Vaishnavi strikes a Hattrick

Career Choices: Explaining her choices, Vaishnavi says that she was always inclined towards arts and she made up her mind to pursue dance full-time even before she joined Bachelors. “Graduation in Statistics, was a backup for my career as well as to experience a good college life. As I was good in Math, instead of Engineering, I opted for Statistics as my specialisation in Bachelors. When I got to know about the MFA (master’s in performing arts) program in University of Hyderabad through my guru, I couldn’t even think for a second to enrol myself into it and this has been a turning point in my career,” she says. 

The dancer says that MFA enlightened her about various aspects of dance and different sub-streams that one could pursue as a dancer. “This eventually led me to take up research in dance. I had unlearned and relearned many facets related to dance in this entire time and I continue to do so. For these new learnings, I am truly indebted to Prof. Anuradha Jonnalagadda whom I admire for her proficiency and mastery over the form,” says Vaishnavi. 

According to the dancer, both solo and group performances are equally challenging. “In solo, one has to be very fluid and prowess in the technique to establish the emotion and create rasa, and, in a group performance, one should have the ability to carry the chemistry within the group and maintain the balance to bring out a productive output. I personally enjoy performing in groups rather than solos,” she says. 

Vaishnavi holds a Diploma in Carnatic Vocal and Certificate in Veena, but she has not given any major sabha programs. “I have only performed at small occasions like Navaratri festivals, chamber concerts, Pancharatna Aradhana Goshtis etc. I have participated in quite a few competitions conducted by Kalasagaram, Sharada Bhakta Mandali and others,” says the dancer musician. 

Plays Nattuvangam: The dancer has sung for nrityams, on two-three occasions. Recalling one major performance, Vaishnavi says at that time she was accompanying on the nattuvangam for her friend’s dance recital. “That evening was quite challenging as we had a last-minute change with the singer. As I was trained in music, I could take hold of the situation and conduct the performance smoothly. Apart from this, music has always helped me to understand and acquaint a grip over tala and ragas, which eventually added as an asset to my dance,” says Vaishnavi. 

The dance scholar states that all arts, beyond joy and happiness, has taught her to manage all the good and bad times of life. “Most importantly, it taught me etiquette, sincerity, modesty, hard-work, dedication and many more things. I always feel more skilled that I am capable of multi-tasking various things at a time, and, this I had acquired from my learnings during my childhood. I would aspire to continue to do the same to the best of my capacity with the encouragement of my family and gurus,” she says before taking leave.