Dinesh Kamath's news 'Bharatnatyam Arengatram on 11 Oct' that was published in Newsband

Bharatnatyam Arengatram on 11 Oct

By Dinesh Kamath

Navarasa Academy of Indian Classical Dance invites all to Bharatnatyam Arengatram On Saturday 11 October, 2014 at Agri Koli Bhavan, Near Vazirani Sports Complex, Off. Palm Beach Road, Sector 24, Nerul (W), Navi Mumbai – 400706 from 6 pm onwards.

Apoorva, Krishnendu, Parvathy, Sneha and Srishti (Disciples of Nritya Shiromani Guru Smt. Sushma Gopinath will perform.

Apoorva R Nair

She is daughter of Smt. Sushama Ravindran and Sri. E Ravindran and had started learning Bharatnatyam at the tender age of four. She is also learning Mohiniyattam from her Guru for the past two years. She is a 6^th standard student of DAV Public School, Nerul. She is also learning Chenda(Kerala Drum) for the past one year. Her other hobbies are pencil drawing and painting.

Krishnendu Sajeesh

She is the daughter of Smt. Mahija Sajeesh and Sri. Sajeesh Kumar, and was initiated in Bharatnatyam by Guru Sushama Gopinath at the tender age of five. She is studying in 8^th standard at DAV Public School, Nerul. Krishnendu is a dedicated student exponent of India’s well known performing art form Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam. Kashmeera, her younger sister also follows her ‘foot steps’ by learning Bharatnatyam under Guru Seshama Gopinath. Glass painting and Music are Krishnendu’s hobbies, and Bharatnatyam and Mohiniyattam are her passion.

Parvathy S Menon

She is the daughter of Smt. Saritha S Menon and Sri Puliyath Suresh, a 5^th Std. student of DAV Public School, Nerul, and is learning Bharatnatyam from Guru Smt Sushama Gopinath for the last six years. She is also learning Mohiniyattam from our beloved Guru for the last two year. She is practicing ‘Chenda’ (Kerala Drum) at Seawood Malayali Samajam. Drawing and painting are her other passions.

Sneha P. M.

She is the daughter of Smt. Nisha Babu and Sri Babu P. P. and is a 7^th standard students of DAV Public School, Nerul. She is practicing Bharatnatyam dance at Navarasa Academy for last 8 years under the guidance of Smt. Guru Sushama Gopinath. She is also learning Mohiniyattam at Navarasa Academy. She is practicing ‘Chenda’ (Kerala Drum) at Seawood Malayali Samajam. Her hobby is reciting poems.

Srishti S. Zinge

She is the daughter of Smt. Sneha Zinge and Sri Sachin Zinge and had started learning Bharatanatyam at the tender age of Six. She is also learning Mohiniyattam from her Guru for the past two years. She is a 7^th standard student of DAV Public School, Nerul. Her other hobbies are drawing and painting.

Chief Guest for the function is Guru Vijay Shanker, Kuchipudi exponent and noted dance critic, actor, model and choreographer.

Guest of Honour: V. J. Unni Menon, President – Seawood Malayali Samajam

Guru Smt. Sushama Gopinath

She is a talented Guru of classical dance – by sheer grit, determination and hard work – and has mastered the Cosmic Art making her unique in the field of classical dance. While a child, little Sushama showed extraordinary talent forcing the parents to seek the advice of their family friend Guru Late Shri Kalamandalam Vasudeva Panicker, a versatile genius, whose guidance and training gave her perfect foundation in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam, a traditional dance form of Kerala. This enabled the then Sushama (maiden name) to win a number of prizes during her school and college period.

Sushama continued the quest under Guru Kalaimani Vidwan late Shri Kathiravelu Pillai and Guru late Shri Ramaswamy Bhagavathar. While under the tutelage of Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan of Adayar, Sushama took course in Abhinaya (acting).

Guru Sushama Gopinath has done many ballets and stage performances in different parts of India. She is an excellent choreographer too. She has choreographed several dance ballets with a view to promote and preserve the ancient culture and heritage of this great country.

Guru Sushama Gopinath has been conferred with the title of Shivali Nritya Shiromani on the 59^th Shivali Dance Festival on account of her outstanding contribution to the field of Classical Dance. Some of her students were lucky enough to perform in function organized by Kerala Tourism and Development Corporation. Some of them were fortunate to show their talents at the 59^th Shival Dance Festival.

Guru Sushama Gopinath is household name with all art loving people of Navi Mumbai, especially Keralites and a program by her troupe is an inseparable part of almost all cultural functions in this satellite city of Navi Mumbai. She continues to impart her hard earned knowledge in Bharatanatyama and Mohiniyattam to the younger generation at various parts of Navi Mumbai. It’s all possible because of the support and encouragement that she receives from an art loving husband Sri Gopinath Warrier and son Rohit Gopinath.

The other artists who will participate are:

Nattwaragam and Choreography by Smt. Sushama Gopinath

Vocal by Sri Shivaprasad

Mridangam by Sri. Shankaranarayanan

Violin by Sri Vishnudas

Flute by Sri. Nanda Kumar

Morsing by Sri Gopal

Make-up by Sri Murugan

Compere by Smt. Meera Suresh

Stills by Kamal Studio

Hair Style by Sheetal and Aparna Mohite

Costume by Vismaya and Lasya

Light and Sound by Merco Sugunan