A colorful
reunion
Arpana Dance Company celebrating
20th year with three concertsy
By Michael Rydzynski, For Irvine
World News - June 27, 2002
If it's June, it
must be Dance Time at the Irvine Barclay.
And this year holds a special
significance for at least a couple of companies. Right on the heels of
the Irvine Academy of Performing Arts' celebration of its 30th anniversary
comes the Arpana Dance Company celebrating its 20th on Sunday and July
6.
The success of the Irvine-based
school and company, which teaches the art of bharata natyam, the classical
dance of southern India, can be attested to by the presence of a sizable
number of its former students who keep returning every year at this time
to take part in its end-of-the-season concerts.
Especially when those concerts
observe a milestone. |
|
Members of the Arpana Dance Company rehearse for their upcoming dance
concerts at the Irvine Barclay Theatre |
"It's an honor for us to come
back into town and participate," said Arathi Varma, 27, a University High
School alumna (class of '93) who now lives in the Bay Area working as a
policy advocate for an economic adjustment company, but is back in Irvine
for the dance concerts occasion. "And it's exciting to see how the level
of dance has gone up here."
"Twenty years? I can't believe
I'm that old," said Anusha Kedhar, 25, who, like Varma, started with Arpana
almost 20 years ago and no longer lives in Irvine. She was in Rome and
will be heading to London in September, but, for the next few weeks, is
in Irvine to dance with Arpana.
"I feel it's a huge accomplishment
that the company has lasted so long and outdone itself every year," she
said.
 |
|
"It's really exciting," said
Aditi Nath, 17, a student of the Arpana school for 11 years who finished
her junior year at Northwood High School and her freshman year with the
Arpana company, the graduate division of the school.
"I'm really honored to be part
of (the 20th anniversary celebration), my first big production with Arpana.
And the dancers in the third production are a real inspiration for the
rest of us to stay with it and be involved. |
"Nath, who will be one
of 16 dancers (ages 14-25) in the second program, "Maya Manusha - The Illusive
One," in the Sunday evening concert, was referring to "Woman Divine," the
third and final program of the series of three concerts Arpana will offer
at the Barclay.
To be given July 6, "Woman Divine,"
with an age range of 20 to 28, features nine dancers, most of whom, including
Varma and Kedhar, started dancing 20 years ago when Arpana started and
return every year at this time.
The first program, "Samarpan
2002," to be given Sunday afternoon, will be a recital spotlighting 75
of the most novice members of Arpana (ages 6-35).
"I find it very touching that
former dancers like Anusha and Arathi would take a whole month off from
their jobs to be here," said Ramya Harishankar, the founder and artistic
director of Arpana.
"Or, in my case, quit her job,"
said Kedhar, a former international researcher who will study international
health in the fall.
"It just seems like yesterday
that I started (Arpana)," Harishankar continued. "I remember many of these
women began when they were little girls and they'd be sitting on my lap."
"And now, it's not possible
anymore," Kedhar said with a laugh.
Perhaps not sitting on Harishankar's
lap, but definitely continuing to dance in her company year after year.
"That is due to the camaraderie
between the dancers," Harishankar said.
"Even when they go away and
come back, it's like reunion."
"It definitely would be different
if we didn't all get along," Kedhar agreed. "We encourage each other. And
for momentous occasions like this one, we say to each other: 'If one comes
back, we all come back.'
"But something else keeps pulling
women such as Kedhar and Varma back into Arpana and keeps Nath from leaving
Indian dance itself.
"It gives me grounding," said
Kedhar, a Woodbridge High School alumna (class of '95) who began taking
classes at Arpana at 5, when the school was only a few months old.
"It's the one thing outside
of work, school and everyday life that makes me happy and feel good. And
the one activity I've continued through all these years after all the others
have stopped."
"Dance became a part of my life
which I've learned to love and continued with," said Varma, who was 7 when
she started with Arpana at about the same time as Kedhar.
"For me, it's a cultural tie
as well as a way to express myself physically, emotionally and spiritually.
It's been the company that's nurtured me since the beginning. I have great
respect for Ramya, she's given me so much. (Arpana) has become an important
part of my life."
"(Indian dance) is a connection
to my culture," said Nath, who began at the age of 6. "It's a creative
way to express yourself and it's enjoyable. I have respect for the art-form
and all the nuances involved.
And I like the collaboration
and creativity."
"Besides, if you're a dancer
at heart, it's hard to stop," Kedhar added.
"There's a saying in my mother
town of Tamil: 'Once bells are tied around your feet, it's hard to take
them off,'" Harishankar said. (Indian dancers traditionally dance with
bells on their ankles.)
"Once you've been bitten by
the bug, you have to continue," Kedhar said. "For every artist, it's the
recognition - and the high one gets from it."
"Whenever we get three weeks
off (from Arpana), we get so restless," Nath said. "I really like going
through the process and the creativity that's involved. It's really exciting.
"It's been really exciting for
Harishankar, who came with her husband, Harish Murthy, to Irvine from India
in 1981, returned to India shortly thereafter and came back to Irvine to
stay in 1982.
"When I came to Irvine, I didn't
want to work (in an office) and teaching (dance) was the only way I could
keep in touch," said Harishankar, who danced professionally in India.
"And it's really fulfilling
when you teach something and you see it come alive through a student. So
I started teaching in students' homes. I've always taken one step at a
time with this, but who knew?
"Who knew indeed? Harishankar's
school, founded in 1982 began with four students. The dance company was
founded in 1985 with Murthy as executive director of the Arpana Foundation,
the presenting arm of the organization, and Harishankar as artistic director.
The school and company have grown to involve more than 100, including 25
in the company itself and some 90 in the school.
Harishankar hopes to have a
professional touring company of five dancers and an annual Indian dance
festival in Irvine within the next five years.
Receiving three grants the past
season from the California Arts Council, Fund for Folk Culture and the
Alliance for California Traditional Arts ensures Arpana is on the right
track - and has been from day one.
"Getting started was not a problem,"
said Harishankar. "When my husband and I migrated to Irvine, there were
already Indian families here looking for something cultural for their children."
That included her husband's
sister, whose daughter Kedhar (Harishankar's niece) was enrolled shortly
after Arpana was open for business.
"You take such a personal journey
in dance," Kedhar said. "It's a wonderful way to express yourself and your
inner feelings. It's like an intoxication."
"This is critical for children
as part of their growing process," said Harishankar, who has never advertised
but depends solely on word-of-mouth recommendations from satisfied parents.
"There is no dearth of students, as we have a growing population of Asians
in the area, most children like to dance and most parents think this is
the easiest way to introduce culture to their children in a discreet and
subtle way.
"If I can make a difference
in a child's life in any way regarding discipline, a love for India and
a love for the arts, I'm very happy."
What: 20th anniversary
concerts of Arpana Dance Company, the Irvine classical Indian dance company
founded by Ramya Harishankar, artistic director.
When: Sunday, June 30:
"Samarpan 2002" at 3 p.m.; "Maya Manusha The Illusive One" at 7:30 p.m.;
Saturday, July 6: "Woman Divine" at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Irvine Barclay
Theatre, off of Campus and West Peltason drives, on the UC Irvine campus.
Information: (949) 854-4646
or (949) 300-8912.
