From Malaysia, for their Arangetram

The 'season' brings in people from different corners of the world.

But these sixteen children from Malaysia are here in the city for a different reason!
It’s for their arangetram.

Learning under guru Parameswari Pannerselvam for the past five years in Johor, Malaysia, the students are here for a month to have advanced training from guru Shanmuga Sundaram for their arangetram.

Parameswari, a student ot dance guru Indira Rajan, runs an arts organisation, Vaadhini Fine Arts in Malaysia.

One of the parents of the students and four senior students of guru Parameswari came along with the group of kids to assist.

The group rented a house near Tambaram, in the city suburbs, engaged a cook and helped each other in the daily chores. For Shanmuga Sundaram, their teacher in Chennai it is a long drive from West Mambalam, where he resides and runs his dance school, Sadir.

“The learning session goes on for five hours a day,” says Sundaram, a sishya of guru K. J. Sarasa and who has his roots in Malaysia. He is a visiting guru at Vaadhini Fine Arts in Malaysia and is regularly performing in Malaysia.

“While organising the trip, accommodation and the follow up training has been taken care by Parameswari, I arranged for local logistics like booking the hall, accompanists, make up and the like. Parameswari is my friend!" Shanmuga Sundaram says.

The senior dance students who accompanied the group from Malaysia, make the students practice what the guru teaches in the mornings.
Why December for arangetram too? Has the spirit of the ‘season’ got with the students in Malaysia?

“No, the students have their academic holidays during this part of the year. Another is the summer holidays, when they have intense practice in Malaysia at a special venue. It’s like gurukulavasam for them. The parents get to visit them only during weekends” says Shanmugam.

The children attended a few performances in Chennai amidst thier busy practising schedule. And would carry memories of the ‘season’ home!

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