The rangapravesha of Spandana Tammiraju was a beautiful journey into the field of kuchipudi. The stage was set for her foray into the world of dance. Trained by noted danseuse Vyjayanthi Kashi, she opened her performance with a Purvaranga Vidhi, where the dancer purifies the stage with incense sticks, fire and water. Complete with vedic chants, the dancer seeks the blessing of the eight directions as she starts out.
![Spandana Tammiraju]( "Spandana Tammiraju")
Guru and dancer Vyjayanthi Kashi informed the audience about the guru shishya culture, which she tries to follow while teaching her students.
"While teaching the art form, the guru also tries to introduce the Indian culture and its various facets to her shishya. As a dancer, one must know about his or her culture as well as heritage," she says.
The young dancer entered the stage with a lamp and completed the act of purification step by step, first with incense sticks, then with fire and finally with water. While her guru accompanied her on stage on vocals as well as the khanjira, the other accompaniments included the veena, mridangam and violin.
The introductory item was followed by Tandava Nritya Kare, set in raga hamsadhwani and based on adi talam. This item was all about seeking blessings from Ganesha, praising him and showing his different facets, like playing the mridangam.
The highlight of the show wasn't just the young dancer, but also the entire presentation — right from the stage, which had a huge bronze statue of Nataraja, to the music, everything complemented the dance, adding to the quality of the show.
Spandana was graceful, elegant and confident. Her energy and expressions were that of an experienced dancer. She used the stage well, moving from one part to the other gracefully.
The audience included many of her friends and well-wishers who had come to give her support.
However, many others had also dropped by to see her perform. Sathish, who had come to see her show, was amazed to see a first-timer perform so confidently. "I am pleasantly surprised with the way she danced. She seemed like a professional and it was very well done. Not many youngsters take up kuchipudi, so I am glad that I was able to see someone who took up this dance form," he says.
Guru and dancer Vyjayanthi Kashi informed the audience about the guru shishya culture, which she tries to follow while teaching her students. "While teaching the art form, the guru also tries to introduce the Indian culture and its various facets to her shishya. As a dancer, one must know about his or her culture as well as heritage," she says.
The young dancer entered the stage with a lamp and completed the act of purification step by step, first with incense sticks, then with fire and finally with water. While her guru accompanied her on stage on vocals as well as the khanjira, the other accompaniments included the veena, mridangam and violin.
The introductory item was followed by Tandava Nritya Kare, set in raga hamsadhwani and based on adi talam. This item was all about seeking blessings from Ganesha, praising him and showing his different facets, like playing the mridangam.
The highlight of the show wasn't just the young dancer, but also the entire presentation — right from the stage, which had a huge bronze statue of Nataraja, to the music, everything complemented the dance, adding to the quality of the show.
Spandana was graceful, elegant and confident. Her energy and expressions were that of an experienced dancer. She used the stage well, moving from one part to the other gracefully.
The audience included many of her friends and well-wishers who had come to give her support.
However, many others had also dropped by to see her perform. Sathish, who had come to see her show, was amazed to see a first-timer perform so confidently. "I am pleasantly surprised with the way she danced. She seemed like a professional and it was very well done. Not many youngsters take up kuchipudi, so I am glad that I was able to see someone who took up this dance form," he says.