A stellar debut

Sahana Sunder had her Bharatanatyam Arangetram on Friday at Ravindra Bharathi. She is a young and talented student of Shankarananda Kalakshetra headed by renowned Guru Padmashri Dr Ananda Shankar Jayant. Sahana has spent 10 years learning the grammar of dance and imbibing the artform's spirit. She has matured into an accomplished dancer seamlessly merging energetic and exacting footwork with subtle expressiveness. Willing to experiment and learn, she has blossomed effortlessly into her accomplishments. After completing a certificate course, she is now pursuing her studies in the field of design.

In the striking costume of parrot green and red, Sahana immediately caught and held the audience's attention throughout. The Pushpanjali in Amrutavarshini by Venu Madhav was an offering of flowers to the lord, paying the dancer's respects to the Guru, the orchestra and the audience. Graceful elegance marked the item. Alarippu means flowering out.

In this invocatory item, Sahana paid obeisance to the elements using her body as a vehicle of prayer. Varnam in Shanmukhapriya was the Piece-de-resistance of the recital. Composed of Nritta, Nritya and Natya it encompassed precise and intricate footwork which was done in an enchanting manner. The composition of Lalgudi Jayaraman has the bhakta reciting the praises of Lord Srinivasa as the supreme God worshipped by all who saved the nectar from the Asuras by donning the role of Mohini. The rescuer of Draupadi and the incarnated Vamana, who saved the world.

Srinivasa who dwells on Venkatagiri beloved by Alamelumanga and Padmavati who is the solace of Kaliyuga. The stance of the Lord was perfectly caught in a statuesque pose. Devi stuti in Devagandhari by Muthuswami Dikshitar describes the Goddess beautifully portrayed by the Artiste as Rajarajeswari and Meenakshi. She who is beyond time and space containing the essence of music and dance, bhava, raga and tala. Killi Kanni in Chenjurutti was exquisitely rendered, the vibrancy displayed by Sahana was a virtuoso blending of flashes of expression and body movement.

Here the heroine confides her emotional state of bewitchment to Lord Muruga to whom she requests sending of a letter by her pet Parrot (Killi) beseeching Kumara Swamy to come home. The concluding thillana in Natabhairavi was by Veena Krishnamachariar, a brilliant and grand item composed of Jathi patterns and graceful postures. The highlight was its dedication to the legendary Rukmini Devi Arundale.

Sahana expertly performed the crisp rhythmic patterns and to the jathis set in this piece. A superb orchestra complemented the recital, vocal by Shweta Prasad, violin by Sai, Uma on flute and Balasubramaniam on the Mridangam. Choreography and nattuvangam were by Dr Ananda Shankar. Eminent artiste, Kalaimamani Rajeswari Sainath graced the occasion. Well-deserved applause greeted the young artiste on her successful debut, and it is hoped she will continue her dance career along with her professional in brilliant success.