Date:03/02/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/thehindu/fr/2006/02/03/stories/2006020301420200.htm

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Bharatanatyam on skates!

A. RAMALINGA SASTRY

Neelima from Visakhapatnam has bagged the gold in a national-level event.

ROLLER RHYTHM Neelima presents her unique fusion of dance and sport

Sixteen-year-old Ch. Neelima, a first-year Intermediate student made Visakhapatnam proud by winning gold in the national competition in Indian classical dance. What makes this distinction stand out is that the feat was performed on roller skates. The event was conducted by the Roller Skating Federation of India, consecutively for the third year. After being selected at the district and the state-level, Neelima has regularly been winning either golds or and silvers in freestyle, figure and pair skating events.

Born in 1989 to noted connoisseurs of classical dance, Statyanand and Durga Rani, Neelima was initiated into Bharatanatyam at the tender age of four under the expert tutelage of Avasarala Rukmaji Rao, one of the prime disciples of the great exponent of the Pandanallur tradition, Adayar K. Lakshman of Chennai. After her arangetram in 1997, she has been regularly performing for prestigious sabhas - the Visakha Music Academy, Akhilabharatiya Kuchipudi Natyakala Mandali, Thyagaraja Sanskrithy Sangham, TTD Brahmotsavams, Bharata Choodamani and Dance Academy, Chennai, among others besides competitions in classical dance held at the district, state and national levels. She has also been the recipient of many an award - best danseuse of VMA, super kid of VUDA, Balaratna of Dasari Narayana Rao Academy, Visakha Aparanjitha, Natyamayuri of Kurella Trust, Sri Charana Manjir and Dr. Alahari Singari gold medal of Sri Vijaya Thyagaraja Sabha to name a few.

Anniversary celebrations

In a separate event, Sri Ambikeswara Kuchipudi Dance and Music Academy celebrated its 24th anniversary last Saturday at Kalabharathi by presenting delightful dances by its young students - P. Udayasankar, Keerthi Priya, Aiswarya, Neeharika, P. Anusha, Spandana, Siri, Yaswitha, Saranya, Preethi, Srijana, Manasa and Sruthi. Solos by Aiswarya and Keerthipriya were full of grace with perfect footwork and revealing abhinaya. Nattuvangam by gurus P.V. Bharani Sankar and his wife Chetana, vocals by K. Suryanarayana, mridangam by P.R.C. Sarma and excellent support on violin by M. Neeladri Rao constituted the backdrop of music.