Superb Arangetram Performance By ANJALI VARGHESE

Written by Himani Kumar.

Anjali Varghese performed solo for three hours at her Arangetram on Saturday, Aug. 1 at The Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin.

Anjali, who just turned 18, recently graduated from Maine East School and has been training under her mother for the past 15 years. She is the daughter of dancer Ruth Parijata Varghese, Artistic Director of Kalapadma Dance Academy.

A visual feast for the eyes, she kept the show engaging and mesmerized the audience with her dancing acumen. She performed her steps with grace, and her adavus were in sync and rhythm.

The program began with Namastubhyam Ganeshaya, followed by Alaripu, Christu Shabdam, Varnam, Chandrachooda, a Malayalam devotional song, and Thillana, ending on a light and enchanting note with Mangalam. It was a breeze for Anjali, as she had started learning the dance when she was three.

In Christu Shabdam, the story of Mary Magdalene is shown — she almost falls in love with Jesus as she tries to pacify him when his followers, including Judas, worry about what will happen when they travel to Jerusalem, and that Jesus' following will be seen as a threat to the Roman Empire. Judas is bothered that Jesus is associating with a woman of such a low profession, but Jesus supports her and tells Judas that Mary Magdalene is with him, and that unless Judas is without sin, he should not judge the character of others.

I should mention the Varnam, in which she portrayed Lord Rama lifting the heavy bow for Sita's Swayamvara (wedding) and winning her hand for marriage. The Varnam started with Goddess Sita's Swayamvara and ended with Sita Haran, in which the demon-king Ravana kidnaps Sita, wife of Rama.

"Varnam is the longest and most challenging item from the dance aspect and abhinaya too," said Mr. Santosh Varghese, Anjali's father and the President of Kalapadma Dance Academy. The Varnam lasted for more than forty minutes.

Varnam is the most elaborate item of the Arangetram. It embodies Nritta (pure dance), Nritya (dance with hand gestures), and Natya (drama) of the highest order. She performed a Varnam traversing the Nava Rasas (nine sentiments) through the life of Lord Rama.

Flutist Shri Raghunandan Ramakrishna gave music for the Varnam. After intermission, Anjali changed her arangetram dress from red to coral and magenta.

Mr. Santosh Varghese also compered the show with Kelly Kurian, and joked and quipped with the audience during the show. After the show he hugged Anjali and broke into tears, proud of her.

Anjali currently helps her mother at many levels — teaching, choreography, performances, music selection, and editing. In 2009, she performed at the prestigious Bharat Bhavan at the Golden Jubilee celebration of Kalapadma. In 2011, she was invited to perform along with her mother at the prestigious Tagore auditorium in Bhopal at the festival organized by the government of Madhya Pradesh in honor of Guru Shri Shankar Hombal, her grandfather. She also helps train and supervises the students who are preparing to perform their Arangetram, maiden debut, and performances.

Thillana was the scintillating final piece, capturing sculptural poses, complicated steps, and Tirmanams (rhythmic phrases) of the dancer.

The accompanying artists included Nattuvangam by Guru Smt. Ruth Varghese, Vocal by Smt. Vasudha Balakrishna, Mridangam by Shri S. V. Balakrishna, Flute by Shri Raghunandan Ramakrishna, Rhythm Pad by Shri Karthik Vydharti, and Drums by Alvin Varghese.

In the future, Anjali plans to join Oakton Community College and take dance as a career. She hopes to go to Bangalore next year for extra dance training at one of the dance schools.