Daughter takes lead for dance anniversary KATE GREEN
The show must go on, so when Indian dance school director Prabha Ravi was called back to India after her mother’s death, her daughter Radhika stepped up to direct and lead the school’s 20th anniversary show.
Radhika had been part of the
Natraj School of Dance since her mother founded the Lower Hutt school in 1999 – first as a student, then as a teacher.
Radhika said leading the school in her mother’s absence was a huge privilege.
‘‘It’s big boots to fill, but I’ve watched it for the last 19 years.’’
Her mother always gave 200 per cent, running the school alongside her day job and raising two children.
The school taught South Indian classical dance, Bharatanatyam, one of the oldest dance forms in India.
‘‘It’s such an ancient art form, so deep in its roots, with so many aspects – expressions, movement, rhythm – which make it incredibly interesting,’’ Radhika said.
To celebrate 20 years, its students gave two performances at Lower Hutt’s Little Theatre to more than 400 people.
The doors were open to anyone who wanted to learn, regardless of ethnic background, age, or gender. Bharatanatyam is a combination of the words ‘‘bhava’’, meaning expression, ‘‘raga’’ is music, ‘‘talam’’, rhythm, and ‘‘natyam’’, storytelling.
The traditional art form had been gradually modernised through a fusion of music and traditional steps which kept the audience on their toes.
The school taught about 60 students aged between 5 and 60 and they all took part in the show.
‘‘Every student gets the chance to perform,’’ Radhika said.
Sri Ratnam, founder of the New Zealand Indian Fine Arts Society, who watched his daughter perform on Sunday, had been at the school’s first recital 20 years ago.
He said it was a great pleasure to see the school reach such a milestone.
‘‘This is the way [the children] are understanding their own culture.
‘‘Knowing one’s own identity is very important for a person to have a successful professional and social life in a country,’’ he said.