Inside the auditorium of Canton High School on Sunday, October 27, at 5 PM, I forgot that I was in the United States. Everything was so Bangalore: the performances on stage, the people in the audience, the clothes we were wearing, and even the cries of the children. Of course, the language was namma Kannada.
 
It was the fifth annual function of Rasarang School of Performing Arts. It was a good evening, not only in terms of the dances and performances of the team comprising children and adults put up, but also in the high production values of the program.
 
The costumes whether for the Bharatanatyam performances in the first half or the Bhangra, LavaaNi (sourced from Pune), and other folk dances in the second half were original and detailed. The music for each dance piece, including a song by Dr. B V Gundapa and the folk numbers was crystal clear and appropriate. The dances were timed exactly right, maybe because of the children on the team who can get tired or because Poornima Risbud, the Guru at Rasarang, knows how much the audience can accept easily at a time. There was not a single instance of a tiny tot missing his or her part. The choreographers and selection team had chosen each dance piece and movement according to how much a child can learn and display at a time.
 
Once the dancers set the pace for the audience through Pushpanjali, Ganesha Kauthuvam, we settled in our seats for a good evening. Anirudh showed his talent by keeping up with the senior dancers in Jatiswaram. Poornima played out the tribute to the temples of Belur and Halebid in Eni Mahanandave.
 
After the Bharatanatyam section was a tabla performance by Aditya Kalyanpur. Aditya played his instrument as well as with the audience, surprising us with his speed and focus on bold and clear execution of syllables and pinpoint precision of rhythm.
 
The folk section of the program was fun and showed the hard work of the team. The stage came alive as the members performed dances from different regions of India. The Lambadi (gypsy) number Jeyyo Jeyyore set the mood while Naavu Bandevaa and Jeevanavelal Bevubella were rhythm in action. My personal favorite was the LavaaNi but when there is Bhangra one just starts tapping one's feet.
 
My request is that the organizers should have thought of a small break because without that some people excused themselves for a while from Aditya's performance.
 
It is hard to retain your culture in a different place in the world. However, the way the team from Rasarang performed I have no doubt that the children will be rich in the knowledge of the traditions of their homeland.

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