News Releases

Gana Mukundhapriya
Award / Title
On the Occasion of spring festival of dance

Kumari DESHNA SAGAR, DISCIPLE OF SMT MEENAKSHI SAGAR HAS GIVEN A WONDERFUL AND AMAZING PERFORMANCE ON 23.6.2018 at APPARSWAMY TEMPLE, CHENNAI.

SHE IS THIRTEEN YEARS OLD... HER FOOT WORK, HAND MOVEMENTS, FACIAL EXPRESSIONS, Half Mandi, Various postures in various angles with a smile, Time sense, Moving sideways, Jumping mode one foot from the stage.

And major point is the eyes dominate always with so much of willingness and that too Varnam she made everyone to feel immense happiness the way she performed so effectively and efficiently. My best wishes to her and I am pleased to honour her with a Title in the next week Friday. Gana Mukundhspriya Is always looking for talented Artist and subsequently they will be honoured. I really enjoyed her lively and scintillating Performance.

Yours gopalakrishnan

Param'17- National Level Dance Fest
Ms. Deshna Sagar- First Place in junior category.
Ms. Krishna Priya- Second place in senior category.

In the Talen Revealing Opportunity Programme (TROP) Scheme of VDS ARTS ACADEMY

DATE : 30th April 2017 at 6.30 pm

VENUE :

M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women
#20, IV th Lane,
Nungambakkam High Road
Chennai - 600 034.

Deshna Sagar

In the Talen Revealing Opportunity Programme (TROP) Scheme of VDS ARTS ACADEMY

DATE : 30th April 2017 at 6.30 pm

VENUE :

M.O.P. Vaishnav College for Women
#20, IV th Lane,
Nungambakkam High Road
Chennai - 600 034.

U KRISHNA PRIYA

Chithirai Thiruvizha 2017

of OMKARA NADA BRAHMAM TRUST, Chennai.

DATE : 18th April 2017 at 5.45 pm

VENUE :

Arunagirinathar Mandabam
Kumaran Kundram Temple
Nehru Nagar
Chrompet
Chennai - 600 044.

Tamil Tharagai 2017

Tamil Tharagai award to our beloved guru Smt. Meenakshi Sagar by Sevoha and karangal trust on World's Women day (08.03.17)

Natyakala Acharya 2017

Was conferred the title NATYAKALA ACHARYA by INTERNATIONAL DANCERS ALLEY AND SAMANVAYAM FESTS @ kannur, Kerala on 27th January 2017

Natyakala Vipanchee 2016

Was honored by Vipanchee as Natyakala Vipanchee in Chennai on 31st December 2016

Nattuvanars take centre stage

N attuvanars can make or mar a Bharatanatyam performance. They can say the jatis with power, use the cymbals skilfully and bring in variety and emotion by increasing or decreasing the speed. One the other hand, if they falter, even a live-wire performer cannot impress. But, what if they took centre stage? Is it possible to present a full Bharatantyam recital in the margam format without a dancer?

Well, that's what happened when Guru Meenakshi Sagar of the Aradhana School of Dance, Coimbatore, presented an arangetram of nattuvanars at Ramar Koil, Coimbatore. In earlier nattuvangam arangetrams, the focus would be on the dancer and no special attention was drawn to the nattuvanar's maiden performance.

But Meenakshi had planned it differently. Her students Jayanthi, Sandhya, Chithra, Kannipriya, Vamika and Suganya along with vocalist Bhavani S. Kishore Kumar, G. Vijayaraghavan (mridangam) and S. Vijayaraghavan (violin) were all set to display their skills.

Margam format

They began with Mangala Vazhthu in ragamalika and progressed to Alarippu, Swarajati, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam and concluded with a thillana. The items were set in Talamalika, Chathusra Ekam, Adi, Misra Chapu, Kanda Jati Ata tala and Sankeerna Chapu, respectively. The nattuvanars began on a slow note but picked up momentum as the programme progressed, and performed flawlessly. The hours spent planning the event and repeated rehearsals were evident in the performance.

S. Vijayaraghavan added emotion with his raga delineation and G. Vijayaraghavan lent tempo and discipline, guiding and supporting the artists all the way. Bhavani Kishore gave a controlled performance, careful not to hog the limelight. Interesting and essential information enriched Chithra's crisp and clear compeering. The first of its kind, the programme was well received. But will it continue to draw audiences? Only time will tell.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/nattuvanars-take-centre-stage/article855685.ece#

Colourful display of talents

B. RAMADEVI

Meenakshi Sagar’s creativity and skilful use of the theme’s potential were evident in the choreography.

‘Aradhana School of Dance’ presented a colourful display of talents with traditional Bharatanatyam numbers as well as lighter items during its decennial celebrations held at the Corporation Kalaiarangam, R.S.Puram, Coimbatore.

Started in 1997 by Meenakshi Sagar, disciple of J. Suryanarayana Murthy with five students at the Ayyappan Koil in Podanur, the school has grown in stature with a steady increase in the number of students.

The unity of Siva and Vishnu was their theme and even the backdrop, with Lord Siva’s trisul (trident) in the middle flanked by the chakra and the conch of Lord Vishnu on either side, brought it out effectively.

Cutely dressed tiny tots began the programme with ‘Pranamya Shirasaadevam’ propitiating Lord Ganesha and moved on to ‘Vandeham Sharadaam’ in Yamunakalyani by Sri Dayananda Saraswathi. Natesa Kauthuvam in Amritavarshini was very lively with pure nritta.

Enjoyable recital

G. Vijayaraghavan’s ‘Ambuviyil Ponnambalathil’ and ‘Vaiyathu Maanidare Keleer’ were enjoyable. While the former extolled the virtues of Lord Siva, the latter offered a fanciful explanation for the presence of Lord Venkateswara at Tirumala. After all the struggles during the various avatars, Vishnu wanted to relax in Vaikunta. But that was not to be.

Being troubled by His Consorts, Sridevi and Bhoodevi (one will not stay in one place and the other will not move from her place) he married Padmavathi and took permanent shelter at Tirumala. That, guru Meenakshi Sagar had creatively utilised the immense potential offered by the song for dramatisation was evident in the choreography. Hiranya vadham, Seetha apaharanam and Krishna’s bala leelas stood out among the episodes depicted through this song.

Oothukkadu Venkata Subbaiyer’s Kalinga Narthana tillana was lively with lots of students participating in it. Some of the items choreographed by the senior disciples of the school were also presented towards the end.

Chief Guest Gayathri Chidambaram, Joint secretary, Temple of fine Arts, Coimbatore and theatre person K.S.Krishnan (Kovai K.R.S) offered rich felicitations.

Guru Meenakshi Sagar’s ability to guide her students with the crisp and clear nattuvangam proved a strong help. The orchestra consisted of G.R. Praveen Kumar and Meenakshi Sagar (vocal), G.Vijayaraghavan (mridangam), Sirumugai Sivagami (violin) and Somanur Raghunathan (flute).

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/colourful-display-of-talents/article2298750.ece

Beautiful blend of dance forms

The dance festival organised by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan was a treat for the art lovers of Coimbatore.

The seventh dance festival organised by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore Kendra, at Bhavan's auditorium began with the thematic dance, `Aadal Arulum Aadavallaan' by the students of `Aradhana,' Podanur. Guru Meenakshi Sagar's choreography was innovative and interesting. With its colourful temple procession, the very first item Mallari in Nattai made the spectators sit up. After Nandi Kauthuvam in Rishabapriya, the students presented a sabdam, `Ambuviyil Ponnambalaththil' in ragamalika. The episode in which Lord Siva comes in front of Adi Sankara with four dogs (representing four Vedas) and makes him realise that the `Atman' in every body is divine and can never be impure, was thought-provoking. `Enathu Aiyam Theerthiduvaay,' the varnam in Kharaharapriya had lovely abhinaya and interesting jathi patterns. The vibrant thandavam based on `Rudrashtakam' and `Thandavastotram' set to ragamalika and talamalika left a lasting impression. The spirited nattuvangam of Meenakshi Sagar, the supportive music of Anil Kumar and the sprightly mridangam of Vijayakumar (also the composer of most of the songs presented) deserve special mention.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-fridayreview/beautiful-blend-of-dance-forms/article3231114.ece

Rhythm of Cymbals

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