Shivangi Pandit’s dazzling ‘Arangetram’ performance- Atlanta Dunia -

Shivangi receiving Arangetram Plaque from Guru Dinaben

Shivangi Pandit’s dazzling ‘Arangetram’ performance

By Mahadev Desai
Photos by Soham Photography

A spectacular and dignified Arangetram (Ascending the stage) ceremony was hosted by Manohar and Rohini Pandit for their daughter Shivangi, at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center on the auspicious day of Guru Purnima, Sunday, July 25, 2010.

The foyer’s artistic display of statuettes of Lord Ganesh, Lord Nataraja, Goddess Saraswati and digital album of Shivangi in various dancing poses, was pleasing and elegant. Girls in colorful saris and hosts, Manoharbhai and Rohiniben, greeted the guests as they arrived. Purnima Patel beautifully decorated the stage bathed in soft orange hue.

After the guests took their seats and right on time the emcee, Shreya Patel welcomed all and explained the meaning of Arangetram and significance of auspicious invocatory puja. Shivangi’s Guru, Dinaben Sheth, of Kruti Dance Academy, accompanied Shivangi who was attired in a shimmering white costume, embellished with sparkling jewelry & hair adornments, to the resplendent idols of Lord Ganesh, cosmic Lord of dance- Lord Nataraj, and Goddess Saraswati, where Shivangi invoked the blessings of the divine powers, and received the specially blessed Ghunghroos from her Guru to present the art form of Bharatanatyam accurately and gracefully to the audience.

Shivangi started off the performance with Ganesh Vandana where the dancer offers her salutations to Lord Ganesh. Shivangi next performed Alarippu (to bloom) with grace and poise. This dance conveys the blooming of a delicate bud into a beautiful flower. The next dance Jatiswaram was an exquisite blend of synchronized footwork, gestures, melody and rhythm. In Mahabharat Shabdam, Shivangi through a captivating dance conveyed the popular episode of The Game of Dice, where Lord Krishna rescues Draupadi from evil Dushasan who tries to humiliate her by disrobing her. In Varnam, she enthralled the audience with her grace, energy, technical brilliance, intricate footwork and perfect synchronization of Bhava, Raga and Tala, while Dinaben provided the soft beats with a pair of cymbals. Shivangi demonstrated the symbolic gestures of some meaningful lines of Varnam while Ayesha Patel interpreted them in English

During the brief breaks when Shivangi was changing her costumes, Ashani Patel, Sapna Shah (recent winner of the coveted Miss Teen India-GA 2010); Jessica Sooknanan, Vivienne DeFreitas and Sonia Pandit made brief remarks complimenting and thanking Shivangi for her passion for dancing, camaraderie her sense of humor, helpful compassionate nature while mentoring.

In the next item, Padam-Gokul Ma. in Gujarati, Shivangi, now clad in a light-blue sari, through a range of emotions, conveyed the sadness of Radha, pining for beloved Krishna.

Shivangi presented the marriage of Shiva & Sati by symbolic hand gestures, called “Hastas” while Amola Patel narrated it in English

In the imaginatively self-choreographed dance (requirement of KDA for Arangetram), she danced to fusion musician Prem Joshua’s music-piece titled “Shiva Moon”, matching her dance movements to the fast drumbeats, depicting spiritual meaning with eye-neck movements and hand gestures along with rhythmic footwork.

And in the traditional dance of Madhurastakam, she paid her obeisance to Lord Krishna. In Tillana, she showed her unrelenting perseverance and dedication required in this demanding dance with complex poses, rapid graceful movements along straight lines, triangles and rectangles.

After the concluding Mangalam Dance, an elated Guru Dinaben declared, “Shivangi, it gives me immense personal satisfaction and pride in seeing that after six years of hard work, determination and dedication,

and with unconditional help and support from your parents and elder sister Sonia, you have today successfully completed your ‘Arangetram’, and realized your dream. Congratulations and good luck in your college life and future career.” Both Guru and Shivangi offered their prayers to the deities, after which Dinaben presented Shivangi with her Graduation Plaque. (Wide applause)

Shivangi in her brief remarks thanked her Guru Dinaben, her parents and sister for their unflinching support and inspiration and guidance; her tutor, Shreya Patel for emceeing the event; all who helped her on and off-stage in performing her Arangetram, and the audience.

In his concluding remarks, Shivangi’s dad Manoharbhai with his wife Rohini standing by his side thanked Dinaben for her great vision and passion in running Atlanta’s finest and wholesome Dancing Academy with a distinct identity where Shivangi had an opportunity to learn not only Indian classical dancing and Indian culture but also discipline, teamwork, leadership, creating strong stage-presence, volunteerism and social interaction, all of which help leading life successfully. He congratulated Shivangi on her graduation and reassured her of the family’s continued support in all her future endeavors. He went on to thank Soham Patel for photography, Ketan Shah for designing and printing brochure, Dale Saini for videography, Purnima Patel for stage decoration, Roswell Arts Center Staff, Rupesh Bhatt for catering the refreshments and the audience for attending the joyous event.

Guru Dinaben, beaming graduate Shivangi, and family members received a rousing ovation as they were being presented with flower bouquets.

After the Arangetram, the guests were treated with tasty refreshments.

The Founder and Director, Mrs. Dinaben Sheth has helmed Atlanta’s most renowned and prestigious Kruti Dance Academy, where she has been teaching classical, folk and contemporary Indian dance styles for over 15 years. She has taken on a life long vision to expose the richness of Indian culture and heritage through the medium of dance.

Shivangi has been learning Bharatnatyam dancing, under the guidance of Guru, Dinaben Sheth, since the age of twelve. She is a recent graduate from Parkview High School She has not only excelled academically but also in extra-curricular activities. She ran Track and Field; she was Vice-President of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). She is an inspirational mentor and role model, tutoring Maths and Language Arts to students at Lilburn Middle School. She will be attending The University of Georgia this coming fall and also continue her passion for dance. Her journey continues. And for the audience, no doubt the images of a wonderful ceremony will remain ingrained in their consciousness for a long time.

Aug-4-2010