How Bharatanatyam moulds a person?

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Nishanthi during her opening dance of the 'Tribute to womanhood, The Living Tree’ - Photo by Astro AWANI

KUALA LUMPUR: 25-year-old, Nishanti Balashanmugam who has been dancing since the age of five says the art has made her a disciplined and confident person. She said dancing is a skill which most people would want to have these days and considered herself lucky to have started at a very young age. “There are a lot of people now especially the non-Indians, who are more aware of this type of dance we do and they are quite clear that it is not the same as any Bollywood dance and that it’s a classical dance,” Nishanthi said. She said, more dancers are emerging and most of them (dancers) run dance schools while holding full time jobs. Every small town in Malaysia has at least one dance school. “I want to dance as long as I can and as long as I am physically able to,” Nishanthi added. 'I started dancing for fun' “I started dancing for fun, but it later taught me discipline and about culture which is something important,” said 25-year-old Shitira Paramjhoti. Shitira said, initially the dance was not well known and everyone only knew who Ramli Ibrahim was. But as more dance schools emerged and more dance shows were put up, many of their multiracial friends understood what Bharatanatyam actually was. “Bharatanatyam has a very bright future as more students are taking it seriously and I think it will go beyond what it is at the moment,” she said. She added that she will not give up dancing anytime soon. When asked if she has any plans of becoming a dance teacher she said: "To become a dance teacher one will need more skills then just being able to dance."

Shitira (centre) during her performance in 'Tribute to womanhood, The Living Tree’ - Photo by Astro AWANI

'It was her therapy' Meanwhile, a parent, Jayaletchumi Velusamy said whenever her daughter was preparing for her major exams, her daughter made dancing as a therapy. “A day before her exams she will go for class. She said that it relaxes her mind,” Jayaletchumi explained. Jayaletchumi said the art also activates both sides of one’s brains plus her daughter learned how to manage her time and commitment. “For myself, I learnt Tamil literature. When I see the same literary in an art form, it gives me a better understanding of the literature. In the Indian community, it should spread wider because this art is not just for fun but you must have sincere dedication,” she said. Jayaletchumi said, Bharatanatyam is a lifelong passion for both her and her daughter. It has thaught her daughter about the Hindu religion, culture and also the Tamil language.

Dancers of Jeya Nritha Kalalayam Dance Academy during the finale of Tribute to womanhood, The Living Tree’ - Photo by Astro AWANI

'I too understood the dance despite being a Chinese' “My daughter has been with the school for about 20 years,” said Ruby Bala, mother to Nishanti Balashanmugam. She said throughout this period, every time there was a dance show she will come to support her. “During this long 20 years, I myself have learnt a lot about the culture, I feel that I was a good idea to send my daughter for the here. She learned to be more disciplined. As dancing is her hobby she also excelled in her studies,” Ruby said. Though being a Chinese, Ruby said that she enjoyed the music and the dance. She was also able to point out where a dancer can improve. She said Bharatanatyam should be continued to be promoted in Malaysia. “With the support from parents and important figures in the society, I believe Bharatanatyam has a bright future,” she said.

Tribute To Womenhood, The Living Tree

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Dancers of Jeya Nritha Kalalayam Dance Academy took the role of nine important women in the Hindu myth during their school's dance drama, The Living Tree - Photo by JNKDA

Recently, Jeya Nritha Kalalayam Dance Academy (JNKDA) staged a dance drama which portrayed some of the important women in the Hindu mythology.

With the theme of ‘Tribute to womanhood, The Living Tree’, students of JNKDA brought nine significant women in the history back live on stage in Kalamandapam Hall, Brickfields. The nine women were: • Seetha, the paragon wife of Lord Rama • Meera bhai, the passionate devotee of Lord Krishna • Draupadi, the Pandavas’s virgin wife • Yashoda, Krishna’s mother • Savitri, the faithful the wife of Satyavan • Andal, the Queen of devotion • Satyabama, killed a monster called Naragasura, thus Deepavali was born • Kannagi, burned Madurai city for falsely killing her husband • Boomadevi, the Earth Goddess