Friday 186February Sunday January 2011 2013 25 21

margazhi medai
MUDRAS AT WHIZZING PACE
GAUTAM SUNDER
DECCAN CHRONICLE

Chennai Chronicle
PAANCHALI
ith lyrics from Mahakavi W Bharathi and an exceptional music score by violin mastero Lalgudi Jayaraman, Urmila Satyanarayans Panchali Sabatham has been received very well in India and abroad. The talented danseuse has been performing the thematic production along with 24 students from her dance school.
Urmila Sathyanarayan

SABATHAM

If the fact that shes making her Margazhi debut as a 16-year old isnt impressive enough, what sets apart Trichy youngster R. Lakshmy is her unique ability to skate while dancing. The Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam exponent took to the skates as a child, and loved both so much that she decided to merge them. I started off learning Kathak under the tutorship of Smt. Vidhisha Sengupta when my family was in Madhya Pradesh. Soon, I moved onto other dance forms and completed certificate courses in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam. After winning many competitions and performing at several sabhas, I wanted to do something different to make myself stand out. It was a challenge to dance with skates on, but with constant practice, I was able to achieve my goal, says Lakshmy . She has won titles, such as, Yuvasree Kala Bharathi, Natya Thaarakai and Kalai Ilamani, but the young performer says, I have a long way to go still, and performing during the Margazhi season alongside legends, is truly amazing. This time is great to meet and interact with new people, especially for someone young like me, she muses. Having been a roller skating enthusiast for almost a decade now, Lakshmy is also a national-level champion, has captained Tamil Nadu in roller skating jockey and has won a gold medal in the Skating Cricket Nationals. She explains, Its all about balance. Dancing on skates came naturally to me as I had developed the correct posture through years of training. However, it can be risky at times. She wants to keep improving herself and to keep dancing. At the same time, she adds, I never want to let go of my goal of becoming a doctor after my graduation.

R. Lakshmy dazzles Margazhi audiences with her rollerskate-dance

Dancing differently Lakshmy skates her way to a unique performance

KUCHIPUDI

KRAZE

his Marghazi seaT son has seen lot of Kuchipudi performances. Chennai as a city has always been open to other dance forms from all parts of the country. Kuchipudi dancers like Deepika Potarazu and Nandhini Nitin have given quite a few performances in the city.

Nandhini Nitin

HEY

SISTER

GURU

COOL

MUST

WATCH

ayathri Girish on T.N. G Seshagopalan Even while I was performing, I took advanced lessons from T.N.S. He was gracious enough to let me follow my own style. He has refined my singing

Get ready for a special 4-hour performance by renowned vocalist T.M Krishna. Date: January 6 Time: 5pm Venue: Kalarasana, Chinmaya Heritage,13th Avenue, Harrington Road, Chetpet.

Uma and Radhika, popularly known as the Chinmaya Sisters are disciples of Madurai Y.N. Seshagopalan and Neyveli R. Santhanagopalan. Having been brought up in Mumbai, theyve performed at numerous prestigious sabhas across the country, and have attained a stellar reputation for their flawless diction. A true Margazhi favourite, these sisters will always be here to sway heads and set feet tapping!