Grace, vibrancy marks danseuse Anuradha Vikranth's journey

Every evening, a quiet street in Sahakarnagar comes abuzz with rhythm, laughing children and muted noise one normally associates with classical dance forms.

Inside a performing space, Bangalore’s noted danseuse, Anuradha Vikranth and her senior most disciples, who also double up as instructors, are busy straightening postures of children of various ages and heights who flock to the Drishti Art Centre to learn Bharatanatyam.

At any given time, there are at least 70-80 children learning the ancient Indian classical dance form here. The centre has its own cosy indoor and outdoor performing and learning spaces. But, it took a long journey for Anuradha to arrive here.

"I started in a very small way with just eight students at Vivekananda School in the year 2001. We moved to this premises recently and currently train more than 350 students," says Anuradha retracing her steps on how she built Drishti, north Bangalore’s premier learning centre for Bharatanatyam and music.

Early beginning:

Anuradha Vikranth, an accomplished Bharatanatyam danseuse, is known for her creativity, vibrancy and grace. Her boundless thirst for deeper knowledge in the field of dance has strengthened her ingenuity as an adept dancer, a supportive mentor and a creative choreographer who can integrate tradition with modern techniques.

An R.T. Nagar resident, she got into dancing as a precocious 10-year-old. Her teacher then was Guru Nirupama Rajendra and later Guru Narmada and now she is the direct disciple of Padma Bhushan Dr Padma Subramanyam, a legendary Bharatanatyam exponent.

"I was lucky to have an early Guru," she reminisces even as she herself is getting noticed as the Guru to go to for students. Bharatanatyam is a very disciplined form and needs a high degree of concentration. Anuradha holds a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam.

After graduating from Mount Carmel College, she entered the corporate world. But within two years, she realised the importance of what dance meant to her, and her yearning for dance made her take it up as a profession.

In 2001, she got married to Vikranth and her in-laws and husband instantly became supportive of her chosen profession. "I am very lucky that way,’’ says the dancer who understood that being a Bharatanatyam exponent and being married called for balancing both.

First few steps:

She started classes at Vivekananda School with just eight students which has now swelled to over 350. In all, she has taught over 1,000 students so far.

Anuradha is a performer, choreographer, teacher, organiser and mom - all rolled into one. She acknowledges that is a challenge but proud that she achieved it because of the support from her family and her passion for dance.

She created this space in Sahakar Nagar which has also evolved into a performing space. "At Drishti, we imbibe core values into our students. They don’t come here just to learn dance, but take home moral, social and cultural values that are taught here."

The students, most of them school going ones, also get drilled in discipline. To learn Bharatanatyam, a child has to be six years of age for them to understand rhythm, body geometry, smile, and to get their eyes, hands and legs moving with coordination. With such concentration required, children naturally improve in studies. Their communication and social skills too improve. So does their cultural values as they work with mythological stories.

At Drishti they also teach contemporary, yoga and Carnatic vocal music.

Bharatanatyam is more individual than a group form. "It’s a continuous process for me and my students. Life is full of learning and we never stop. I pass on the knowledge and they in-turn do the same,’’ says the charming danseuse.

Her ensemble has travelled to many dance festivals across India and abroad - Hampi, Dasara, Mahabalipuram, several International Arts’ festivals.

Anuradha strongly believes in the adage: If you want to do something, nothing can stop you.

Open to all:

There is a lot of interest from north Bangalore residents to learn dance. "We take admissions only once in seven-eight months. Older people too are interested. There are many ladies aged between 30 and 50 who relive their interest of learning dance. Recently, there was the case of this 58-year-old lady who came in to learn," she says adding that there are a lot of enquiries from the working population. There are also a small percentage of young boys who have taken to this form.

Bharatanatyam is pure math and science. The rhythmic signs are based on calculation. It is geometry – about lines. There is also physics involved – because of equations, says an expressive Anuradha, an `A’ grade Doordarshan artist.

Through their Drishti Art Foundation, working incessantly for the promotion of classical dance, Anuradha and Vikranth organise the Drishti National Dance Festival every year. The next one is slated for January 21 and will be the 12^th edition.

After learning Bharatanatyam, the human body can perform any form of art.There are eight forms of classical dances in India. Each of it involves emotion, understanding and communicating through the body and has its own grammar. It can easily turn from hobby to passion and profession.

"I see a trend among youngsters to take up dance as a profession. It is difficult too as a salary is not defined, but it is important that they must have basic education to fall back upon as financial stability is very important," says the artist. Anuradha is currently on a 45-day tour to the US for performances and workshops.

Drishti Art centre

2152/6, D Block, 8th main

(Behind Corporation Bank)

Sahakarnagar

www.drishtimag.com

email: drishtiartcentre@gmail.com

Facebook : Dristhi Art Center