Electrifying dance recital by students of Kalapadma Academy

Chicago, IL: Kalapadma Dance Academy Chicago celebrated their 17th Annual day Event with students and their families, friends and prominent leaders of our community on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Niles West High School Auditorium, 5701 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL . Students of Kalapadma, ranging in ages from 3 to 50 yrs, adorned in colorful costumes, dazzled the audience of about 600 art lovers of Greater Chicago land area. It was 3 hours of pure entertainment that consisted of Indian classical as well as folk, Gujarati and Hindi Bhajans, Bollywood, tribal and fusion dances which were presented by more than 105 students. Such a grand show was made available to the audience at no cost.

Dr. Jayashree Raju was the Chief guest. Many other dignitaries and VIPs who graced the show were Mr. Narendra Patel, president and CEO of MedStar Labs, his wife Mrs. Sumitra Patel, Mr. and Mrs. Dixit, Beena Patel, Mr. and Mrs. Om and Usha Kamaria, Mr. Rohit Joshi, Mr. Raja Krishnamoorthy, and many other community leaders and business leaders. The event marked the sheer celebration of Indian heritage, culture, dance and music. The students, the Artistic Director, Ruth Varghese, the President, Santosh Varghese, and all those who were involved in the presentation of the show deserve esteem.

Surprisingly, young Chief guest, Dr. Jayashree Raju and her husband Mr. Ravinder Raju, were instrumental in helping Kalapadma establish its roots in Chicago about 18 years ago. Also, Dr. Jayashree Raju, was a medical intern at that time and she helped emcee the first annual show of Kalapadma at the Taft high School Auditorium in 1993.

The event started at 3:30 pm with a Welcome speech by Mr. Santosh Varghese which was followed by Mr. Raja Krishnamoorthi’s speech. Lamp Lightning ceremony was performed by Dr. Jayashree Raju, Mr. Narendra Patel and his wife Mrs. Sumitra Patel, Beena Patel, Mr. And Mrs. Om and Usha Kamaria, Mr. Santosh Varghese, Sachi Patel, Shivani Thakker, Hiteshshree Patel and Trisha Modi (students who performed their “Arangetram)

Kalapadma Dance Academy students dressed in colorful costumes and gorgeous make up, presented a beautiful medley of about 18 dances. The program opened with “Pushpanjali and Ganesh Vandana ” in rag Andolika, Tal Tishratriputa and rag.. Jog and Tal… Adi respectively. The show concluded with “Om Shanti”, a prayer for peace, followed by a patriotic number “Bharat ko ek Salam”.

Mr. Santosh Varghese, the President of Kalapadma Chicago, was the Emcee for the evening. Welcoming the gathering, he thanked the invited chief guest, student families, friends, media and prominent leader of our community. In between the introduction to each dance items, Mr. Varghese narrated the story of how Kalapadma was founded. His interesting story about Kalapadma and how it is connected to an internationally famous institution for classical arts, “Kalakshetra” was very fascinating. Santosh Varghese traced the history of Kalapadma Dance Academy which was opened by the late Dr. Shankardayal Sharma, former President of India in Bhopal. Varanasi and Chicago branches were opened later. The main spirit behind the academy was Shankar Hombal, a disciple of Rukmini Devi Arundale of internationally renowned Kalakshetra of Chennai. He is also the father of Ruth Varghese. His story enlightened the audience about the value of a rich and ancient tradition of our country that is often taken for granted by our community because of the lack of awareness. He made the case for preservation and propagation of all the traditional art forms of India to the audience in a convincing manner.

The concluding item of Kalapadma was “Aisa Des Hai Mera” which brought patriotic flavor to the show. The dancers dressed in the national flag colors, brought the audience to their feet. About a hundred children ranging from 4 years to 17 years dazzled the audience and kept them glued to their seats for 3 hours.

Ruth Varghese is the artistic director of Kalapadma Dance Academy , Chicago . She is not only a versatile classical dancer but an innovative dance teacher and a choreographer. Ruth had her early training under her father Guru Shri Shankar Hombal. She had her advanced training in Bharatnatyam at the internationally famed academy for classical art, Kalakshetra, Chennai. Ruth Varghese’s deep knowledge of the Indian classical Bharatanatyam and literary aspect of Sanskrit was evident when she delivered a demonstration lecture through the recitation of various slokas and simultaneously she displayed intricate Mudras or physical gestures while her students followed her in unison. It was a great education for the audience who were able to understand how the Indian dance forms were expressed through the movement of fingers, palms, hands, feet, legs, waist, neck, eyes and head. The narration and explanation of each dance sequence by Santosh Varghese, and the choreography by Ruth Varghese were outstanding.

Suresh Bodiwala, chairman of Asian Media USA had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Santosh Varghese, the President of Kalapadma, about his perspective of their 17th Annual day celebration. He replied that, “We need the help and support of the parents to shape up their children in learning the Indian classical dance forms. We lay the foundation for their personality and character. The students must utilize and put to use the knowledge they acquire at Kalapadma Dance Academy . We teach the students various aspects of the dance and music and make them embrace the values of life. We teach them how to enjoy the unity in diversity through dance. We need the help of parents and community leaders in our effort to train these children. This celebration is also meant to show to the parents about what we teach at Kalapadma Dance Academy”.

Audience comments for today’s program was “An observation worth noticing is that Kalapadma dance academy, with its innovative Choreography and experimentation within the framework of classical dance is making the complex art of Bharatnatyam more accessible and interesting”.

The students who performed their “Arangetram” last year are Sachi Patel, Shivani Thakker, Hiteshshree Patel and Trisha Modi. They met the challenge of Arangetram with determination, strength and Total confidence.

The performance items were:

• Shlokam
• Pushpanjali – Ganeshvandana
• Jatiswaram
• Bhajan ( Mai Poojarin)
• Shabdam
• Bho Shambho
• Devotional
• Madhurashtakam
• Bhajan (Choti Choti Gaya)
• Peacock dance
• Tillana
• Bhajan (Prabhji)
• Devotional
• Kirtanam
• Bhajan (Payoji Maine)
• Thillana
• Om Shanti
• Patriotic (Aisa Des Hai Mera)
• Patriotic (Bharat Ko Ek Salam)
• Mangalam

About Kalapadma Bharatnatyam Dance Academy
Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was not the president of India when he inaugurated Kalapadma in 1960. He was Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh at that time. Later in the 90’s he Became President of India. “It was founded by Guru Shri Shankar Hombal and Smt. Vishalakshi Johri, the sister of well known dancer and the founder of internationally acclaimed institution for classical arts, Kalakshetra, where Guru Hombal studied dance. Kalapadma Chicago is run under the Tutilage of Smt. Ruth Varghese. daughter of Shri. Hombal. Santhosh or Ruth Varghese, 2498 E Church Street, Desplaines, IL 60016
Phone: (847) 390 6104 / Email: Santosh Varghese kalapadma@sbcglobal.net

Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA

Suresh Bodiwala
Chairman
Asian Media USA
Bus: (847) 679-8583
Fax: (847) 679-5336
Cell: (847)420-4789
sbodiwala@sbcglobal.net

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