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Botswana: Aswhini Graduates in Indian Dances
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Mmegi/The Reporter (Gaborone)
21 April 2008
Posted to the web 21 April 2008
By Mogomotsi Moloi
Ashwini Arulnambi treated scores of revellers from the Indian community to an enthralling solo dance during her Bharathanatyam Arangetram, a graduation ceremony in dancing held at Gaborone's Maitisong Hall on Saturday night.
The occasion was organised by her family and the Gaborone Hindu Society. Bharathanatym is a rich and refined classical dance style believed to be the oldest in India. The dance form was systematised and recorded by Saga Bharatha in a comprehensive text called Natya Shastra.
Arulnambi, a Form Two student at Legae Academy, performed a number of dances to mark her day as an exponent of the Bharatha Natya dance form. She first set the stage alight with Puhsapanjali before doing the Ganesha Vandanam. During her first dance, she offered to the Almighty, to evoke blessings for herself, her choreographer and the audience.
She also performed spiritual dances where she thanked the Creator by offering milk, fruit and coconuts.
In a dance choreographed by Ajanthini Carthigeyan, the young Aswhini performed Alaripu, a dance form purely with Nirtha. Here all the movements are performed according to the syllables for the beat of the song, known as Thala in India.
As she continued performing her divine form of art, she also displayed her versatility in elaborate footwork and graceful body movements.
Other dance forms she performed, much to the delight of the audience, were Shanmuga-Kauthuvam, Thasavatharam, Padam and Thillana. According to the Indian dance, Thillana is usually the last in any Bhathanatya performance, followed only by the show stopping 'Mangalam.'
This is often a pure dance where the virtuosity of the music is reflected in the complex footwork and captivating poses of the dancer. Sometimes that Thillana ends with a Charanm with meaningful lyrics danced with Abinaya.
Since the age of five, her parents say, Aswhini has blossomed into a mature dancer who often participates in two-three recitals in one evening. Such is her talent and dedication to this art form, that she is able to perform her arrangegram at the relatively tender age of 12.
The gifted dancer started learning these historical Indian dances at the age of five through her choreographer Jayakumari Ramana and later from Kalamandalam Ajitha Mangesh Lal. She then joined Kalavithagar Ajanthini Carthigeyan four years ago. She is also a keen student of the Tamil language, Mathematics and Science.
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She is an active student in Tamil language in O'Level examinations of Cambridge University. She has played key roles in various dramas and cultural programmes organised by Botswana Tamil Cultural Association, Shri Satya Sai Centre of Gaborone and Botswana Hindu Society.
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