Renuka Bhisetti - Junior at Lexington High School
The time was approaching 3:30 PM and the adrenaline in my body began pumping. The date was July 24th, 2004 and I was minutes away from performing my Arangetram. A little over 500 friends and family members showed up for this special occasion. By the end of the day, everyone was relieved and happy since the program went on well. Most people know that Arangetram literally means, “ascending the stage,” but for me, Arangetram also means learning, sharing and enjoying.

Through my Arangetram, I have learnt so much about our Indian culture. The dances that I performed that day, taught me breathtaking and magical stories about Rama, Krishna, and many other heroes of Indian mythology. I have also expanded my knowledge on Carnatic music. For example, I now have a better understanding of thalam and ragam. Additionally, I have had the honor of learning this amazing art form from one of the most talented artists, Jothi Raghavan. The weeks preceding my Arangetram, Jothi Aunty put in so many days of effort to make my performance as perfect as possible. Through her dedication I have learnt that an Arangetram isn’t just a performance but a performance of one’s dedication and talent. During the past few weeks, I have also had the honor of learning from a group of gifted musicians who accompanied me for my dance debut. Without this learning, I would have had much less to share with the audience.

Performing my Arangetram has been one the most enjoyable events in my life so far. An Arangetram should not only entertain the audience, but it should also allow the dancer to enjoy herself and immerse herself in the dance. All of this combined is what makes an Arangetram perfect.

The purpose of performing Arangetram was not only to showcase what I have learnt, but also to share it with all of my friends and family. To me, sharing is definitely one of the most important aspects of my Arangetram. The dancer must share her enthusiasm, her soul and love for the art form with the audience. While the dancer performs, the musicians share their melodious music and the audience share their excitement and eagerness. Sharing allows the communion of the artist with the audience and enhances everyone’s enjoyment of the art.

Without learning, sharing and enjoying, an Arangetram wouldn’t be an Arangetram. These three simple words sum up what an Arangetram means to me. By accomplishing these three simple things, the dancer and the audience both enjoy and benefit from the performance.

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