On November 18, 2017, Chinmaya Mission Auditorium in Andover, MA came alive with the 5th Rasa Vaibhava celebrations hosted by Vaibhava Dance School. It was an evening filled with a treat for the ears and eyes, as the audience were entertained to some live classical music and Bharatanatyam dances. It is a milestone year for the young school celebrating its 6th year with a dance festival accompanied by live orchestra for the first time. Each year the dance school presents  a different theme.

Vaibhava dance school was founded in the year 2011, by Guru Deepa Srinath. With her passion for teaching and love for this art form, Deepa has taught a diverse set of students. With her deep belief in Guru shishya Parampara, she moulds her students to good and strong Bharatanatyam dancers by building  great rapport with them, that eventually helps her in understanding the students, their strengths and weaknesses. Vaibhava Dance School promotes Pandanallur Style of dancing.

Over the years the dance festival had involved  performing to various themes and this year’s  theme was Meena Lochani - An Ode to the Goddesses. The students danced to a number of  Devi kritis from the traditional repertoire consistent with  the evening’s theme. The evening started with a melodious invocation to Lord Ganapathi, by Smt. Uma Shankar singing Maha Ganapathim. The show started off with Puspanjali, in Naata Raga, a traditional beginning to any dance recital with a delightful  performance by the students. It was followed by the beginners of the school beautifully dancing to a string of Slokas. The young dancers then showed their prowess in the basic building blocks of Bharatanatyam by tapping to a set of adavus set to Ragamalika. The choreography by Deepa Srinath was epical as was her choice of kritis. This fact  got showcased as her students danced marvelously  to some divine songs like Gokulambudi Shabdam, Jathiswaram, Devi Neeye Thunai and Bhagyada Lakshmi Baaramma. Maathe, a varnam,  was performed by the senior students  highlighting nritta and abhinaya in equal strengths. In KanjadaLaya Thaakshi, the Sanchari part was so elegantly and charmingly presented by the dancer, that the poet Muthuswami deekshithar’s words, praising Kanchi Kamakshi, came to life. In Asthalaskhmi, the students came together to do a scintillating dance display that depicted all eight forms of Lakshmi set to Ragamallika. Thillana, the finale, was a treat to watch as the senior girls of the dance school were as  graceful as a peacock in their rendition of Swati Thirunal’s famous composition. Deepa’s choreography was indeed sublime.

The students were well supported on the orchestra by artists  well known locally as well as in India. Smt. Uma Shankar a prolific carnatic singer and teacher, on vocal, was flawless. On violin, there was Shri Jitendra Kishore, a seasoned artist in India and abroad, who stringed some amazing music. On nattuvangam, was Guru Deepa Srinath herself, who was as  mellifluous as her choreography. Hari Shanmugam,on mridangam, a young and upcoming artist,  brought the music alive.

Rasa Vaibhava 2017, was an enthralling  show, packed with splendid music and a lot of exquisite and excellent dances. We hope that this dance school and their  dance festival grows every year, making this a premiere dance institute in the the New England area. We wish them all the best in their endeavors.