Preserving Bharata Natyam

The Music and Bharatha Natyam Program of the internationally reputed dances 'Bharat Ratna' Srimathy Rama Vaidyanathan will be held at Nallur Sathana Tamil Mixed School Sports Stadium, Jaffna in connection with the Nallur Kandaswamy Temple annual festival recently.

In fact, Bharatha Natyam is one of the oldest dance forms of India. It was nurtured in the temples and courts of Southern India since ancient times. Later, it was codified and documented as a performing art in the 19th century by four brothers known as the Tan Jore Quartet whose musical compositions for dance form the bulk of the Bharatha Natyam repertoire even today. This art was handed down as a living tradition from generation to generation under the Devadasi System under which women were dedicated to temples to serve the Deity as dancers and musicians forming part of the elaborate rituals.

Indeed, the revival of Bharatha Natyam by pioneers such as E. Krishna Iyes and Rukmini Devi Arundale brought the dance out of the temple precints and onto the proscenium stage though it retained its essentially devotional character. Today Bharatha Natyam is one of the most popular and widely performed dance styles which is practised by females and males all over the world.

Bharat Ratna Srimathy Rama Vaidyanathan has been performing Bharatha Natyam for the last two decades and she has been featured in all the major national and international festivals including Government of India's Indian Council for Cultural relations, Indira Gandhi Centre for the Arts, the Madras Music Academy, Chennai, Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai and several others.

Srimathy Rama has also performed for International Conferences such as the World Sanskrit Conference, special charity performances for the Cancer Society, Indian Film Festival in Madrid, Spain in May 2006 and Samudra Festivals in the Gulf countries.

Indeed, "Srimathy" Rama is a dancer of splendour and her luminous eyes are enticing, her footwork electrifying and the dramatic force in her dance exudes consummate artistry.

"Rama" has been fortunate to have trained intensively under the legendary dancer Yamini Krishnamurthy and eminent Guru Saroja Vai Dyanathan. She has been performing dance for the past twenty years and is are of the most sought after dancers of her generation. She brings to her dance a rare sense of devotion, dedication and commitment which leaves the audience with a sense of spiritual fulfilment.

"Srimathy" Rama Vaidyanathan always enthrals the audience with his unlimited and impeccable dance performances. In fact, she has the magic to make every item appealing to the audience. She excels in all her performances particularly in her facial expression, manual gesture and deft footwork. Her performance with freshness and precision and notably rhythmical is a pleasure to watch. Furthermore, she possesses the required blend of glamour and appeal which are essential for a dances.

Rama has performed her dances in India, Japan, Mexico, Panama, Columbia, USA, Gautamala, Venezuela, Russia and Sri Lanka.

In recognition and appreciation of her dance performances she has even been felicitated honoured by the then President of India Dr. Abdul Kalam in New Delhi.

Undoubtedly, "Bharat Ratna" Srimathy Rama Vaidyanathan is a dancer with Mercurial feet and her changing facial expression is a treat indeed. Furthermore, she is not only a veteran dancer, but also well known for her discipline, retirement, spiritual depth and meticulous eye for details.

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