Thirty students of Santhosh Kumar Thamang, Founder of Shree Narayani Natyalaya, mesmerised the audience present at the amphitheatre, Shilparamam Madhapur on 25 October 2023. Addressing the gathering at the end of the performances, Bharatanatyam dancer and Chief Guest, Rajendera Nyathi, said that it was a sheer joy and delightful to witness the young budding dancers of Shree Narayani Natyalaya. “I am quite amazed of the uniformity, synchronisation, formations, performing all items at ease and perfectly with good anga shudham, expressions of all the disciples are commendable,” he said and had a word of praise for Guru Santhosh.
On the other hand, eminent faculty and Kuchipudi dancer, Dr. Vijaypal Pathloth said that watching the artistic and dedicated talents from Narayani Natyalaya was a visual treat. “The Shishyās were moulded so well to perfection by Guru Santhosh that reflected in their performances…. Āhāryam of every Shishya was perfectly taken care of…. Āngikam was perfection to the core…. Each and every Shishya maintained Araimandi throughout with perfect body postures, hand movements, pleasant facial expressions, synchronisations, formations, entrances and exits,” he said.
The Kuchipudi dancer stated that they performed each item with ease and perfection that clearly shows their tremendous practice, hard work, sincerity and dedication towards the art form. “The line-up of Items was perfectly structured. Starting from Pushpānjali – Alaripu till Thillana – Mangalam. Saraswathi Shabdam, Muthuswamy Deekshitar’s Dashāvataram and Adi Shankaracharya’s Mangalam were the unique and commendable pieces. The detailed description of each Item by the announcer was an icing on the cake,” he said and added that it was artistically organised systematically that gave an aesthetic experience.
The other guests for the evening included Kathak dancer Sanjay Joshi and Musician Dr. B. Aditya Kiran. The students who performed in the evening included, Ankita, Avani, Asmitha Reddy, Ananya Reddy, Padma, Bhavya, Maanavi, Mounika, Swathika, Harshita, Urvija, Soma, Chaitra, Piyushi, Sharanya, Saanvi M, Stuthi Bhat, Ruchita, Saanvi Panda, Vrinda, Reddhima, Aishwarya, Ohana Tumati, Sahasra, Sirichandana, Mishka, Parvathi, Anoushka and Janani.
On the sidelines of the evening’s performance, Santhosh Kumar said that the just-concluded Navaratri was a time for pooja and fasting. “Rehearsals for the evening’s performance was always on top of my mind and teaching kids are the lovely moments I cherish,” he said. He stated that Muthuswamy Deekshithar’s composition, Akhilandeswari, is a composition closer to his heart because it is a blessing from his gurus.
