Arangetram. A single word that simply means ‘ascending the stage.’ A word that is intended to capture a single event representing the standard rite-de-passage of the student of classical Indian dance. However, just as any other ‘graduation’ event epitomizes, hidden behind this one deceptively singular event lies years and years of tireless hard work, unbelievable challenges, stresses, countless fights with parents, tears of exhaustion, thousands of miles of car rides to and from practice,… and the list goes on and on… Every family that has successfully completed an arangetram knows exactly what the years of challenges entail, that lead up to the final gala event itself. The rest of us see only the brilliance of the explosion of seemingly effortless skills, and revel in the breathtaking beauty and ethereal grace of a performance that goes way beyond the tender age of the dancer herself.

And so it was with the memorable and magical arangetram of Isha Sharma and Shaila Abbott. The event occurred on September 8th, at the Chinmaya Mission Boston Auditorium. What a performance!

They say there is no greater joy for a teacher than to see his/her lessons imparted come to life. Neena Gulati Ji and Priyanka Subash ji – this one was for you. Isha Sharma and Shaila Abbot have had a keen interest and passion for dance which began nine years ago. They have trained in three forms of dance: Bharatnatyam, Kuchipudi, and Odissi, under the guidance of Ms. Priyanka Subash and Smt. Neena Gulati whose teaching efforts and words of encouragement have truly shaped these students into the dancers they are today. Isha Sharma is a Junior at Mystic Valley Charter School, and Shaila Abbott is a Senior at Andover High school.

The inaugural piece, Bhoomi  Mangalam, was an invocative dance depicting the essential elements of nature, dedicated to Lord Ganesha. It was performed in Odissi style to the raga Kalyani. This was followed by a classic piece Battu in Odissi style again to Vasant raga. The Battu is a complete nritta, or pure dance, that demonstrates the ability to wholeheartedly dance through one’s eyes, hands and feet.

Continuing with the Odissi dance tradition was the next piece, Pallavi, in raga Aravi. This celebratory piece is set to lilting rhythms, and is the epitome of fluid grace and cadenced footwork.

The tempo changes after the intermission with a mix of pure Bharatnatyan and Kuchipudi pieces that present a resplendent and awe-inspiring display of sheer talent, exquisite beauty, grace, and dramatic/expressive flair. First up is the Devi Varnam (Bharatnatyam) in raga Simhendr. A most complex dance, the Varnam is the centerpiece of the Arangetram. It demonstrates the dancer’s mastery of Bharatnatyam movements. Pure dance sequences are interspersed with verses that tell a story. This varnam integrates intricate pure dance with interpretive expressions of the goddess Devi or Amba. The next presentation is that of Bo Shambho, and with this piece the girls showcase their prowess in Kuchipudi in raga Revathi. This dance portrays the cosmic dancer Shiva’s tandav or masculine aspect contrasted against Parvati’s lasya or feminine style. This is followed by the serene and soothing melody of the Sri Ram Stuti in Bharatnatyam style and raga Yaman. This popular piece is a very famous bhajan by Saint Tulsidaas. In this beautiful song, the poet simply surrenders to Rama and accepts Him as his guide through life’s all fearful corners. The next presentation, Jo Tum Toro Piya (Bharatnatyam, raga Yaman Kalyani is a spiritual song depicting the love-laden devotion of Mira Bai for Lord Krishna. In Tarana, the girls are back with a Kuchipudi presentation this time in raga Natabhairavi. The Tarana conveys the joy of dance with a flourish of intricate footwork and striking poses in a combination of grace and vibrancy. The audience was treated to a resplendent and spell-binding grand finale with the Ras Shabdam – Kuchipudi style in raga Arabhi. This is a dance celebrating spring as Krishna dances the raas with Radha. It concludes with the dancers performing on the rim of a brass plate.

For me, one of the most significant features of this arangetram was the manner in which each dancer alternately introduced, through a brief visual/dramatic representation, the key essence of each piece that was about to be performed. Because of this, even those in the audience (and there seemed to be quite a few) who had never been exposed to these unique dance forms were able to follow each piece with a great degree of awareness. 
  
The entire performance was skillfully and melodiously supported by an orchestra that comprised a group of highly accomplished, renowned, and talented artistes Shri Gaurishankar Chandrashekhar (mridangam); Shri Suresh Mathur (flute); Shri Ram Naidu (Veena); Vocalist Smt. Bhuvana Ganesh; and finally, the Nattuvangam provided by the revered and veteran guru, Smt. Neena Gulati herself. 

An arangetram is so much more than just a singular event that celebrates the completion of a journey of learning. It is just as much an occasion for the rest of us – friends and family – to come together to celebrate, honor, and revel in the memories of a dear child blossoming over the years into a beautiful young woman – someone who comes into her own space – and how! I would be totally remiss if I did not share with you the deep pride and joy Isha and Shaila’s loved ones shared with me about the girls.

Shallu Bhagat (Shaila Mom): “Words cannot describe the unique feeling on our daughter's completion of her arangetram. As I watched the beads of sweat from her neck dripping, the throbbing bruises from her heavy anklets, the blisters gradually forming under her feet, I knew she had to be hurting, and yet I was amazed there were no complaints from her at all. Apparently it was hurting me to see all of this but not her, as she was enjoying every moment of it. In those moments, words from my favorite poem that I love for Shaila came to mind:

I want you to be proud of who you are and strive to be the best,
Put forth your efforts to achieve your goals and let God do the rest,
I will always be your mother first, but I'm also your friend,
You are the most precious gift, that I've ever been given.”

Deepika Sharma (Isha’s Mom):

“As a parent, Isha's arangetram was a memorable experience for me. Isha's dance skills, beauty and grace mesmerized me. It is deeply humbling to see - in and through your own child - the magic of God’s grace, her Guru's blessings, and the love and support of her grandparents, family, and friends through all these years. The chemistry between the two - Isha and Shaila - was amazing, their expressions captivating. This day has been etched in my memory and it will give me the same pleasure whenever I wish to relive it, like the sight of Daffodils did to William Wordsworth - 'And then my heart with pleasure fills, And dances with the Daffodils.'”

Rachna (Isha’s aunt):

“Those three hours of Isha's performance were even more special for me. I had fostered a dream of learning dance right from my childhood but could not do so. That day Isha helped me to live my dream and my soul transcended the physical confines and merged with her performance. I was both the performer and the audience at the same. It was the sheer ecstasy of her flawless movements that put all of us in a trance.  In the end I must confess that the journey of 16,000 miles from India was worth every minute.”

Charu Kapoor (Shaila’s aunt): "We had a thrilling time watching Shaila perform various dances with a glow on her face like Durga. We feel proud when our kids perform Indian cultural activities here in America, keeping the Indian heritage alive.”

Diksha Sablok (Shaila’s aunt): “Congratulations to Shaila on successfully completing ten years in Bharatnatyam dance! Her dedication resulted in a mesmerizing performance on stage! She danced so beautifully that we couldn't take off our eyes from her. We couldn't be more proud of all that she has accomplished and wish her even more success in your life!”

Interestingly, Isha and Shaila are the first graduates of the Burlington branch of the famous Triveni School of Dance. As such, their primary teacher through the years has essentially been Ms. Priyanka Subhash (in collaboration with Neena Gulati ji herself), to whom it was clear the girls had a deep connection.

Of Isha and Shaila - as well as their memorable arangetram - this is what Neena ji herself had to say: Each student essentially learns and performs the same kinds of fundamental dance elements in any given tradition/style. And yet, each student is unique unto herself, and brings to the stage her own characteristic individuality, persona, energy, and presence. This is what Isha and Shaila’s joint arangetram epitomizes best. The fantastic synergy and chemistry between the girls throughout the performance reflected the elements of precision-learning required to master such a complex art form. However, each of them was able to convey her own unique persona and individuality throughout the performance– true to the spirit of any creative artist whose thirst is to dig deep into his/her space and bring out the spirit of one’s own unique creativity.      

Isha and Shaila, with deep love and warmest wishes from ALL of your loved ones for a successful, happy onward journey through life – “Go Out There Unto the World … and Shine Forth Thy Divine Light….”

God Bless.  

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