Performing before an intimate audience at Oak Hill Middle School in Newton, MA this past September, Babson college senior Shweta Iyer conveyed the essence of sincerity, perseverance, and passion at her Bharata Natyam arangetram.  The 21-year-old dancer, who had some dance training in young childhood, only began to engage in more regular and focused training as a teenager – making her achievement of the arangetram all the more meaningful for her and her family.  Her teacher, the unassuming Smt. Sangeetha Vijey of Weymouth, is known in the Boston area for upholding the exacting standards of Bharata Natyam espoused by her own gurus, Sri V. P. and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan of Bharata Kalanjali, Chennai.  Her painstaking guidance takes the form of mostly private classes for her students, where she can focus all attentions and energies on the finer nuances of the art form as her students blossom from beginners to more skilled dancers.

It was under this watchful eye that Shweta engaged in arangetram preparations over the last two years; the culmination of her work at her arangetram was the opportunity to delight her audience with a well-conceived blend of well-known choreographies and new pieces.  Shweta began her program with traditional items such as Ganesha Pushpanjali in Nattai, Tisra Alarippu, and a Nrittaswaravali (Jatiswaram) in Vasantha Raga.  Her execution of these items demonstrated the tremendous effort and physical conditioning required to render the austere, pointed Kalakshetra sub-genre of Bharata Natyam.  But it was Shweta’s performance of the beloved Ayar Seriyar Sabdam that changed the tone of the entire program; within the first few musical notes of this composition, the audience instantly recognized Shweta’s flair for expression through her animated abhinaya, which regaled onlookers with tales from the life of Sri Krishna.  The Nrityopahaaram (Varnam), “Roopamu Joochi,” continued her exhibition of theatricality, as she switched between depictions of the powerful deity Shiva and his frequently severe moods, and the pleading nayika longing for her lord to shed the light of compassion upon her.  

After a brief interlude, Shweta returned to perform several more expressive pieces that captivated those in attendance.  The pinnacle of the performance was an original composition, “Sri Sharadambam Bhaje,” in praise of the almighty goddess Sharada, who most notably is the object of devotion for14th century philosopher Adi Shankaracharya and his followers.  The lyrics of this musical composition, rendered by Jagadguru Shankaracharya Sri. Sri. Bharathi Theertha Mahaswamigal, praised the myriad qualities of Sharada Devi, including her bestowal of the eight siddhis upon her devotees, her gifting of speech, poetry and language, and her sacred presence in the temple of Sringeri.  The musical composition for this piece was set by none other than Shweta's grandfather, Sri. V. Subrahmaniam (Sangita Kala Acharya, Music Academy, Chennai) who is a senior disciple of the late Sri. Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer.  Smt. Sangeetha Vijey choreographed the dance for this song at the request of Shweta’s family, and was pleased for Shweta to premier it on the occasion of her arangetram.  The program concluded with the episodic “Nee Uraipai Hanumane” padam, followed by a Nrittangaharam (Tillana) in Shanmugapriya honoring Sri Murugan and a mangalam singing the praises of Adi Shankara.  

Neha Bhambhani, a fellow disciple of Smt. Sangeetha Vijey who is contemplating her own path towards arangetram training, reflected on her experience watching Shweta’s arangetram.  She commented: “As a student studying this art, witnessing Shweta’s commitment to Bharata Natyam was an eye-opening experience.  The passion that she puts in each movement is evident, and this devotion is something that I believe most students are missing from their study.”  It is poignant that a peer and fellow student could learn from Shweta’s fine example.

Simplicity, theatricality, and a firm foundation in dance training were the hallmarks of Shweta’s arangetram.  As this young dancer continues her progress in university education and dance training, the supportive mentorship of her guru, along with the warmth of her family and community, will certainly ensure that her arangetram is only a first step in a long life of passion for the arts.  

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