A rare combination of talent

G Arulananthan

The Bharatha Natya Arangetram of Selvi Thamanja Kukathasan was held recently at Rickmans Worth Watersmeet, London. She is the daughter of Mr & Mrs Kukathasan Sumathy and student of Srimathy Krishnalatha Kathiresan, a veteran dancer and Director of a popular school of dance in London.

The international fame dancer 'Natya Tharaka,'Isdela Upu Subbiah was the chief guest to grace this occasion of the medical student of London Kings University.

'Srimathy' Subbiah, for over a decade has perfected her art as one of the premier performers and choreographer of Bharatha Natyam. She was born in Bihar, North-Eastern India and is the daughter of renowned Kathakali dancer Hari Uppal.

Srimathy Subbiah had a passion for dancing from her young age and obtained an Indian scholarship to the prestigious Kalakshetra school of dance in Chennai under the able guidance of the illustrious Rukmani Devi, a colossus in the world of Indian dance.

She joined the Faculty of London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS). Here she has designed and delivered a unique Bharatha Natyam curriculum, enabling students to develop their classical skills.

In fact, an appreciative audience was packed at the Rickmans Worth Watermeet Hall in London to enjoy Kukathasan's Bharatha Natya Arangetram.

Arangetram implies scholars approval before a learned body. The concept of dance Arangetram first appears in Silappadikaram, the ancient Tamil classic of the fifth century A.D. The first Arangetram is that of Mathavi, the dance heroine of this epic. She is the mother of Mani Mekala, who embraced Buddhism giving up her career in dancing. Mathavi still continues to inspire girls who love to dance.

An Arangetram is a co-operative effort and very delicate and sensitive essay in the presentation of a novice to a heterogeneous crowd. It is one in a series where the combined and competitive effort strives not only to emphasize the outer vitality, but also the inner life of the individual.

Selvi Thamanja showed very keen interest in dancing at a young age and after an intensive and extensive training under Srimathy Kathiresan, she has performed this Bharatha Natya Arangetram and captivated the hearts of the audience. She had the magic to make every item appealing. Besides, she possesses the required blend of glamour and appeal which are essential for a Bharatha Natya dancer.

Selvi Thamanja, who personifies a rare combination of talent, beauty and perseverance was able to convey and reach out to the audience her feelings and emotions in all her dance performances on account of her tremendous stamina combined with immaculate and assertive rhythm.

Indeed, amazing was mastery of difficult dance technique and the power of expression in Selvi Thamanja's maiden dance performance.