Date:06/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/06/stories/2008080661501200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Students dabble in music and dance

Staff Reporter

— Photo: N. Sridharan

STEEPED IN TRADITION: Leela Samson, director, Kalakshetra Foundation, helped by a student, lights the lamp marking the inauguration of ‘Svanubhava’ at the Kalakshetra in Chennai on Tuesday.

CHENNAI: Over the next six days, hundreds of students will take a break from their math and science classes to engage themselves in lively discussions on ragasand yatis.

They will be part of ‘Svanubhava,’ a festival being held exclusively for students of classical music and dance.

Organised by Matrka, an organisation founded by Carnatic musicians Bombay Jayashri and T.M. Krishna, along with the Youth Association for Classical Music (YACM), programmes are being held at the Kalakshetra on the first two days, the Tamil Nadu Government Music College and the Teachers’ College of Music on days three and four and at the Music Academy on the last two days. These include concerts, discussions, lectures-cum-demonstrations and presentations.

Speaking at the inaugural function here on Tuesday, Ms. Jayashri said the event was entirely for students. It was a coincidence that the YACM was founded on the very same day 23 years ago. Mr. Krishna said all the programmes were conceived by students.

“It is their idea and concept,” he said. Besides the students of the partnering institutions, more than 230 students registered online to take part in the event, the organisers said.

N. Murali, Managing Director, The Hindu and president, the Music Academy, said he was delighted to see a community of students being brought together through a wonderful initiative.

He commended the organisers for the effort.

K.A. Pakkirisamy Bharathy, principal, Tamil Nadu Government Music College, said the event was a good opportunity for students to interact with noted musicians, raise doubts and be part of interesting discussions on music and dance.

Leela Samson, director of Kalakshetra, and Malathi Rangaswami, correspondent, the Teachers’ College of Music, the Music Academy, were present.

Following the inaugural function, students of the Kalakshetra performed a piece titled ‘Yati.’

This was followed by a concert of vocalist N. Vijay Siva, accompanied by R.K. Sriramkumar and J. Vaidyanathan.