish turns into torture as she compares her condition to a worm squirming in the sun.

In the second half of the Varnam, the Nayika takes a different approach with a shift in her demeanor. Her exhaustion turns into anger and she bears no more patience to deal with his delay.

Ragam: Sriranjani Talam: Adi Composer: Papanasam Sivan

Chethi Mandaram Thulasi: A lilting timeless Malayalam song, describing Lord Guruvayoorappan. Here the dancer eagerly awaits the sight of her Lord dressed in a beautiful peacock feather, a gold silk dhoti and a garland of sweet fragrant flowers holding a flute.

Ragam: Anandabhairavi Talam: Adi Composer: Vayalar Ramavarma and G. Devarajan

Shankara Sri Giri: A brisk dance number describing the Lord of dance himself �Lord Nataraja�. He has been depicted to carry the crescent moon on his head, a tiger skin around his waist, snake garlands around his hands and chest, matted hair tied in a bun and a trident in his hand. The dancer is wonderstruck with his cosmic form.

Ragam: Hamsanandi Talam: Adi Composer: Swathi Thirunal

Maadu Meikum Kanne: A folk piece that demonstrates an interesting conversation between a mother (Yashoda) and her son (Krishna). Krishna desperately wants to go out and play with his friends but Yashoda is not thrilled about letting him go out and comes up with excuses to try and keep him home.

Ragam: Chenchurutti Talam: Tishra Adi Composer: Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiah Iyer

Tillana: A scintillating pure dance number that is performed at the end of a margam culminating the performance.

Rama Mangalam: The dancer completes the performance by thanking Lord Rama, the orchestra and the audience for their blessings.

Ragam: Brindavani Talam: Adi Composer: Dr Balamuralikrishna

Ragam: Madhyamavati Talam: Adi Composer: Kothanda Rama Iyer & Venkatarama Iyer

The Guru: Rachita Nambiar Mrs Rachita Nambiar had her initial training in Bharatanatyam under Mrs. (Dr) Sucheta Bhide Chapekar, a world renowned dancer from Maharashtra, India. After completing her Arangetram in 1989, she continued her training in Chennai under the able guidance of “Natyakalabhushnam” (Late) Mrs. Nirmala Ramachandran who was one of the finest abhinaya exponents in the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam.

Rachita is the recipient of the Indian Govt Talent Search Scholarship for Bharatanatyam. She has received training in Nattuvangam (Vocal percussion) from Mrs. Radhika Rajasenan of Chennai.

Rachita is the “Artistic Director” for the Rasika School of Dance where she educates and promotes the ancient dance form of Bharatanatyam to her students. The sole purpose of this institution is to enrich and maintain the traditional heritage and fundamental basics of this age old dance style from India, while still staying current and targeting a global audience. Rachita has secured a couple of grants from the PCA (Pennsylvania Council on the Arts) for her past productions and had a successful collaboration with Gamut theater on their production ”Pericles-King of Tyre” in 2018.

Rachita is an adjunct professor at the Dickinson College, Carlisle where she teaches Bharatanatyam as a part of the “International Dance“ paper.

She is also a part of “Center Stage”, a unique program at the Penn State Hershey Medical Center where dance and arts is being used as a therapeutic mechanism to help patients in their recovery.

Rachita’s unique approach of introducing Bharatanatyam in a story telling format through the program “Creative movements” has received much appreciation in the educational field. Her work has been showcased at the Susquehanna Art Museum (VAN GO), Hershey Public Library, Camp Hill school district and Jump street, Harrisburg to name a few. A masters in Biochemistry along with a Bachelors in Nutrition, Rachita is also a devoted wife and mother to her two daughters and resides in Hummelstown, PA

Orchestra: Choreography, Nattuvangam and Vocal support: Mrs. Rachita Nambiar Vocal: Mrs. Revathi Subramony Mridangam(percussion): Dr. Sriram Balasubramanian Veena: Mrs. Amrutha Vishwanath Flute: Mr. Raman Kalyan Costumes: Alex, Chennai Make up: Mrs. Rachita Nambiar Photography: E.G. Photography (Emily Golihew) Egphotostudio.com Videography/Photography: Lens Guys, lensguysphotography.com

Design & Printing: Akshara Offset, Trivandrum, India, +91 94471 61155

Rachita has numerous performances to her credit both in India as well as the United States. Being proficient in Carnatic music, she is also the recipient of many awards for dance and music.