DALLAS, TX: It was a celebration of the fifth anniversary of Echoes of India, a non-profit organization dedicated to the service of rural India, in collaboration with the Natynajali School of Dance in Dallas, at Granville Arts Center, Garland, TX, on November 15.
The celebration was memorable, enchanting, and mesmerizing. It consisted of a Kuchipudi dance ballet, Sri Krishna Saranam Mama, a story of Lord Krishna, and performed by well over ninety student artists of Natyanjali School of Dance trained under the admirable tutelage of Srilatha Suri, the Artistic Director of the school. About 600 plus art lovers attended the event along with many community leaders
The participants ranged from a very tender age of 4 or 5 to almost adult age to fit the various roles of the play, from baby boy Krishna to Vasudeva, Gopkas, and Kamsa etc. Parts of the dance drama were adopted from Guru Padmasri Sobha Naidu’s original choreography Srikrishna Sharanam Mama.
The event started with a traditional Kuchipudi prayer and followed up with Shuklam Baradaram Vishnum and Jathis by the juniormost students of Natyanjali.
As the event is the celebration of the fifth anniversary of the Echoes of India, a short presentation about the services by Echoes of India was done before the main dance. It was a short movie depicting – 1) a successful installation of 11 reverse osmosis (RO) water plants benefiting almost 60,000 villagers in Nalgonda district, 2) establishment of Kuchipudi rural clinic serving daily 20-30 villagers and 3) Three medical camps treating 110 diabetic patients and conducting health checks. The presentation also included a list of donors and sponsors who have helped thus far.
The dance drama took the audience from garland Texas to Gokulam and Brindavan from birth to the romantic and playful acts of Krishna with Gopikas and Gopa balas and the Rasa Kreedas with his wives, with Sreeragini as Narada playing the impressive kalaha priya role. Pallavi Shah and Dr Rajesh Adusimili played the roles of Devaki and Vasudeva very well.
Gopikas and Gopa Balas excelled in their reverberating performance of childhood plays with young naughty Krishna played by Manasvik. Srilatha Suri as Yashoda won the hearts of many with her ease in abhinaya. Kaliya by Priyanka mesmerized the audience while Vatsalya as Tandava Krishna danced with grace Spruha and Samhita as Krishna in rasakreeda played Krishna role with dignity and Pranhuti Suri as Radha Satyabhama stole playing two different roles but fitting the character perfectly showcasing her experience and talent . The special effects of moon light jiff, waterfalls jiff made it very natural and realistic.
The unique feature of the play was the display of all the five stages of Lord Krishna, each Krishna along with each of his wives. Suman Vadlamani, Sobitha, Trilokta, Apporva, Annanya, Pallvi made the rasakreeda colorful and energetic. Special mention has to be made to the portrayal of Kamsa by Silptha Pochiraju.
The ballet concluded with a traditional mangalam. This was specially choreographed and directed by Smt Srilatha Suri for this occasion.
The assiduous and extreme care exercised by Smt. Srilatha Suri in meticulously designing each scene, and paying attention to the minutest details added much to the glory of the presentation and is highly commendable.
The thematic special effects designed by her, the backdrops befitting the theme of each scene to represent reality are especially noteworthy.
It was a task of immense proportions, effort, and patience to train almost 90 disciples to perfection, and speaks eloquently of her dedication to the Kuchipudi dance form. Their performance with very lively and pleasant facial expressions and fine footwork and coordination endeared them to the audience.
Echoes of India thanked all donors and media sponsors.
India Post News Service
