This had been our most awaited trip to Boston to watch Avani and Anuva perform their arangetram on July 8, 2018, since we relocated to NC! I have seen these two girls since they were 5 and 6, learning dance with my daughter. I knew very well what to anticipate from the sisters who are excellent dancers, their arangetram was the proof, it was an outstanding performance from beginning to the end. These sisters were the last in their batch of girls who all started to learn dance 10 years ago with Guru Smt. Neena Gulati at Triveni school of dance-Burlington branch completing their marvelous arangetram and man they ended with a huge bang! 

Avani and Anuva performed three styles of Indian classical dance - Odissi, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi, they were vibrant and graceful in all styles. They started with Pada Vande, an Odissi invocation dance to receive blessings of Lord Ganesha, followed by Kalavati Pallavi, an Odissi Pallavi which slowly builds up from slow graceful lyrical movements to reach a fast tempo at the end. Then they went on to perform a powerful and expressive Odissi dance Das Avatar depicting the ten avatars of Lord Vishnu and the evolution of human beings. 

After brief intermission the amazing sisters were back on stage with their centerpiece, Devi Varnam – most powerful dance in Bharatnatyam repertoire in praise of goddess Durga. Avani and Anuva exhibited excellent skills in both technique and expressions.  Avani’s depiction of nine emotions in her solo Shiva Navarasa in Kuchipudi style was just out of this world. It was astonishing how she could pull off each emotion with so much perfection! She gave a strong and powerful performance dedicated to Lord Shiva. Anuva’s portrayal of Satyabhama as her solo in Bhama Kalapam in Kuchipudi style, was mind-blowing to me, even though as young as 13, she nailed it. She was so mature with her expressions, throughout all her dances she maintained her beautiful smile and posture, she was just wonderful. Their next dance was Shiva Shakti, a vibrant Kuchipudi dance celebrating the dynamic duo of Shiva and Shakti, representing power and energy. My personal favorite was Raas Shabdam, in praise of Lord Krishna and Radha, where they danced to intricate jathis on the rim of brass plates. They concluded their arangetram with Mangalam thanking God, their Guru, the musicians and the audience for their blessings and gracious presence on this occasion.

At one point I could not decide whom to look at as they were both dancing so wonderfully. I did ask dad sitting in front of me, which daughter would you watch, and he said that’s a big challenge for him. The sisters made their parents and all of us extended dance family so proud! The girls were stunning, sensational and real treat to our eyes. This was truly memorable event for everyone in the audience who gave them a well-deserved standing ovation.

The decorations were very creative, colorful and the whole ambience in Littleton High School was phenomenal. Neena aunty the pillar, the strength and architect behind these two awesome dancers and their arangetram is one of the best dance Guru, the greatest inspiration to me and all her students. Way to go Avani and Anuva, wishing you many more years of dancing and the pure joy it brings!