It was on the saraswati pooja day years ago that Ranga mandira was started by the lucky hands of my great guru K.J.Sarasa amma.
We celebrated this year's anniversary at Mahalakshmi hall. All my students did me proud. the little ones danced to the geetams that my sangeeta shala students sang. But they truly captivated us with their lovely dancing for Kakkaisiraginile, a Bharatiyar song.
Then the older students (not by age but by years of learning) presented korvais that they had composed themselves! I was so proud. It takes the expertise of a senior dancer to do this but our children did it with such aplomb. They also danced to Kaliyuga Varadan, a small kirtanai that I had taught them.
The highlight of the evening was of course the little speeches that each child had prepared on various aspects of music and dance.
my youngest student Keshav Thyagarajan spoke on the natya veda as the fifth veda. I had taught him the slokas and its meaning once but the way he spoke, he brought tears to our eyes!
Arjun Paramshwar, a young student of Pungulam Subramanyam spoke on the Mridangam and its composition. he was bold and sopke very well.
My student aarti spoke on padams and javalis through skype as she lives in singapore. She stole our hearts singing saramaina matalento (behag, a javali)
Hariharan, a student of sangeeta shala spoke on Annamacharya and i was so proud of his knowledge and ability to speak.
His younger brother Jai spoke on the Trinity of music. he was so cute. he was stumblinjg at places but was so determined that it moved me.
Anjali and Ankita, Renuka, Padmasani and several other chidren sopke.
amongst the senior girls Smrithika spoke about dance and temples. Her mother's architectural background truly helped her.
Veena spoke about the importance of Folk dance in Bharatanatyam and she emerged a winner.
Deepika my senior student spoke about the tanjore quartette. I was so proud that she had grasped so much from my classes and was also a good guide to the junior students.
Sri.G.Narayanaswami, president triplicane arts academy presided over and awarded certificates to our children
Natya- sikshita and sangeeta- sikshita certificates. RM is a proud alma mater!
All the parents who spoke highly of Ranga Mandira and our methodology, Many thanks to you all!
Vidya akka and Nithya Akka, my pillars of strength who are the music teachers were at their best.
I was happy to see Vidya akka read an impressive annual report of RM.
Sealucksea, the dance teacher was supportive and am happy she is a part of RM family.
I will write another blog soon about the successful RM function at Kanchipuram as well.
I wish to see our students and parents blog their thoughts so that we have a record of our happenings.
Swarnamalya Ganesh
Proud teacher!
