Arangetram - with a difference

coolkarni · Post by **coolkarni** » 12 Apr 2008, 07:44

Nandita, a schoolmate of My son at KFI , has her Bharatanatyam Arangetram at Narada Gana Sabha on April 12th at 6.30 PM
I will not be attending , since I will be at Coimbatore on that day , but here are a few aspects which may be of interest to those who want to see just beyond the dance.

Nandita was born with a congenital anomaly and was diagnosed as having Kypho Scoliosis when she was 3 years old.Her condition was such that her spine was bent and therefore would result in her growing sideways with every growth spurt , leaving her severely deformed.
Surgery was the only option , but the prognosis was very grave , with total paralysis and even loss of life being a possibility.
When she was 7 years old she underwent major spine surgery performed by Dr John P Lubicky in USA.A titanium rod was inserted into her spine to hold it in place and a number of vertebrae were fused together to prevent that part of the spine from growing.
After many months of painful rehabilitation , she returned to India wearing a protective fibre optic brace which looked like an armour , around her body.it was to be worn continously for the next 18 months except for when she slept.

Her brace was removed when she was 9 years old and Dr Lubicky asked her what she wanted to do next.
instead of saying run or play she surprised everyone by saying that she wanted to dance....

And her journey has been a long and ardous one.......

Please see if you can make time and come and bless her.

Invocation Hamsadhwani Adi
Alarippu Ragamalika Rupakam
Shabdam Ragamalika Misra Chapu
Varnam Kamas Adi ( Om Namo Narayanaya)
Kurai Ondrum Illai Ragamalika Adi
Bhajan Yaman Kalyani Adi
Anbin Vazhiyil Desh Adi
Thillana Kapi Adi
Mangalam
Set Creations ... Thota Tharrani

Guru ... Kalaimamani Smt Krishnakumari Narendran

Susan Sontag , in her essay on dancer and the Dance says...
"It is often said that dance is the creation of illusion -for example the illusion of a weightless body- or as the furthest extension of the phatasm of a body without fatigue.But it would be more accurate to call it staging of a transfiguration.Dance enacts both being completely in the body and transcending the body....

I am so sorry that My work calls me away from TTK road that evening.

rshankar · Post by **rshankar** » 12 Apr 2008, 07:57

Kji,

My very best to her (as you know, anyone called Nandita will get that!). I am sure the performance will be inspiring to say the least!

knandago2001 · Post by **knandago2001** » 12 Apr 2008, 08:36

Goes to show where there is a will there is a way! God bless the little girl and her parents. My best wishes to Nandita for a successful program

vasanthakokilam · Post by **vasanthakokilam** » 12 Apr 2008, 08:42

What a great inspiration Nandita is for everyone, young and old. Our best wishes to her.

Nick H · Post by **Nick H** » 12 Apr 2008, 08:45

All best wishes to the young lady, for her arrangetram, and her dance and life in the future.

And congratulations to her parents and family and all else who have brought this amazing story to today!

arasi · Post by **arasi** » 12 Apr 2008, 09:31

All the best to you Nandita. Enjoy your special day as much as others are going to.
Rajani, Are you going to be there to report on this special day?

meena · Post by **meena** » 12 Apr 2008, 09:33

Kudos ! My best wishes to Nandita.

PUNARVASU · Post by **PUNARVASU** » 12 Apr 2008, 09:36

My best wishes to Nandita on her arangetram. This young lady will be an inspiration to many others.God bless her.

rajeeram · Post by **rajeeram** » 12 Apr 2008, 19:41

It's so uplifting to hear about this young girl's Arangetram. My best wishes to Nandita for a long and successful journey through dance and life. And my hats off to her parents who paved the way for her.

Rajani · Post by **Rajani** » 13 Apr 2008, 05:22

My heartfelt admiration and best wishes to Nandita.

Arasi, yesterday was my daughter's birthday and so I was busy at home. Wish I could have attended it.

manvantara · Post by **manvantara** » 13 Apr 2008, 13:36

How uplifting....

I can imagine ( a bit) how much effort the parents must have put in. And what about Nandita herself? What many of us take for granted must have been so hard and yet, she has been determined.

Kudos to teacher Krishnakumari Narendran.

vijay · Post by **vijay** » 13 Apr 2008, 13:45

Touching...I do hope the performance went well and wish Nandita endless fonts of courage and determination to overcome her obstancles and excel in her chosen field!

sbala · Post by **sbala** » 13 Apr 2008, 17:07

I could be there only at the beginning. She welcomed everyone and talked about how dance makes her calm when she's agitated and happy when shes sad. I saw the first piece and you could not have guessed that this child has gone through so much. In an age where every second child is being marketed as the next big thing by pushy parents, this is a truly remarkable story.

To Nandita and everyone who has helped bring her dreams to reality - Take a Bow

uday_shankar · Post by **uday_shankar** » 13 Apr 2008, 17:19

sbala wrote:To Nandita and everyone who has helped bring her dreams to reality - Take a Bow

Indeed Bala !

Once in a while there is a truly touching, poignant online moment amidst the din of the prattle. This is one such moment.

Nandita is awesome and I wish I could have been there.

cienu · Post by **cienu** » 13 Apr 2008, 19:16

Nandita,

Extremely happy to hear that the arangetram went of well.
We wish you all the very best for the future.

Congratulations to your parents too

Sreeni Rajarao · Post by **Sreeni Rajarao** » 13 Apr 2008, 19:38

Congratulations to Nandita, her parents and everyone who helped her realize her dream! I have asked my wife (a Bharata natya Guru) to share this inspiring story with her students.

Sam Swaminathan · Post by **Sam Swaminathan** » 14 Apr 2008, 01:50

I sincerey hope the arangetram went well....Shanthi joins me in sending our best wishes to Nandita. We pray for her full recovery and success in her future endeavours.

Cheers

Sam

Always_Evolving · Post by **Always_Evolving** » 16 Apr 2008, 02:25

Oh what an amazing story. Thanks Nandita for inspiring us, and Coolji for telling us about her. Wish I could have seen her arangetram. I feel like giving my own private standing ovation.

arunk · Post by **arunk** » 16 Apr 2008, 22:03

What an inspiration! Hats off to Nandita!

Arun

kmrasika · Post by **kmrasika** » 17 Apr 2008, 07:35

Yes, a very good example at not giving up despite shortcomings. While reading through Coolkarni Sir's post, I was reminded of that very touching scene in Forrest Gump where the child starts runnning and the reinforcements on his feet come loose... Many congratulations and keep it up Nandita!

tmohan · Post by **tmohan** » 01 May 2008, 17:03

Dear Rasikas,

My cousin Master Aravind Sankar would be performing the Music concert on the Key Board ( the formal Arangetram) on Sunday, 4th May, 2008 at 6.00 PM at Bharaiya Vidhya Bhavan,Mylapore I extend the inviation to each of you to attend the function and bless the Boy. The Chief Guest is Dr.Ganesh.

Regards
Mohan