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| News Round Up | March 23, 2007 |
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Passionate about Bharatanatyam
By Mythily Ramachandran |   |
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A common passion brings these three women to Chennai.
It is a love for Bharatanatyam and the urge to learn more.
Elena Ristori, 34, from Italy, Katharina Fuchs,30, from Austria and Sonja Sironen, 34, from Germany are learning dance at Adyar Lakshman’s school in Gandhi Nagar. This is Elena’s first visit to India. She says, “I have studied Bharatanatyam for seven years in Italy and have given performances.” Her teacher, Maresa Moglia was a student of late Krishnaveni Lakshman.
Taking a break from her work in the postal department Elena is here on a two month visa. Talking of her future plans, Elena says, “I would like to start a dance school back home and become a good teacher.” She enjoys listening to Carnatic music and other things Indian, like adorning her hair with jasmine flowers. How many would quit medical college to pursue a passion?
Sonja Sironen of Cologne, Germany did just that. At 19 she joined medical school and visited Sri Lanka on an educational project in’92. She found her heart’s calling while watching a Bharatnatyam performance. “I was so captivated by the dance that I decided this was what I wanted to do,” says Sonja. She learnt Bharatanatyam for ten years in Sri Lanka and has performed on stage in Sri Lanka, US and Germany. She is currently pursuing a Masters in Dance Ethnology at the University of Hawaii.
Sonja says, “I enjoy dancing and am more interested in the history of dance. I intend doing a doctorate degree.” Like Elena she also listens to Carnatic music, besides reading books on philosophy. “Should I tell you my Indian name or my Austrian one,” asks Katharina Fuchs alias Nadamani. At ease in the sari-blouse dress Katharina is in Chennai for a second time.
Back home in Vienna, she trained under Saber Taimian alias Radha Anjali, a former student of Adyar Lakshman. A music therapist, Katharina works with schizophrenics and the mentally ill at a clinic in Vienna. She says, “Music provides a relief to people struggling with their emotions and cannot express themselves.”
“In Bharatanatyam I found surges of energy in the powerful steps. Maybe I could help my patients. Dance might unleash the hidden energy in them,” she explains. Clearly art and music know no boundaries.
Adyar K. Lakshman is at 1, Crescent Avenue, Gandhi Nagar. Ph.24412596.
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