Deepajyoti; Spreading the light of knowledge

The traditional welcome by GIIS students for Mrs. Rama Vaidyanathan

The state-of-the-art Multipurpose Hall at GIIS Noida was inaugurated by a famous Bharata Natyam exponent, Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, who graced the occasion with her dance recital which cast a spell on the audience. GIIS Noida in association with Spic Macay arranged for this special classical dance programme by Dancer Ms. Vaidyanathan to mark the beginning of the usage of the facility of the multi-purpose hall in presence of GIIS parents and students.

After a melodious and soulful welcome song by the GIIS choir, the students danced to the energetic Kalbelia from Rajasthan. Ms. Rama Vaidyanathan took the stage and turned the hall for some moments into a temple; a sanctum santorum where one could sense the spiritual element of dance and the dancer was one with her art.

She rendered the Ardhanarishwara flawlessly, moving effortlessly from the Purusha and Prakriti / the Male and the Female - so much so that her performance lifted the audience above the mundane - and one could feel the Divine almost palpably close. Next, she took up the Krishna episode where she was Krishna the naughty flute player - teasing and the young girl who cannot sleep in peace because he does not cease playing his flute in turns. She asked the children how she would want the episode to end and as one of the students suggested, she decided to snatch the flute away from Krishna - albeit temporarily. The Tillana came as a wonderful finish to her recital. Yet she added to her recital for the day, a final moment for children as they sat in awe watching her dance to the tune of Vaishnava jana to tene kahieje peed parai jane re..... “So soft and yet so powerful was her lesson to all watching her that I was convinced that every time children sang the song they would remember her emotional appeal; reach out to all who are in need for that is what the message of the song is all about.” Said Ms. Nandita Dasgupta, Principal GIIS Noida. True to the Spic Macay tradition, she explained to the children about the rendition & each aspect of it in simple words. Thereafter she proceeded to express it through her dance.

The audience was transported into a world of music and dance and they looked forward to more such programmes from GIIS Noida.