On February 25, 2012, the Lasya School of Dance, formed and directed by Smt. Sapna Krishnan, gave a heart-throbbing concert of music, dance, and cultural tradition. Around 400 people filled the seats of the auditorium, all ready to enjoy the program. The “Natyasangam” or the Union of Dances, was organized by Smt. Sapna Krishnan as a fundraiser for the Multiple Sclerosis Society.  For this creative and artful venture, four other dancers from the New England area joined hands with Smt. Sapna Krishnan, including Sailaja Chowdhari Tummala of Kuchipudi Natyalaya of Greater Boston , and Mohinnyattam dancers Neha Parikh of Chidambaram Nritya Kala Academy of Nashua, New Hampshire, Sheetal Dwaraka of Sowparnika Arts Nashua, New Hampshire, and Shubha Kannath a dancer and software engineer from Bellarica, Massachusetts.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic disease, affecting the CNS, or Central Nervous System. It is an autoimmune disease that affects many vital bodily functions including the brain, optic nerves and spinal cord. Smt. Sapna Krishnan realized the need to donate to the society when her student, Melanie, came to her a year ago with Multiple Sclerosis. Melanie’s continued hard work, passion, and effort in dance and life has inspired us all to contribute, thanks to this wonderful program.  

“Natyasangamam” began with an introduction by Smt. Sapna Krishnan, who spoke on behalf of Melanie and about Multiple Sclerosis. Melanie arose to the stage and shared her experiences with the audience and emotionally said “I thank Sapna from the bottom of my heart,”

The program was a neat blend of the three Dance styles of South India, Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Mohiniyattam. In other words, one would say it was truly the meeting of artistic minds.

The concert opened with a Mallari  in praise of  Lord Ganesha  by which the students of Sapna Krishnan, the students and teachers of the show sought the blessings of  Lord Ganesha, the remover of Obstacles.

Following with a smooth transition, the talents of Smt. Sheetal Dwaraka enraptured the audience as she depicted a part from Ramayana. The story tells how Surpanaka, the lovelorn demoness bothered  the divine brothers Rama and Lakshmana. Lakshmana in the end cuts off Surpanaka’s nose. Her abhinaya, aptly demonstrated the agonies of the demonesse Surpanaka. Smt. Sapna Krishnan and her students yet again amazed us with their production of a Varnam, depicting the birth of Lord Krishna, Lord Krishna’s Kalinga nardhana to save people of Brindavan from the evil snake Kalinga, and the Lord lifting Govardhana mountain to provide Shelter to the villagers. The dancers and their guru lined up, at one point, on stage forming many heads of “Kalinga”, the snake and mesmerized the audience into reliving the glory of Lord Krishna.

Smt. Sailaja Tummala demonstrated a soothing grace as she described Alamelumanga, the consort of Lord Venkateswara, in her deep sleep with the Lord, in the Annamacharya krithi  “paluku tenela talli pavaLinchenu” in Raga Abheri. Her pleasing choreography made the audience visualize divine Mother sleeping in peace.

Smt. Sapna Krishnan yet again captured our hearts with her powerful movements striding across the stage with tremendous vitality for the song “Mahadeva Shiva Shambo” in Raga Revathi. In this piece, the first part depicts Ravana pleasing Lord Shiva by playing music on his veins and the second part shows how Ganges was brought down to earth by a sage Bhagiratha’s request.

The program then treated us to a Kuchipudi ‘Dhasavataram’ spectaculary done, depicting the various forms and incarnations of Lord Vishnu. The audience sat in their seats, enchanted by the music, but more so by the ever-graceful moves of the dancers as they began with Matsya avataaram and ending with the Kalki form. Then the audience enjoyed a delightful Mohiniyattam piece performed by Ms. Neha Parikh. Neha performed a  Nritta piece in Mohiniyattam which abounds in different tala variations employing the method of executing cross tempo with pure grace and agility. The audience was enthralled.

Smt. Sapna Krishnan and her daughters, Nilanjana and Madhumita then brought to us a heart-warming performance of  ‘Ennathavam Seidanai Yashoda’ in Raagam Kaapi. Sapna  was in her element as she portrayed the varied emotions of Yashoda’s motherhood combined with little Madhumita depicting Lord Krishna as child. It was magical. This was followed by a splendid Mohinyattam Varnam performed by Shubha Kannath. Kunthi's agony and misery of having to unwillingly abandon her first born child, Karna, was flawlessly performed by Shubha in her varnam ‘Kunthi Viraham’. The eighth performance was a Kuchipudi Tarangam by Sailaja Tummula and two of her wonderfully talented students. The dancers balanced delicately on a brass plate placing their feet upon the raised edges and beautifully managed to maneuver around the stage. Sapna Krishnan then gracefully performed  “Ariyaa paruvam”,a  Padam in praise of Lord Muruga.

As usual, the pièce de résistance of the evening was the pulsating presentation of a Thillana performed by all the various dancers of the show in the end. This is the time all the 3 dance forms came alive together on the stage. The performance was majestic and regal.

It touched the hearts of the audience as it brought to light the dedication, the hard work, and the passion for dance in each and every one of the dancers as well as the kindness and generosity of the individuals who danced in donating their time and effort to a noble cause.

As Mrs. Ranjini Saigal ardently expressed, we must stop the poison [Multiple Sclerosis] in its path as Goddess Parvathi did when Lord Shiva swallowed venom. As Mrs. Jayanti Gataraju further supported, following Mrs. Saigal’s lead, we must all work together to stop the poison from going any further. It remains forever an ethereal span of time in which we were gifted with a trip back to our beautiful Indian roots. If ever anyone deserved to be applauded for their sweetness, no one deserves the praise more than all the dancers and teachers who put together this show, with a special shout-out to Melanie, and of course, Smt. Sapna Krishnan. Overall, the program was a tremendous success and Smt. Sapna Krishnan achieved her goal in raising enough money to help the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Her motivation and determination to put on this show will most definitely help those suffering from Multiple Sclerosis.

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