Kuchipudi Dancer, Art Motivator & Entrepreneur Deepa Sashindran created an unforgettable evening on May 18 and 19 by organizing the Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival to honor her Guru Smt.Manju Barggavee,. Distinguished artists of classical and contemporary dance forms transformed the show into a dance extravaganza with their breathtaking performances at the Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Vyalikaval, Malleshwaram,Bangalore.

As a tribute to her Dance Guru Smt Manju Barggavee, Deepa Sashindran organized the Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival 2012 on May 18 and 19 at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Vyalikaval, Bangalore. The show featured eminent artists of classical and contemporary dance forms.

The event was presided over by prominent guests. On the first day, May 18, the guests of honor were Smt. Rani Satish, ex.Hon. Minister of Kannada and Culture, Govt. of Karnataka, Sri Dr. Manu Baliger, Commissioner of Kannada and Culture, Govt of Karnataka, Smt. Usha Venkateswaran, Director of Natyana lakshana Akademy.

On the second day, May 19, the guests of honor who graced the event were Sri Hari Iyer, Vice President TENVIC, Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, Internationally acclaimed Danseuse and Sri Dr. Mahesh Joshi, Senior Deputy Director, Bangalore Doordarshan Kendra.

The Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival 2012 is the brainchild of Deepa Sashindran, Founder of Karma Kreators in collaboration with NatyaVedam the dance school of Smt Manju Barggavee. Deepa is a versatile Kuchipudi artist since the past two decades and senior disciple of Smt. Manju Barggavee. Deepa has rendered innumerable solo performances in India and abroad, receiving several accolades for her mesmerizing performances.

She was highly applauded for a delightful event. Glowing at the praise showered upon her, she said, “This is a very proud moment for me and this event is a dream come true. I had the distinction of being the first disciple to have done the Kuchipudi Rangapravesham 15yrs back under the tutelage of Smt. Manju Barggavee and today I have the privilege of honoring my Dance Guru. I especially put together the best dance performers to commemorate this wonderful event offering Guru Samarpana, not many people have this great opportunity. I was so excited to see that the audience enjoyed the show”

On May 18, the audience was enthralled with the Bharatanatyam performance of Rama Vaidyanathan. This was followed by the much awaited highlight of the evening, Smt.Manju Barggavee’s spell binding Kuchipudi performance, turning the evening into a magical experience for everyone present.

Artists’ profiles

Smt Rama Vaidyanathan from Delhi is among India’s leading classical dancers and the best interpreter of the ancient art form of Bharatanatyam.  She has received extensive training from legendary dancer YaminiKrishnamurty. She has also been under the guidance of the eminent Guru SarojaVaidyanathan.

Every dance fan knows and loves Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Barggavee as an artistic perfectionist with dynamic stage presence and alluring poses that reminds connoisseurs of ancient sculptural beauty. She is lovingly remembered for her memorable role in the blockbuster film Shankarabharanam where she thrills with her dance performances. Trained under the renowned Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam, she perfected the most difficult and intricate features of Kuchipudi which distinguishes the art form from all other dance traditions. Her legacy continues at NatyaVedam School of Kuchipudi.

On May 19, the evening began with Gayatri Sriram’s outstanding Bharatanatyam performance. This was followed by dance historian Ashish Mohan Khokar’s Purusha ensemble of Bharatanatyam, Kathak and Odissi presented by eminent Male Artists like the Bharathanatyam star of banglore Sathyanarayana Raju, Kathak by Murli Mohan and Tushar, Oddisi by Lingaraj Pradhan. The male dancers presented performances that highlighted both pure technique and Abhinaya and finished together in a crescendo. The evening concluded with grand finale by the Stem Dance Kampini  presented by Madhu Natraj and Team which included both  Kathak and Contemporary performance.

Artists’ Profiles

Smt. GayatriSriramfrom Singapore is a disciple of the Kalakshetra alumnus MinalPrabhu. Bharatanatyamis her passion and a way of lifeand her involvement with the art is complete. She executes the traditional format of the art with the exactness that her style demands. She continues to perform and choreograph for herself and her student at her school Shrutilaya in Singapore.

All style Indian classical dance Purusha Sri AshishMohan Khokar is an eminent dance historian, scholar and critic. Purusha, which is conceived by Khokar, is a showcase and ensemble of Bharatanatyam, Odissi and Kathak dance forms by the ace creative director of many dance projects and festivals worldwide, presented by star of Bangalore Sathyanarayana Raju in Bharathanatyam, Kathak by Murli Mohan K and Tushar, Odissi by Lingaraj Pradhan.

Madhu Natraj started Kampni in 1995 to explore and create new expression in dance. NatyaSTEM (Space Time Energy Movement)Dance Kampni has emerged as one of India’s leading contemporary dance companies, recognized for its lyrical and dynamic performance in India and abroad. The Kampni strives to create vocabulary, exploring the limitless possibilities of the human form. Motifs of Indian movement disciplines, original music experiments with rhythm, interactive design come together to form the Kampni’s signature style.

The Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival 2012 on May 18 and 19 at the Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Vyalikaval, Malleshwaram,Bangalore, organized by Deepa Sashindran was an grand success and memorable dance extravaganza with performances by renowned professionals.  It was a poignant evening for those lucky to witness the show.

 About Deepa Sashindran

Deepa Sashindran is a Kuchipudi Dancer, Art Motivator & Entrepreneur. She is a versatile artist of the Kuchipudi art form for the last two decades and senior disciple of Smt. Manju Barggavee.  She holds the distinction of being the first disciple to have done her her  Kuchipudi Rangapravesham under the tutelage of Smt Manju Barggavee. Deepa has rendered innumerable solo performances in India and abroad and is the recipient of several accolades for her spell binding performances.

A human resources specialist in the IT/software industry since the last decade, Deepa is currently an entrepreneur in Human Capital Management Services and owner of Karma Kreators. Karma Kreators is a one stop HR solutions provider of high quality recruitments and Human Resources challenges of enhancing operational efficiency through best HR process and practices and provide industry specific professional advice.

For more details please visit  www.deepasashindran.com and  www.karmakreators.com )