Vijay Antony live
arangetram. “Bharatanatyam uncovered a hidden talent within me. It wasn’t just about dance; it was about embracing who I truly was.”
Amidst performances in various cities,
Sundaramoorthi’s hunger for knowledge led him to explore folk arts. Inspired by the vibrant stage shows he witnessed, he delved into learning
Karagattam wherein performers,balance a pot on their heads and dance to folk songs. This dance is performed in praise of the rain goddess Mariamman.
Witnessing the erosion of traditional dance forms saddened him. He says, “Traditionally, Karagattam is about dancers gracefully balancing a pot on their heads, clad in elegant sarees. But today, it has lost its soul.” Determined to stem the tide of cultural dilution, Sundaramoorthi embarked on a mission to master an array of traditional dances. Starting from Karagam, he learned Therukoothu, Deverattam, Oyilattam, Kokkaliattam, Kavadi Attam, Poikkaal Kuthirai Attam and more by travelling across regions, immersing himself in Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage, learning from masters and preserving the authenticity of each art form.
“My day usually begins at 4am and ends late at night, around 12 am. I never felt strained despite pushing myself to learn multiple dance forms. It’s only possible when there are no expectations and a mindset for continuous learning.” After 16 years of continuous learning, Sundaramoorthi’s crowning achievement is the world record he now holds for the Longest Traditional Dance Marathon in Asia Book of Records. He is also a recipient of the Tamil Nadu
Government’s Kalaivalarmani title in recognition of his contribution to the folk arts.
“At 30, I accomplished my world record performance. It was unexpected; I never imagined myself breaking records,” Sundaramoorthi recounts. “The idea sparked during a casual conversation at a college event where I mentioned knowing over 200 dance forms. This joke led to a challenge proposed by a professor, igniting my ambition.”
Despite the task ahead, Sundaramoorthi was determined. “Preparing for the world record was no easy feat. Each dance required specific props and costumes, adding to the challenge,” he explains. “After securing sponsorship and a venue, I devoted two months to intense practice. It wasn’t without setbacks; I faced severe back issues and underwent treatment, delaying my preparation.”
Undeterred, Sundaramoorthi resumed practice with renewed determination. “I initially danced nonstop for 32 hours, eventually setting the record for the longest traditional dance marathon.” Sundaramoorthi’s journey didn’t end there. “In subsequent years, I set records for the longest Karagam dance and choreographed the largest Oyilattam performance.”
Reflecting on the fine arts of our time, Sundaramoorthi feels, “Every traditional art form has the power to decide its own destiny. Not everyone can master traditional arts. Only when the art form chooses you will you be able to learn, regardless of how great the teacher is or how long you practice.”
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Calling all music fans in the South! Get ready for the concert experience of a lifetime as the multi-talented Vijay Antony ignites stages across the region with his highly anticipated South Tour. This powerhouse performer, known for his chart-topping hits and captivating stage presence, promises an unforgettable night of music and dance.
“Storytelling is also highly personcentric and takes a humanistic approach to counselling and therapy as explained by Natalie Rogers. My sessions are deeply influenced by American psychologist Martin Seligman’s research on positive psychology,” she says. Sowmya’s group called Soul Story Mandala is a “safe space” where participants share their connections, challenges and their insights from the story or picture book. “The idea is to offer a story, children’s picture book or magical thinking to reflect, reimagine and restory,” says the Coimbatorebased narrative practitioner. “Though I bring the story and the process into the circle, the participants bring their knowledge and history into it and thus we all become co creators,” she adds. Her sessions, designed for 16 years and above, are of one hour and 15 minutes duration and engages the participants through music and art.