HIMANI SANAGARAM
CHICAGO: Kalapadma Bharatanatyam Dance Academy will celebrate its 25thAnniversary here Sunday, June 16.
The show will be held from 2p.m.at the Batavia Fine Arts Centre in Batavia. It will have a mix of Bharatanatyam, classical, semi-classical, and fusion dance performances. There will also be performances by special guest artists I-RADHA and KDA alumni.
The show will highlight the theme of “Ganges: The Mighty River”, that is the holiest river in India and considered the lifeline of North India.
‘KDA,headed by Guru Ruth “Parijata” Varghese, has given various performances in Chicagoland for the Indian community and won many community awards. Ruth, known as Singar-Mani (Jewel of Expression) has a master’s degree in this Indian dance form. Past students of the academy will visit and talk about their experiences.
At the Chicagoland branch, Ruth Varghese has taught around 700-900 Indian students in this classical Indian dance form.
Kalapadma Dance Academy has its branches in Bhopal, Varanasi, and Chicago. The school was started by her father Guru Shankar Hombal in 1960. Ruth had her training at the internationally famed academy of classical art Kalakshetra, Chennai, where her father was also trained. Ruth’s daughter, Anjali, also is a talented dancer who has performed in Chicago.Santosh Varghese, Ruth’s husband, serves as the president of KDA.
Tickets of $5 each for KDA celebration are available for purchase at Eventbrite.
