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Abhinaya Celebrates 25 years - A note from the artistic director
Mythili Kumar
In January 1980, at the insistence of a few friends
I started teaching Bharatanatyam to a small number of
girls. I only intended to keep in touch with the art
form, so that the stress and excitement of settling
down in a new country wouldn't cause me to lose all
that I had learnt, practiced and performed for over
fifteen years in India. But phew..... time flies and
here we are twenty-five years later. In 2000, we celebrated
20 years of active teaching, performing and propagation
of this art form (Abhinaya's stated mission), and the
last five years have been so incredibly busy that it
is hard to believe that five whole years have passed.
It is indeed different this time around for several
reasons. Five years ago the valley was booming and non-profit
companies like Abhinaya had no difficulty finding financial
support through government and foundation grants. Over
the past five years, to our disappointment, our California
Arts Council grants dried up, our budgets didn't expand
as we expected, and although we continue to be financially
stable due to prior year surpluses, we showed an operating
deficit in 2004 - the first in Abhinaya's history. In
the face of several calamities around the world during
those years - 9/11, earthquakes, war, and the tsunami,
we have hesitated to approach our patrons and the Indian-American
community for funds to support Abhinaya and our mission.
However, we need to keep in mind that the arts are indispensable
to our mental and physical well-being. The next generation
has benefited greatly from the dedication of several
artists who share their time and expertise to communicate
their respective art forms and one can never undervalue
the power of art to change one's lives for the better.
We hope our audiences recognize this fact and continue
to support us in every way they can.
A brief overview of the highlights of the past five
years: In 2001, we tackled the difficult contemporary
subject of violence against women and staged Jagriti
- Awakening. We also had the wonderful opportunity
of working with Shri C.V.Chandrasekhar and Smt. Jaya
Chandrasekhar in the fall of 2001, performing their
creation Pancha Maha Bhoota. In 2002, Abhinaya
launched Next Generation - a career development
program that serves Abhinaya's emerging Indian-American
dancers. Three of our most talented and dedicated dancers,
Radhika Kannan, Satyasri Yendluri, and Ami Buch had
the unique opportunity of presenting their creative
choreography on stage. In 2003, we presented Shantha
Raman's brainchild, Surya - the sun god and ventured
to present it successfully in Berkeley as well. In 2004,
we presented Timeless Traditions - a special
collaboration with Kathak dancers. In December 2004,
both my daughters Rasika and Malavika received critical
acclaim for their performances in the Chennai Music
and Dance festival. We have been fortunate to have a
stable administrative coordinator in Lakshmi Parige
since 2002, who has worked hard in the office genuinely
rooting for Abhinaya's success.
2005 has started wonderfully for Abhinaya. We have
been awarded a prestigious grant from the National Endowment
for the Arts and a first-time James Irvine Foundation
award for our 2005 fall collaborative concert with the
renowned Viji Prakash and the Shakti Dance Company from
Los Angeles. It is heartening to know that the quality
of our programming continues to be recognized and rewarded.
In February, we performed in an event organized by the
India Community Center to raise funds for tsunami relief
and received rave reviews. Abhinaya continues to encourage
the creative development of our next generation of artists.
Although we find several of our trained dancers and
teachers relocating for college or work out of the area,
we are glad to note that many are returning and expressing
a desire to continue teaching and performing with the
company. My daughters Rasika and Malavika are dancing
actively in their respective colleges. My husband Kumar
is ever supportive of our hectic dance performance schedules.
To celebrate this 25th year it was decided that, instead
of having just one special event, we would better serve
our large community of students, alumnae, and collaborating
artists by having events throughout the year, honoring
different groups of people who have helped ensure Abhinaya's
success through the years.
At this juncture and age, I have come to realize that
my days of dancing three styles in one performance are
over. I cannot imagine how in the seventies in India,
I had the patience to don my Odissi costume first, perform
four pieces, then change entirely - hair and all - to
the Bharatanatyam outfit, perform two or three numbers,
then change costume again for Kuchipudi. I continued
to perform some Kuchipudi and occasional Odissi till
the early nineties, but since the arrival of Jyoti Lakkaraju
to teach Kuchipudi and Asako Takami to teach Odissi,
I was content to see them do full justice to their styles.
I began focusing on Bharatanatyam, recognizing the fact
that it takes a lifetime to learn and strive to achieve
the elusive goal of perfection in even one style. In
today's performance, I am however performing Kuchipudi
as a special presentation to celebrate this 25th year.
Bhama Kalapam, the cornerstone of the Kuchipudi repertoire,
which describes the beautiful princess Satyabhama and
her love for Krishna, has always been my most favorite
piece and I am happy to share it with you today.
With hope for a peaceful future and mutual coexistence
without discord,
Mythili
Article written to kick-off the 25th year celebrations
with the Spring 2005 concert series.
Go to the Events page or
view postcard for concert details
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