Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
West Chester East student performs classical Indian dance
Likitha Uppala presented her debut stage performance of ‘Arengetram’ in Bharatanatyam dance style
PHOENIXVILLE » With a nod to the homeland of her first-generation American parents, a West Chester East High School junior performed a classical Indian dance at Phoenixville High School Saturday evening.
Likitha Uppala, 16, presented her debut stage performance of “Arengetram,” in Bharatanatyam, a dance style where someone expresses stories through intricate facial expressions, hand gestures and feet movements.
The event was a benefit for the Starlight Children’s Foundation, which creates a comfortable environment and stay for hospitalized children.
Arengetram is derived from Tamil in the Indian language and translates into ascending the stage by a dancer after completion of formal lessons.
“It explains the story of the Gods and Hinduism,” Uppala said. “It looks back to India. It helps to connect me to my grandparents.”
“It explains the story of the Gods and Hinduism. It looks back to India. It helps to connect me to my grandparents.” — Likitha Uppala
Facial expressions, such as, anger, happiness, sadness and proudness depict stories behind the Gods.
Live musicians, her teacher, who sang, and another live singer joined the high school junior on stage for what Uppala said is part or Indian culture and is similar to a graduation ceremony.
Her father, Srinivas Uppala said he is very proud of his daughter who has been taking dance lessons for more than four years and has practiced for this specific performance for 18
months.”
“She’s very busy — very passionate,” he said. “This helps keep the culture alive. We find difficulty in trying to tell her about where we are from.
“We want her to keep her roots alive.”
Uppala has been training under Viji Rao of Three Aksha Dance Academy.
She credits Viji for instilling in her “the value of hard work and never giving up on me even when I was ready to quit.”
For more information on the organization that makes hospitalized kids smile, Starlight Children’s Foundation, go to www.crowdrise.com/startlights-mission/fundraiser/likithauppala.