Bharathanatyam summer camp in Cumming, Georgia
(Left) Darshini Natyalaya's 2015 summer camp students with teachers Gayatri Seshadri and Dr. Anita Vallabh.
Darshini Natyalaya conducted its annual summer camp in July under the tutelage of Smt. Anita Vallabh and Smt. Gayatri Seshadri. The students were trained on a lot of technical aspects and were blessed to have this opportunity to enrich their knowledge and advance a few steps forward in their dance journey. Camp ended with a performance to showcase their newly learned pieces and techniques.
Gayatri Seshadri is an alumna of Chennai-based Bharata Kalanjali founded by the legendary dance gurus, the Dhananjayans. Sri V. P. Dhananjayan and his wife Shanta Dhananjayan have become a legendary dancing couple of India in their own lifetime. Gayatri continued to sharpen her skills in this divine art under the able guidance of Smt. Radhika Shurajit, one of the senior disciples of the Dhananjayans. Radhika Shurajit is known for her internationally popular weekly television program Thaka Dhimi Tha which airs on JayaTV.
Darshini Natyalaya's founder, Smt. Gayatri Seshadri.
Drawing from her years of training and performing and following the best traditions of her Alma Mater – Bharata Kalanjali, Gayatri Seshadri founded the Darshini Natayalaya Academy in Memphis, Tennessee in 1998 and relocated to Georgia in 2013. She now performs and trains students in this art form from her studio in Cumming, Georgia. Darshini Natyalaya’s mission is to increase each student’s physical, emotional, and intellectual wellbeing through the art of Bharatanatyam. In addition, Darshini Natyalaya seeks to increase their curiosity and passion for Indian culture, mythology, music, and art.
Smt. Anita Vallabh was the recipient of the National Award for Best Dancer (1992-1993) from the National Hindi Academy, Calcutta, and was conferred the title of Kala Bharati. Smt. Vallabh received a Ph.D. from the University of Madras in 2002 and has performed internationally throughout Asia, Europe, and the United States. She is currently an Assistant Professor at University of Hawaii in the Department of Dance and Theatre.
[The article above appears only on the website for September 2015, not in the September print/digital issues.] [Posted 9/11/15]
Enjoyed reading Khabar magazine? Subscribe to Khabar and get a full digital copy of this Indian-American community magazine.
