The Natraj School of Dance is celebrating its 20th anniversary with two evenings of classical dance extravaganza titled 'Bhava Raga Talam Natyam' (Bharatnatyam) on Saturday 19 and Sunday, October 20 at the Little Theatre in the Hutt City, Wellington.
Natraj School of Dance is a Hutt based Indian classical dance school founded by Prabha Ravi, teacher and choreographer promoting two different styles of Bharatnatyam- Pandanallur and Kanchipuram Ellappa styles.
"Indian classical dance is not merely moving your body to a rhythm. It is a discovery of your roots, philosophy, mythology and many other facets of life.
"Every child develops one's personality and mind by learning this dance.
Many youths have benefited immensely through the dance school in learning this valuable art, and over six hundred students have been trained by NSD in the past two decades," Ms Ravi said.
The school has students from different ethnic backgrounds and the groups who have featured not only in Wellington but also other cities like Manawatu, Rotorua, Auckland and event performed internationally in USA, UK, Australia and India.
Several students of NSD have graduated and held their Arangetram which is a two-hour first solo performance by a student after several years of training presenting multiple dance styles to the accompaniment of an orchestra to an audience.
It has held several workshops across the Wellington region and a participant of "Beyond the Page" program. NSD has also been donating part of the proceeds of the dance production to charities, of which some beneficiaries include Wellington Free Ambulance and Red Cross NZ.
Teacher and choreographer Prabha Ravi was one of the three judges in the first season reality TV Three dance show 'The Great New Zealand Dance Masala' and was also in the panel of judges for Hutt's Got Talent 2019 and The Hutt City Youth Awards.
Prabha also serves as a Justice for the Peace and for her services to the art she has received the Queens Service Medal in 2018, Civic Honour Award by the Hutt City Council in 2012, Culture Award by Upper Hutt Multicultural Council in 2013 etc.
Tickets for 2019 production can be purchased online via the link below:
Ticket Link: www.iticket.co.nz/events/2019/oct/bharatanatyam
Event Link: www.facebook.com/events/424814038219066/?event_time_id=424814044885732