E-mail: ustrust@manithaneyam.org   website: www.manithaneyam.org

About the Production

Roja Kannan, Lavanya Ananth, N.Srikanth and Priya Murle, leading exponents of Bhratanatyam, were commissioned to create a thematic presentation on Bharathiyar's compositions by Natyarangam, the dance wing of Narada Gana Sabha, on the occasion of Bharathiyar's birth anniversary in 2002.

This production has been extremely well received by dance critics and connoisseurs  and has been presented over ten times in India to rave reviews. The powerful poetry of Bharathiyar combined with creative choreography and outstanding presentation by these four dancers makes this a presentation that is not to be missed. The production show cases each dancer’unique talent and style in solo presentations  and concludes with a group presentation of a medley of popular songs of Bharathi.

About Manithaneyam

This is a not-for-profit organization which primarily assists children and elders orphaned in the ethnic strife in Srilanka.  Manithaneyam has four major chapters UK, USA, Australia and Srilanka.  Manithaneyam also aims to render charitable, social and educational services by offering assistance to the needy as well as the disabled. Manithaneyam was a major contributor to the Tsunami relief effort.

.The funds raised from the “Bhaarattha Samudhaayam Vazhave” ( Classical Dance Program)  will be utilized to purchase supplies and accessories  for the Braille machines to  assist blind and disabled children in their education. The funds are earmarked to assist “ Inniya Valvu Illam” ( Home for blind )  in Mullaitheevu  district of Srilanka.

About The Dancers:

Described as a refined artiste, endowed with ample skill, a calm, composed and confident approach, Roja is an exponent of the Kalakshetra style of Bharathanatyam, and also Carnatic vocal music.

Her gurus include Padmashri Adayar. K. Lakshman, Padma Bhushan
Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, and Kavi Aravindakshan in Bharathanatyam and the late Trichur P. Ramanathan in Mohiniattam.

She has won the prestigious Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram award and the Kamala Ranjan Trust Scholarship from the Music Academy, Chennai.  Roja was conferred the title of 'Nadana Kalaimani' by the 'Ramalingar Pani Mandram', Chennai and the title of  “Natya Ilayarasi” by the Delhi Shanmukananda Sabha in 2006.  She is an empaneled artiste with the ICCR. Her choreographic works include, Dasavatharam, Bhavayami Raghuramam, Devi Darsanam, Navagraha Mahimai, Andal Kalyanam, Meenakshi Kalyanam and Arupadai Veedu. Roja has choreographed and presented solo Thematic presentations which include "Sri Krishna Leela Tharangini" of Sri Narayana Theertha," Thiruarutpa" of Sri Ramalinga Swamigal, "Sri Krishna Ganam" based on the songs of Oothukadu Venkata Subbaiyer and " Entaro Mahanubavulu" based on the songs Saint Thyagaraja. Roja teaches dance at the Vidya Mandir School, in Chennai and is the secretary of Association of Bharatanatyam Artiste’s of India (ABHAI).

An accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer Priya Murle divides her time between teaching and performing Bharatanatyam at Shree Bharatalaya and doing research.

A multi-faceted personality, Priya began learning dance from the age of five at Shree Bharatalaya from Padma Sri Dr. Sudharani Ragupathy. She has also learnt Carnatic music from Padma Sri Vidvan Madurai N. Krishnan, as well as Sanskrit from Pandit Thangaswami Sharma. She has given several performances all over India as well as in Europe and America, besides giving lecture demonstrations to students in India and overseas.
 
She has received numerous awards and merit certificates, including the prestigious title of "Yuva Kala Bharati" from Bharat Kalachar, and the Bharata Kala Bhushana from Shree Bharatalaya. She was the recipient of the Senior Scholarship for Dance instituted by the Department of Culture of the Government of India. She was also a visiting Professor of Dance at the Government of India Music College, Tamil Nadu, in 1994. She has participated in both the television serials on Dance presented by her Guru, Sudharani Raghupathy. She is a graded artiste of the Doordarshan Kendra, India.

Since the age of 6, Srikanth has been at home on the stage, first as an actor in the Bhagavata Mela dance drama of Melattur, Tamilnadu, and then also as a dancer in the tradition of Bharathanatyam. Srikanth has trained under several illustrious Gurus, including Sri. Shanmugasundaram Pillai, Dr. Saraswati and Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam.  Srikanth has been a regular performer all over India, Andamans, Thailand, Indonesia, France, Canada, U.S.A., Reunion Islands etc. Srikanth, a graded artist of Doordarshan and an empanelled artist of ICCR, has appeared on TV in India and in Singapore as well. Among other recognitions, he is the recipient of the 1997 Yuva Kala Bharati Title, 1998 Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram Award, 2000 Talent Promotion Award, 2001 Award of excellence, 2004 Lakshmi Viswanathan endowment for Abhinaya and 2005 Shanmugasundaram Pillai Memorial Award.
Srikanth has acted in a few documentary films including ‘Srinivasa Ramanuja’, ‘Charukesi’, ‘Sculptures that come alive’, ‘Bharatham’, ‘Ragam Sangeetham’, etc. and in G.V.Iyer’s film “Swami Vivekananda”.  Also danced in “Shishu Sadhana” – a VCD produced by Kala Bharati, Canada.
 
A dancer, actor, and nattuvanar, Srikanth training in music and inherent love for literature add a greater depth to the artiste in him and make him a true exponent of Natya.
 

Lavanya Ananth

Lavanya Ananth is a senior disciple of Gurus Sri. S.K. Rajaratnam, Smt. K.J. Sarasa and Padma Bhushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan. She represents the graceful and picturesque Vazhuvur style in Bharatanatyam and has several performances and lecture demonstrations in India and abroad to her credit. Her  pleasing personality yields itself to any of the sculpturesque poses or the execution of a tough adavu with equal ease and grace. She is an empanelled artiste of ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and is an “A” Grade Artiste of the Indian Television Channel (Doordarshan). She has won awards like the TSP Award from Spirit of Youth - Music Academy and the best dancer award from organizations like the Indian Fine Arts and Krishna Gana Sabha.  Lavanya is the recipient of a dance scholarship from the Department of Culture, India.   She is a widely acclaimed dancer and has won commendable reviews for her performances.  She runs an academy of dance in Chennai, India.
Lavanya Ananth is one of the senior disciplines of Smt. K.J Sarasa.

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Directions: From Boston and 128/95 North or South:
From I-90 (Massachusetts Turnpike) take exit 13 to Route 30 East, heading towards Natick / Wellesley (1.1 miles from exit point), and turn slight Right on to Cochituate Rd/MA-30.  Travel 0.2 miles turn Right onto Speen Street.  After 2.1 miles, turn Left onto Pond Street and Travel 0.9 miles, turn Right onto Oakland Street. After 0.1 miles, turn Right on to West Street.

Direction from Worcester and 495 North or South: