Sri Datta Natyalaya founder and Bharatanatyam dancer and Guru Rashmi Sachidananda will be presenting her disciple Akanksha Choudhary’s Rangarohanam, at Taramathi Baradari, Ramdev Bagh, on Saturday, 15th June 2024, at 6pm. Student of Class VII, Phoenix Greens School of Learning, Hyderabad, Akanksha has been learning Bharatanatyam since the age of four.
Daughter of Jhancy and Pavan Choudhary, Akanksha took her first steps in dancing under Guru Smt. Priya Raghvendra. The youngster says that her immense passion and interest for the dance form was noticed by her parents and today, she is taking her Big Bow under Guru Rashmi Sachidananda. “I have completed three levels of exams with distinction from the Akhila Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidyalaya,” she says. The Class VII student says that she has successfully participated in Cultural programmes conducted at Shilparamam. “I have also performed at an awareness camp organised by the Brahma Kumaris,” she says, quickly adding: “I would like to do my Guru, my parents and brother Aryaman, and many friends and well-wishers proud with my performance.”
Akanksha reveals that she is also an avid swimmer and won medals in the 54th Delhi State Aquatic Championship, in 2018, at a tender age of six. “Today, I am also learning Carnatic Vocal Music under the guidance of Guru Smt. Haritha, and for a brief period I learnt Yoga under Smt. Pujitha Vinay and hope to pursue it again,” says the student.
Giving a peek into the Rangarohanam programme details, Guru Rashmi says, “The evening will begin with Pushpanjali and Ganesha Stuti, a composition of Sri Adi Shankaracharya set to Hamsadwani Ragam and Adi Khanda Talam. This will be followed by Jathiswaram, a composition of Sri Veena Padmanabhaiah, tuned to Kannada Ragam and Adi Talam. Then there is Pada Varnam, a composition of Sri Turaiyur Rajagopala Sharma in Atana Ragam and Adi Talam. Like Lord of Dance is Shiva and what best to have on this Big Day is Sri Adi Shankaracharya’s Ardhanareeshwara, tuned to Ragamalika and Adi Talam.”
Sri Datta Natyalaya founder says that she has picked her Guru Smt. Padma Hemanth’s choreographed ‘Durga Stuti’, set in Ragamalika and Adi Talam. “This is followed by Tillana, a composition of Sri Swathi Thirunal in Dhanashree Ragam, Adi Talam; with curtains after Mangalam, to Sri Bhadrachala Ramadasu composition in Kuranji Ragam, Eka Talam.
According to Rashmi, the music orchestra is from Bengaluru. She will be on Nattuvangam, Vidwan Rohith Bhat Ippoor on Vocals, Vidwan Vinod Shyam Anoor on Mridangam, Vidwan Hemanth Kumar on Violin, Vidwan Vivek Krishna on Flute, and Vidwan D Arun Kumar on Rhythm Pad. “Sri Surabhi Kishore is handling the light & sound,” she says.
The distinguished guests include Justice Challa Kodanda Ram garu, former Judge, High Court of Telangana; Guru Smt. Padma Hemanth, artistic director of Sangeeth Nritya Bharathi Academy, Bengaluru; and GV Anna Rao, Convenor, Natya Swara.