Bharata Natya Kalalaya, an institute, which imparts training in Bharatanatyam in pure classical style, founded by Rajalakshmi Venkateshwar, recently concluded its 60th anniversary celebrations. Venkateshwar is a senior disciple of the legendary guru K. N. Dandayuthapani Pillai.
The senior students of the Kalalaya had flown in from different parts of the country to make the program a grand success. The program was held at the CLT (Childrens’ Little Theatre) Hall, Kolkata on October 4, 2009.
Close to 450 people, which included dignitaries from music and dance fields such as Pandit S Shekar (mridangam maestro), Guru Kalamandalam Venkitt (Kathakali and Bharatanatyam exponent), S Radhakrishnan (Managing Director Descon Ltd and Vice Chairman of Electronics and Computer Software Export Promotion Council) attended the event.
The program began with a obeisance to all gurus who have made a difference to a student’s life, followed by a brief note on Bharata Natya Kalalaya, which has been training the young artists of Kolkata into fine dancers for the past six decades.
The program included a series of dance items by the senior students of the Kalalaya who are presently conducting classes in Mumbai, Chennai and other places. This was then followed by a dance drama on Devi Durga, choreographed by guru Smt Venkateshwar.
Venkateshwar was felicitated by her senior students for her ever-ending support to the field of dance, which was then followed by a Mangalam, which was performed by Venkateshwar herself, who performed on stage after a span of nearly four decades!
