Sweet win for girl from Kollam
The contests that began at 10.30 p.m. at the main venue went up to 3 a.m. the next day.
THRISSUR: A. Sivaganga did not disappoint her parents and her school in Kollam district when she performed Bharatanatyam at the state school youth festival. The tenth standard student coming from a humble background won ‘A’ grade in the toughest competition in the fest.
Her father, a workshop mechanic, had spent nearly Rs 1 lakh for her participation from the school level to the state level. The Government Girls VHSS at Valathungal in Kollam provided her Rs 10,000.
Only 14 district winners were expected for the Bharatanatyam event but another 31 contestants came through appeals. The contests that began at 10.30 p.m. at the main venue went up to 3 a.m. the next day.
Sivaganga performed at midnight and secured over 80 points to get the ‘A’ grade.
“As a child I was attracted towards dance and started learning it at the age of four. I am the first student from my school to take part in the state fest. Tough we face financial difficulties, my father finds time and money for my training and expensive costumes,” Sivaganga said.
Her father P. Prasanth and mother S. Asha were present at the venue. They said that they wanted to make their daughter a well-known classical danseuse and would support her to achieve it.
Sivaganga is trained by Lal Kumar of Medayilmukku Revathi Kalakshethram in Kollam.