Bharatanatyam Ballet Benefits the Mandir of Madison
By Laura Salinger
From the vibrant costumes to the sometimes haunting, sometimes
foot-stomping Indian music, Guru Meenakshi Ganesan and the
Kalaanjali School of Dance recently put on quite a show at the
Waunakee High School Performing Arts Center near Madison.
“Swagatham Krishna,” a Bharatanatyam ballet, told the story of Lord
Krishna-beginning with his childhood pranks in Goukul and ending with
him preaching the Bhagvad Geetha to Arjuna.
Featuring dancers of all ages and skill levels, this Indian-style ballet
From the vibrant costumes to the sometimes haunting, sometimes
foot-stomping Indian music, Guru Meenakshi Ganesan and the
Kalaanjali School of Dance recently put on quite a show at the
Waunakee High School Performing Arts Center near Madison.
“Swagatham Krishna,” a Bharatanatyam ballet, told the story of Lord
Krishna-beginning with his childhood pranks in Goukul and ending with
him preaching the Bhagvad Geetha to Arjuna.
Featuring dancers of all ages and skill levels, this Indian-style ballet
showcased the unique movements and storytelling attributes of Bharatanatyam. The costumes were
visually stunning, the music invoking, and the movements were beautiful-sometimes playful,
sometimes evocative, but always interesting.
Steeped in tradition and nearly 3,000 years old, Bharatanatyam is a visually stunning dance form
originating from southern India. One of the oldest classical dance forms of India, Bharatanatyam is a
highly stylized form of dance that has been described as “poetry in motion.” Incorporating unique hand
gestures and body positioning, extravagant costumes, storytelling, spirituality and intricate rhythmic
patterns- Bharatanatyam has long stunned audiences in India and abroad.
In Madison, Guru Meenakshi Ganesan, the founder and artistic director of Kalaanjali School of
Dance, is at the forefront of Bharatanatyam. She began her training at the age of six and performed
her Arangetram (dance debut) at the tender age of thirteen. Since then, she has won numerous
visually stunning, the music invoking, and the movements were beautiful-sometimes playful,
sometimes evocative, but always interesting.
Steeped in tradition and nearly 3,000 years old, Bharatanatyam is a visually stunning dance form
originating from southern India. One of the oldest classical dance forms of India, Bharatanatyam is a
highly stylized form of dance that has been described as “poetry in motion.” Incorporating unique hand
gestures and body positioning, extravagant costumes, storytelling, spirituality and intricate rhythmic
patterns- Bharatanatyam has long stunned audiences in India and abroad.
In Madison, Guru Meenakshi Ganesan, the founder and artistic director of Kalaanjali School of
Dance, is at the forefront of Bharatanatyam. She began her training at the age of six and performed
her Arangetram (dance debut) at the tender age of thirteen. Since then, she has won numerous
awards and has over 350 public performances under her
belt. With the prestigious title Nritya Mayuri (dancing
peacock) and a Vishaarad degree in Bharatanatyam, she
founded the Kalaanjali School of Dance in 2003.
Guru Meenakshi Ganesan’s skill and artistry is
apparent on stage as is her tenderness towards her
dance students. The younger students swept the
audience away with their inevitable “cute factor,” while
Guru Meenakshi Ganesan and some of the older
students displayed the beautiful artistry that embodies
the every essence of Bharatanatyam.
The ballet, along with a dinner of traditional Indian
food, was a benefit for the Mandir of Madison. The event
opened with a shlokam (prayer) in praise of Lord
Krishna. The two hour long ballet enthralled the modest
audience gathered and the event concluded with a
dinner.
“We are very grateful to Smt. Meenakshi and Mr.
Ganesan for their gesture of support in offering this ballet
program as a Fundraiser for the Mandir,” Mandir
president Anuradha Sundram said. “Above all, the
selected presentation is close to all of our hearts, the
young and old alike, and the performers are none other
than our own kids! We could not have asked for a better
way to celebrate the New Year. Our sincere thanks go to
the performers, their parents (our guests of honor) and
especially to their beloved Guru Smt Meenakshi
Ganesan. It (would) be no exaggeration if I said, 'expect
to be swept off your feet and lose yourselves in the
performance of the artists who will transport you to
Brindhavan'.”
The Mandir of Madison, also known as the Hindu
Temple of Madison, provides numerous programs for
the Madison-area Hindu population including Yoga,
meditation, Sanskrit lessons, music classes, and
camps that introduce younger generations to the Indian
culture. It is their aim “to create a spiritual and religious
awareness” in the Madison area community.
belt. With the prestigious title Nritya Mayuri (dancing
peacock) and a Vishaarad degree in Bharatanatyam, she
founded the Kalaanjali School of Dance in 2003.
Guru Meenakshi Ganesan’s skill and artistry is
apparent on stage as is her tenderness towards her
dance students. The younger students swept the
audience away with their inevitable “cute factor,” while
Guru Meenakshi Ganesan and some of the older
students displayed the beautiful artistry that embodies
the every essence of Bharatanatyam.
The ballet, along with a dinner of traditional Indian
food, was a benefit for the Mandir of Madison. The event
opened with a shlokam (prayer) in praise of Lord
Krishna. The two hour long ballet enthralled the modest
audience gathered and the event concluded with a
dinner.
“We are very grateful to Smt. Meenakshi and Mr.
Ganesan for their gesture of support in offering this ballet
program as a Fundraiser for the Mandir,” Mandir
president Anuradha Sundram said. “Above all, the
selected presentation is close to all of our hearts, the
young and old alike, and the performers are none other
than our own kids! We could not have asked for a better
way to celebrate the New Year. Our sincere thanks go to
the performers, their parents (our guests of honor) and
especially to their beloved Guru Smt Meenakshi
Ganesan. It (would) be no exaggeration if I said, 'expect
to be swept off your feet and lose yourselves in the
performance of the artists who will transport you to
Brindhavan'.”
The Mandir of Madison, also known as the Hindu
Temple of Madison, provides numerous programs for
the Madison-area Hindu population including Yoga,
meditation, Sanskrit lessons, music classes, and
camps that introduce younger generations to the Indian
culture. It is their aim “to create a spiritual and religious
awareness” in the Madison area community.