Natya Vriksha centre stages two faces - of an inheritor and of a beneficiary - Taalam: column by Leela Venkataraman

Natya Vriksha, the school for Bharatanatyam run by senior dancer Geeta Chandran in Delhi, on two successive Saturdays showcased on the one hand, its inheritor Sharanya Chandran, at the Stein auditorium, and on the other, at the Triveni auditorium, one of the young beneficiaries of its dedicated dance propagation.

That Geeta's daughter Sharanya Chandran, with the advantage of having grown up in a climate of dance and music from childhood, buttressed by special training in nattvuvangam, should present a program of Bharatanatyam, is hardly surprising. But that she should have got back to a full-fledged solo recital after her second motherhood, alongside her full time 10am to 5pm job, now centered round development, and all the family obligations with husband and two kids (notwithstanding exceptionally strong grandparental support), is proof of rare commitment to the art form....

Not many Gurus think of how the student, after the arangetram, manages finding a dance slot, so as to be formally recognized by the dance presenters as a legitimate candidate for the performance arena. Usually it means just waiting hopefully, for the lucky break whenever it comes. To provide the sorely needed helping hand, Natya Vriksha has now introduced its SOPAAN (The next step) series, wherein the combined resources of both institution and guardians of students, present the respective competent young dancer in a solo performance, thus providing for much needed solo exposure.

Anandita Narayanan performing at the Triveni auditorium showed herself to be an assured dancer, having participated in Natya Vriksha presentations, both singly and as part of the institution's group presentations....

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