Dance teachers Sujatha Meyyappan, Jeyanthi Ghatraju and Sripriya Moorthy are co-producing the grand broadway style classical dance production of "The Iconic Avatar", a presentation of Rama's story based on the Kamba Ramayanam. The production is a creation of Guru Madurai Muralidharan and will be presented on July 24, 2016 at the Littleton High School theater in Littleton, MA to help raise funds for Vision-Aid. Click here for more information.

Jeyanthi: About 22 years ago, I met this wonderful person, Dr. Vasanthi Srinivasan in Ottawa, Canada who was a Guru herself. She motivated me to teach, after just a 5-minute conversation on my passion for dance with a purpose to serve! Doing it with full heart matters the most when it comes to it!

Sripriya: To me, engineering and dance are both all about being creative within a precise, structured framework.  Bharatha Natyam is a necessary part of my life.  The music and movement bring me a peace of mind like nothing else can; the thrill of constantly practicing and perfecting is addictive and the dramatic aspects force me to explore emotions that I would hesitate to express as myself.

I teach dance because I believe Bharatha Natyam is one of those pursuits that develop so many qualities a person needs in life—self-confidence and self-awareness, discipline and perseverance, pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone both physically and mentally, respect and humility, dedication and devotion to your teammates, memory and focus, analytical and critical thinking about structural patterns and human emotions, and most of all, bringing joy to everything you do.  There is unending joy for me in watching my students grow in all these ways and become better versions of their already amazing selves as they also discover an ancient but always relevant art form.

Suja: My Mom!  She was very passionate about dance and in fact wanted me to take dance as a career before joining college.  I am very thankful for the opportunity to teach young kids and continue both dance and engineering career.

 

Jeyanthi: It was about 8 years ago, in January of 2009, that a couple of us came up with the unique model of bringing the New England dance community for a fund raiser wherein, dancers (irrespective of their skill levels and who their guru is/was) get together over the spring/summer months, learn from a renowned guru from India, stage a professional production and raise funds. Vision-Aid organizers (though a bit reluctant) bought into the idea. We found an equally passionate and inspiring Guru, Sri Madurai Muralidaran who was willing to work with us. Thus was born our first production, Krishna!

Sripriya: The directors and volunteers of Vision-Aid inspire me because they find practical, effective, self-sustaining solutions that have an immediate and meaningful impact on those in need; in this case, underserved visually impaired students and adults in India.  Their work isn’t theoretical; they really make a difference in the world!  It is my good fortune and privilege that I can use my passion to do something that supports their inspiring work.

Suja: In 2009, I had a wonderful opportunity to be part of the VisionAid fund-raiser, “Krishna – dance ballet” by Guru Madurai Muralidaran. That was the first time I personally experienced the amazing synergy of NE dance community and it cannot be explained in words. "Karumbu thinna kooliyaa" - who needs to be paid for eating sugarcane - It is for a great cause, run by the great team of selfless volunteers. I feel honored to contribute in anyway that I can for the past 7 years. And of course - the joy of dancing and meeting great people!

Can you tell us about the production? 

The Iconic Avatar, like previous Vision-Aid productions conceptualized and presented by Guru Muralidaran, is inspired by Broadway techniques, with large ensemble dances, dramatic character roles and visual effects and costumes, that for a couple of hours, actually transport the audience into the world of the story.  The production, inspired by the Kamba Ramayana, tells the story of Lord Vishnu’s incarnation on earth as Prince Rama, who earns great honor with his valiant archery skills and compassionate acts, but must overcome a fourteen-year exile and the abduction of his beloved wife before being crowned as king.

 

Rama’s story touches us because the emotions in this story are uniquely human—the deep, mutual love between husband and wife and the unallayed anxiety of a parent, the illogical selfishness of the jealous and selfless concern of friendship, the rage of the humiliated and the terror of the assaulted, the grief following loss and the disbelief when a long-standing burden is about to be lifted,  the self-doubt when faced with a challenge and the exuberance following a success, the inner turmoil when faced with an impossible choice and the peace of mind that comes with conviction.  Rama represents the best of humanity because in the midst of these swirling emotions, he maintains a calm composure whether he is facing a crisis or a victory, and he shows compassion to his friends and enemies alike.

 

Guru Muralidaran’s music, choreography and direction ensure that the audience will be moved and inspired by this tale, regardless of language or religion.  Guru Muralidaran and his daughter, acclaimed dancer Kavya Muralidaran, will also be performing in the production, along with over 50 dedicated local dancers and actors.!

What is like to work with so many dancers from different dance schools?  

Sripriya: Collaborating with teachers and students from all over New England is possibly my favorite part of participating in a Vision-Aid production.  Each of us brings a different perspective, but everyone brings the same passion and energy.  There is a synergy on our team—what we create together is greater than the sum of our individual parts. The Vision-Aid team is my extended family.  The time we spend together during daily practices in July is always the best part of my year—there is so much joy and love, and I hope the audience can sense it.

Suja: It is an absolute joy and pleasure. This Vision-Aid dancers are like a family – it is amazing to see how people join every year and they start to cultivate strong bonding and lifelong friendships. Many of the people that I came to know through Vision-Aid are now my best friends. Also a big credit goes to the healthy environment and relationship among the dance community, teachers and art lovers of New England. As Ranjani rightly once pointed out, this may be the only chance for many of the kids to be part of a grand production of this scale!

Jeyanthi: Initially it seemed like a huge challenge! However, New England is quite blessed with a synergistic community of dancers and musicians. So, it has been fun and over the years, many collaborations and fruitful relationships have built within the community that has extended beyond Vision-Aid productions!

Jeyanthi: The one message I have learned is "just to go with it!" My long-time partner in this, Ranjani Saigal, would agree - what seems crazy just evolves beautifully with the Lord's grace when we commit ourselves whole-heartedly; of course, with many early morning chats on the way to work, late night conversations before going to bed and any time in between when we can squeeze in a few minutes! It does take a solid belief in what we want to do, trust in people that we work with and above all, to let go when things don't work out in a way I want or anticipate!

Suja:  Can’t believe it is 7th year production for VisionAid. It seems like “The Krishna” happened last year. This is a one of a kind show in the Boston area, bringing different school and dance enthusiasts together. Over the years, Vision-Aid dance productions have become the premiere dance show in the area! Expectations have also grown accordingly. I hope this cycle continues to entertain the Boston audience and also help the visually challenged. 

Sripriya: Each year, so many dancers from previous years return and so many new dancers join, making the production bigger and bigger.  It’s a joy to make more friends and to watch the younger children from previous years grow into more polished and confident dancers.

Jeyanthi: Every year has been unique in its own way  and as a community you have given us tremendous support. We value every bit of it as we raise funds to empathize the visually challenged! Please continue to support us and together let us bring about a positive change in the lives of the needy!

Suja: Thank you so much for taking time to talk to us. We are always grateful for the great support offered by our community. We look forward to present another great show - please save the date July 24, 2016 and get your tickets. Come and enjoy the most exquisite dance ballet, and support a great cause!

Srirpriya: Any way you look at Vision-Aid’s The Iconic Avatar—either as an opportunity to watch a grand performance or as a chance to support to a very worthwhile cause—it’s a production absolutely worth attending.  We hope we will captivate the audience and raise more funds than ever for Vision-Aid.

 

Sujatha Meyyappan is an acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher. She is the Artistic Director of Kolam Academy of Dance in Tyngsboro MA and Andover MA.  Sujatha has performed extensively in many prestigious venues in India, US and Canada over the past 20 years and has received many awards and accolades for her outstanding performances. She is known for her versatile and vibrant dance renditions. She serves as Board member in Tyngsboro Cultural Council, a Board of Director in Tamil Makkal Mandram  and actively participates in community arts events in and around the New England area. Sujatha has held lecture demonstrations at many of the local institutions, spreading awareness about Indian culture and classical arts. She has been part of many fundraisers for several non-profit organizations such as VisionAid, Shankara Cancer Foundation, Saheli, MITHAS, and ASHA for Education.

At Kolam Academy of Dance, Sujatha nurtures budding young artists by passing on this great, divine art which she passionately pursues beside her profession in Engineering. She is  an inspirational Guru to all her dear students. Under the banner of Kolam Academy of Dance, Sujatha has produced shows “Bharathy Natyam”, “Shivoham”, “Kavi Nrithyam” and “Venil Vizha”.  Her students have won many awards and prizes in the Bharatanatyam dance competitions in the New England area.  Sujatha has received Excellence awards, for being a dedicated dancer, teacher and for spreading the great art of Bharathanatyam , from different organizations including IANH,  Lokvani e-magazine.

Growing up near Baltimore, MD, I was active in Western musical theatre productions throughout my school years, but I only started training in Bharatha Natyam, under Smt. Revathi Kumar of Ellicott City, MD, in high school.  It didn’t matter that I came to dance at a relatively late age—it quickly became the passion that defines me.  In college, I collaborated with like-minded classmates who also felt dance could be a lifelong pursuit, and we founded MIT Natya, one of the first collegiate dance troupes in the nation.  This connection eventually put me in the path of Smt. Ranjani Saigal, who several years later would invite me to join Vision-Aid’s 2010 production of Silapathigaram.  Not only did I find an extended family in the welcoming, supportive and talented New England dance community, dancing under Guru Madurai R. Muralidaran’s direction was transformative—his drive towards perfection, deep sense of the dramatic and vibrant choreography elevated my joy in dance to a new level, and his generosity of time and knowledge have enabled me to pursue advanced dance studies and nattuvangam under his guidance.  For the past six years, I have been director of Abhinaya Natya Sala, a growing dance school in Framingham, MA, which incorporates everything I have learned and continue to learn from my gurus.