Devika Gireesh, senior at Boston University Academy, completed her Arangetram on September 3^rd, 2006. The performance took place at Boston University, where over 200 of Devika’s friends and family gathered to witness her symbolic completion of training in Indian classical dance. Her diligent practice along with the help of a highly accomplished orchestra paid off and her performance was a success.

Devika began her training in Bharatnatyam at the age of four. At the Triveni School of dance Devika continued learning Bharatnatyam and began learning two new forms of classical dance, Kuchipudi and Odissi from Guru Neena Gulati. Neenaji, known in the Boston area as being a patron of the arts and an accomplished dancer, has taught over two thousand students.

The Arangetram began with the traditional Puja, during which Devika and her Guru paid their respects to the Lord Nataraja. After an eloquent speech by Neenaji, Devika began the Odissi portion of her Arangetram. The first piece she performed was Pada Vande, the traditional invocatory dance dedicated to Lord Ganesha. Carrying herself with grace and ease, Devika awed the audience with her first dance. She next performed Das Avatar, a piece explaining the ten incarnations of Lord Vishnu. Devika was able to once again impress the audience with her form and her versatility in Abhinaya.

Devika continued on to the Kuchipudi portion of her Arangetram, beginning with a Saraswati Vandana. The Mridangam, changing in meter multiple times in the song, provided an intricate beat to Devika’s fast footwork. Her next piece, a Bharathnatyam dance, was a Varnam, in which she danced the role of a devotee questioning Krishna’s love for her. Once again, Devika awed the audience with her range of emotions and Abhinaya.

The next item, Bho Shambo, was described by Neenaji as a “cosmic” dance that had been passed down from teacher to teacher for centuries. Devika’s performance seemed effortless, and it was evident to the audience that she had put in hours of practice. Neenaji explained to the audience that the next piece, Kaliya Nartana, was very special because it was Devika’s favorite dance. Devika began the snake dance with an impressively flexible snake pose, touching her foot to the back of her head. Devika then went on to perform a Ras Shabdam and ended with the traditional Kuchipudi plate dance, the Mangalam.

Devika kicked away her plate, ending with a flourish that received a hearty round of applause from the audience. The audience then gave her a standing ovation for her spectacular performance and sincere efforts. Devika’s family friend, with whom she had began learning dance, described Devika’s first performance to the audience. Her brother then took the stage, expressing to the audience his gratitude on behalf of Devika’s family and telling Devika how proud her family was of her. Devika was able to once again amaze the audience with her moving speech. She began her speech by thanking everyone who had come to support her that day, then went on to thank specific friends, family members, and teachers.

|