SPICMACAY Brings Bharatanatyam Magic to Vidhya Peetham
On September 19 the school played host to a mesmerizing cultural workshop by SPICMACAY (Society for the Promotion of Indian Classical Music And Culture Amongst Youth) providing our students with an unforgettable cultural experience.. This non-profit organization aims to enrich the youth with India’s rich cultural heritage by bringing classical arts to educational institutions. ?️?
A Star-Studded Performance
Dr. Vijay Madhavan
An accomplished male Bharatanatyam soloist and researcher, Dr. Madhavan is renowned for his brilliant choreography and immaculate presentation. He holds a doctoral degree in Bharatanatyam and has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar Award. Dr. Madhavan is also the creator of Natyagraphy, a novel encoding and documenting method for Bharatanatyam. ??
Mr. Aravind Jayaraman
A versatile Carnatic vocalist from a musically renowned family. Aravind started his musical journey at the age of 4 and has accompanied various leading vocal artists and Bharatanatyam dancers across India. He was awarded the “Isai Peroli” title and was a 2nd runner-up at “Jaya Super Singer South India”. Aravind is also a Gold Medalist in B.Sc Catering & Hotel Management. ??
Ms. Ramya Padmanaban
A multitalented artist who started learning Carnatic music at the age of 3. Ramya is a Harikatha artist, Bharatanatyam dancer, and Carnatic music teacher. She has performed at various prominent Sabhas and was recently awarded B grade artist contract from All India Radio – Chennai station in the Harikatha category. Ramya, a data analyst, is also a top ranker and university gold medalist in B.Tech. Computer Science from SRM University. ??
Mr. Kedhar Vignesh
A disciple of Vid. Vittal Rangan, Kedhar started learning violin from his father V. Shankar and later from Smt. Anusha Sreeram. He is a B-high graded artist at All India Radio, Chennai, and performs both Carnatic and Bharatanatyam concerts in popular sabhas and organizations. ?
Mr. Naveen Kovai
A skilled miruthangam percussionist adding rhythm and depth to the performance. ?
The Magic Unfolds
Dr. Vijay Madhavan captivated our students with two spectacular dance performances:
1. ? **Lord Ganesha’s Divine Intervention**: The first dance narrated the fascinating tale of how Lord Ganesha helped Avvai Paati reach Kailash ahead of Sundarar and the Chera King Cheraman Perumal.
2. ? **The Legend of Prahlada**: The second performance brought to life the story of Prahlada, his father Asura King Hiranyakashipu, and Lord Narasimha’s victory over the asura.
Interactive Learning Experience
Before each dance, Dr. Madhavan engaged our students by:
– Narrating the stories behind the dances
– Demonstrating various mudras (hand gestures)
– Encouraging students to guess what each mudra represented
This interactive approach made the learning experience both fun and educational for our young audience. ??
A Feast for the Senses
The children were completely enthralled by Dr. Madhavan’s graceful movements and expressive facial gestures. The accompanying artists added depth and richness to the performance, creating a truly immersive experience. ??
Q&A Session: Curiosity Unleashed
Following the performances, Dr. Madhavan held a question-and-answer session with the students. This opportunity presented by SPICMACAY allowed our curious learners to delve deeper into the world of Bharatanatyam and Indian classical arts. ?♀️?♂️
SPICMACAY Enriches Young Minds
At Vidhya Peetham i-School, we believe in providing a holistic education that goes beyond textbooks. This SPICMACAY workshop is a testament to our commitment to exposing our students to the rich cultural heritage of India. ???
