ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
More than 10 years of toil and dedication come to fruition for an Auckland teenager at her traditional dance graduation next week.
Divya Vani Krishnamurthi’s Bharatanayam arangetram will be held on Saturday, April 27,at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre, in Howe St,Auckland. Divya, only daughter of Murali and Rita Krishnamurthi, has been learning the art of Bharatanatyan from the age of five under the tutelage of Smt Kalaichelvi Uthayakumaran of Dannemora, Auckland.
She has been preparing intensively for the past four months for her upcoming arangetram,a challenging, often gruelling, yet rewarding experience. The Pushpanjali, Varnam, Jathiswaram, Thillana and Thodiya Mangalam will be performed, with music to be provided by accomplished artists who have been brought in from India especially for the occasion. The Tamil word Arangetram, means the etram, or ascending of the arangu or performance stage by a dancer, on the completion of her training, and only after the student (artist) has acquired a substantial and qualitative high standard repertoire.
It is the first public solo performance, which takes place in the presence of critics,fellow artists, family and friends. The Pushpanajlai, Varnam, Jathiswaram, Thillana will be performed, along with some especially choreographed keertanams.
Divya is a Year 11 student at the Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom. Although she was born in New Zealand, Divya loved Indian classical music and dance from an early age.She has also been learning classical piano from the age of six from the NZ Modern School of Music, earning several competition medals over the years.
The Guru: Sm Kalaichelvi Uthayakumaran of the Naratana Aalayam School of Dance in Dannemora is a renowned dancer, guru and choreographer of Bharatanatyam. She has over 100 students under guidance and an incredible 29 arangetram graduates from her dance school.
The Musicians: These accomplished artists,specialising in arangetrams, will travel from India especially to provide live orchestra and vocals for the event.
Vocal: Sri Gomathi Nayagam Ratnam; Mirudangam: Sri Narayan Nagai Subramanian;Flute: Sri Ramesh Baswa Nagarajan; Violin:Sri Shankar Venkatraman. Divya’s parents, originally from Fiji, are great supporters of Indian classical dance and music. They request all lovers of classical dance and music to come and support Divya.
The programme will begin at 5.30pm. Light refreshments will be served from 4.45-5.15pm.
RSVP: rita.krishnamurthi@gmail.com
More than 10 years of toil and dedication come to fruition for an Auckland teenager at her traditional dance graduation next week. Divya Vani Krishnamurthi’s Bharatanayam arangetram will be held on Saturday, April 27,at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre, in Howe St,Auckland. Divya, only daughter of...
More than 10 years of toil and dedication come to fruition for an Auckland teenager at her traditional dance graduation next week.
Divya Vani Krishnamurthi’s Bharatanayam arangetram will be held on Saturday, April 27,at the Dorothy Winstone Theatre, in Howe St,Auckland. Divya, only daughter of Murali and Rita Krishnamurthi, has been learning the art of Bharatanatyan from the age of five under the tutelage of Smt Kalaichelvi Uthayakumaran of Dannemora, Auckland.
She has been preparing intensively for the past four months for her upcoming arangetram,a challenging, often gruelling, yet rewarding experience. The Pushpanjali, Varnam, Jathiswaram, Thillana and Thodiya Mangalam will be performed, with music to be provided by accomplished artists who have been brought in from India especially for the occasion. The Tamil word Arangetram, means the etram, or ascending of the arangu or performance stage by a dancer, on the completion of her training, and only after the student (artist) has acquired a substantial and qualitative high standard repertoire.
It is the first public solo performance, which takes place in the presence of critics,fellow artists, family and friends. The Pushpanajlai, Varnam, Jathiswaram, Thillana will be performed, along with some especially choreographed keertanams.
Divya is a Year 11 student at the Diocesan School for Girls in Epsom. Although she was born in New Zealand, Divya loved Indian classical music and dance from an early age.She has also been learning classical piano from the age of six from the NZ Modern School of Music, earning several competition medals over the years.
The Guru: Sm Kalaichelvi Uthayakumaran of the Naratana Aalayam School of Dance in Dannemora is a renowned dancer, guru and choreographer of Bharatanatyam. She has over 100 students under guidance and an incredible 29 arangetram graduates from her dance school.
The Musicians: These accomplished artists,specialising in arangetrams, will travel from India especially to provide live orchestra and vocals for the event.
Vocal: Sri Gomathi Nayagam Ratnam; Mirudangam: Sri Narayan Nagai Subramanian;Flute: Sri Ramesh Baswa Nagarajan; Violin:Sri Shankar Venkatraman. Divya’s parents, originally from Fiji, are great supporters of Indian classical dance and music. They request all lovers of classical dance and music to come and support Divya.
The programme will begin at 5.30pm. Light refreshments will be served from 4.45-5.15pm.
RSVP: rita.krishnamurthi@gmail.com
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