COMMUNITY NEWS
A treat for Indian classical dance fans
AZIZ HANIFFA
Kuchipudi Kalanidhi, one of the leading
Indian classical dance companies in the
country, based in Bethesda, Maryland, will
showcase Bharata Natyam dancers Shijith
Nambiar and Parvathy Menon in Easwara:
The Supreme Being and Kalanidhi company dancers in Shakti: The Divine Energy, at
the Cultural Arts Center, Montgomery
College, Silver Spring, Maryland,
September 18.
A live orchestra, flown in from India, will
accompany both performances.
Kalanidhi’s Artistic Director Anuradha
Nehru said, “Kuchipudi Kalanidhi is
delighted to showcase once again its talent-
ed dancers together with two of India’s
foremost upcoming dancers in what prom-
ises to be a wonderfully rich evening of
Indian classical dance and music. The com-
mitment, dedication and talent amongst
the next generation of Indian classical
dancers in India and America are heart-
warming indicators of the promise and lim-
itless possibilities of the future growth of
this art form.”
She said Shakti was “a series of dances
dedicated to the universe’s feminized pri-
mordial cosmic energy,” and that according
to Indian philosophy, “feminine energy is
inherent in every living being. Shakti
explores her manifestations through the
lenses of compassion, intelligence, strength
and the destruction of evil.”
The main performance piece,
Easwara, conceived and performed by
Nambiar and Menon, Nehru said,
“depicts Shiva, the lord of dance, as
unchanging, transcendent, and with-
out temporal, material, or physical
manifestations.”
Hyderabad born and raised, Nehru
moved to Washington, DC in
December 1985 and founded her
dance company in 1992. She now has
another branch in Ashburn, Virginia,
besides the center in Bethesda with
nearly 100 “committed and dedicated
students.”
She said, “I have dedicated my life
to create high quality Indian classical
dancers here in the United States, and
to create a love and passion for dance
amongst them, so they continue to
develop and create a new future for
Indian classical dance.”
She said, “As a performer, teacher,
and choreographer, I wish to share
my extraordinary joy in dance, striv-
ing for new and effective ways to com-
municate the beauty of Kuchipudi to
diverse audiences through new,
vibrant, and creative choreography.”
Her critically acclaimed perform-
ances in India, Australia, Indonesia,
Singapore, and the US have distin-
guished her as one of the leading
Kuchipudi soloists in the world.
Anuradha Nehru, artistic director, Kuchipudi Kalanidhi
firmly rooted in the Kuchipudi style
of her guru, Vempati Chinna Satyam,
“I relish dialogue with other artistes
of different genres, constantly nour-
ishing her desire to seek new hori-
zons for Kuchipudi.”
Nehru has been recognized by the
governor of Maryland for her ‘dedi-
cated efforts to promote and pre-
serve the classical dance form
‘Kuchipudi’ for future generations,’
and has earned a ‘Teacher
Recognition Certificate’ from the
National Foundation for
Advancement in the Arts for encour-
aging and supporting students who
have been recognized for exceptional
artistic achievements.
The Maryland State Arts Council
funds Nehru’s company along with
the Arts and Humanities Council of
Montgomery County.
The dancers who will be featured
in Shakti include Asha Dwarka,
Chitra Kalyandurg, Rupa Ranga
Puttagunta, Indira Sarma and
Lavanya Thamire.
The musicians who will accompany the dancers are Jaikishore
Moslikanti, Sudev Warrier, K S
Sudhaman and A P Krishna Prasad.
Nambiar and Menon will be
accompanied by K Karthikeyan,
Easwar Ramakrishnan, K
Parthasarathy and Arun Gopinath.
;Page A57
On the recent nationwide campaign for a stronger federal ombudsman, Kalam said there are laws already in place
to tackle corruption; what is needed is speed of prosecution.
Jugal Malani, president, India House, invited Kalam to
be an honorary member of the
board of advisors.
Kalam also attended events
at the University of Houston
and Rice University.
Rice University President Dr
David Leebron said the university was pleased to have high
achieving students from India.
Dr John Antel, senior vice
president, University of
Houston, said Kalam’s visit was
an event to celebrate and
announced the introduction of
an India Studies minor course
that will be offered at the university shortly.
Sanjiv Arora, India’s consul
general in Houston, said
Kalam’s Vision 2020 had
inspired an entire generation
to strive harder and aim higher.
Kalam said India House is a
bridge between the United
Kalam is a hit in Houston
States and India. He said ‘there are challenges before us,
especially the young, to fight corruption, moral turpitude
and environmental decay and to build a compassionate
society.’
Kalam spoke about his PURA initiative — Providing
Urban Amenities in Rural Areas. It is an ethical, efficient
and economical way of delivering
sustainable development to the
masses, he explained. After his
address, he invited questions from
the audience. Earlier, Kul Bhushan
Uppal, vice president of operations,
India House, spoke about activities
and mission. Rakesh Agrawal was
the master of ceremonies.
