Choreography of a dancer's life

Dancer Vyshnavie Sainath along with 50 of her students recently presented a mesmerising recital on the journey of a dancer. It was the perfect way to commemorate the seventh anniversary of Vyshnavie Natya Centre! The grand spectacle, which took place at Ravindra Bharathi, was a unique combination of

Bharatanatyam, Kalaripayattu and acro-yoga. 

The 28-year-old Vyshnavie is an exponent of Bharatanatyam as well as other art forms like Kalarippayattu, Odissi, Simhanandini and contemporary dance. She has a strong foundation in Bharatanatyam, all thanks to her Guru Rajeswari Sainath who is also her mother. Later, she was introduced to Kalari. “All these dance styles have made a difference to my thought process and presentation as an artiste. I really wanted others to get a sense of this, which is why the show had a combination of Bharatanatyam, Kalarippayattu and acro-yoga,” she shares.

The programme began with a performance by the tiny tots, representing the first stage of a dancer’s life. They were followed by teenage dancers who blossomed into women on stage. The Kalaripayattu part was a celebration of motherhood. It also showed the reaction of people to a girl child.

“The birth of a girl child is accompanied by a feeling of insecurity. If we empower the girl child, the same woman can become an achiever,” says Vyshnavie, who draws inspiration from not only her mother but also the people and incidents around her. 

All in all, the programme beautifully captured the emotions of a child stepping into the field of arts and how he/she comes to enjoy it. The loud applause at the end of each dance from the proud parents and well-wishers was only proof to the success of the show. 

A cake-cutting and certificate distribution ceremony marked the end of the programme. All the performers received a Tulsi plant as a token of appreciation. The participants ranged from a five-year-old to a 61-year-old named Rajyashree. “After completing all my responsibilities, I started learning dance at the age of 51. There is no age to start learning dance or to even dance for that matter,” concludes Rajyashree.