Students of Kolam Academy of Dance (Tyngsboro, MA) presented “Sivoham”– delightful dances on Lord Shiva as part of their annual thematic presentation. This was conducted under the able guidance of Guru Sujatha Meyyappan, Kolam Dance Academy’s Artistic Director. This event was held on Sep. 21, 2013 at the Chinmaya Maruti temple at Andover, MA.

Each year, Kolam Dance Academy presents its students performing to a unique theme. Last year, it was “Bharathy Natyam”, where students performed to popular and lilting songs by the great composer Mahakavi Subramanya Bharathi. Keeping with this year’s theme “Sivoham”, the evening started with a welcome by Sujatha Meyyappan who also explained the concept and creative ideology behind choosing Sivoham.

The first half of the program was presented by students learning Bharathanatyam in the beginner and intermediate levels with some senior dance students participating in the dances to provide support for the younger dancers. Items like Pushpanjali, Kauthuvam, Natanam Aadinaar, Sollale Iyambidal and Sivan Kavadi Chindhu were presented with coordinated costumes and hair-do which added a lot of color and contrast to the eyes for the viewers and enhanced the performances. One could notice that a lot of effort and practice had gone into the presentation of each dance.

There was a small Award ceremony whereupon all the dance students from Kolam Dance Academy were called on stage and were handed a trophy and certificate by the Parents of Sujatha Meyyappan.  

The second half of the program saw the senior students of Kolam Dance Academy perform. Muvva Vangapalli danced to Shankara Srigiri – a composition of Sri Swathi Thirunaal. This was gracefully presented with the energy level maintained throughout the item.

Next three dance numbers are compositions of Sri Madurai Muralidharan’s on Tandavam had been chosen for the evening. Shuruthe Raju presented Samhara Thandavam with a lot of vigor and energy and did justice to the powerful dance of Shiva’s “Thandavam”. Ananda Thadavam – the cheerful celestial dance of Shiva was portrayed by a group of Kolam Academy dancers. The highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Oorthva Thandavam Prelude by Sujatha Meyyappan. It was sheer pleasure to see her perform so vibrantly. She portrayed both Kali and Shiva using subtleties in dance styles with a power packed performance.

The program concluded with a Thillana in Ragamalika which was beautifully presented by a group of senior students of Kolam Dance Academy. The Mangalam was from an unique composition of Thirugnana Sambandhar’s Thevaram. All the students of Kolam Dance Academy joined in the Mangalam and ended with a picturesque pose and every face was lit bright with broad smiles.

For the audience it was a treat to see good performances from tiny tots to senior students. The song choices for the evening’s dance numbers were pleasing to the ears. The effort that Sujatha Meyyappan has put forth in preparing the children to perform for an event like this must be greatly applauded. The students also conducted a food help Nashua Soup kitchen.We will look forward for many more presentations from Kolam Dance Academy in the years to come.

Photo Credits:  Jeyakumar Sathyamoorthy
http://dance-arangetram-photos.smugmug.com/

Participating students: Amy Koleth, Anika Shroff, Anushka Philip, Aparna Shanmugam, Avani Patel, Chetna Ayyagari, Dhakshinya Thangavel, Divya Vijayakumar, Irene Rubesh, Jahnvi Patel, Janette Jerusal, Karthiyayini Mahendrakumar, Kaviya Vijayakumar, Kruti Patel, Lamitha Iyer, Laya Raju, Medha S. Bashyam, Meghna Kanthan, Mitali Sanjeev Gupte, Muvva Vangapalli, Nanditha Prashanth, Nisha Patel, Preethi Mahendrakumar, Richa Juvekar, Saanvi Vutukur, Saadhvi Raghav, Sadhvi Sreeram, Shriyaa Anandakumar, Shuruthe Raju, Sruthi Ramesh, Sinthya Kumar, Solai Alagappan, Tithi Patel, Trisha Kagalavadi, Yashvi Patel

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