A world class Classical Bharata Natyam Recital by the legendary dance couple, the Dhananjayans from Chennai, India and Verushka Pather from South Africa accompanied by brilliant international and local artists.
"When you get to the end of your Saadhana, you will realize that everything you were looking for was already inside yourself…So why not start out by meditating with that understanding and save yourself all the trouble?"
- Swami Muktananda
Saadhana is a process that raises our level of consciousness with the quest of experiencing oneness with all and the supreme absolute. We can only experience this supreme bliss if we experience oneness with all.
We invite you to join us on our spiritual journey so that we can all experience this phenomenal level of consciousness through our divine art form.
Durban -12th & 13th March 2010
Johannesburg -14th March
Read writeup from Bharata Kalaanjali - "The Dhananjayans honoured in South Africa".
“Saadhana – Realisation of Truth”, a production meticulously put together by Natya Ananda Temple of Fine Arts was showcased during March 2010 in Durban and Johannesburg.
The production was a culmination of months of hard work and planning, a process which only strengthened Srimathi Verushka Pather’s vision for Saadhana, “Saadhana is a spiritual process that raises our level of consciousness, with the quest of experiencing oneness with all and with the supreme absolute. From within me emanates my spiritual practice – Bharatanatyam. It’s my soul’s only desire, its greatest fulfillment, its joy and its pathway to peace and eternal bliss. I am a Sadhaka of this beautiful ancient art form of dance. Here my soul’s purpose is to serve humanity through my Saadhana.”
Srimathi Verushka’s saadhana reached its pinnacle with an opportunity to showcase her Guru’s to the South African audience. The Dhananjayan’s, are recipients of a long lists of well-regarded awards, amongst them, the Padma Bhushan award. This is an Indian civilian recognition made by the President of India, which recognises distinguished service of a high order to the nation.
As part of the tour, Natya Ananda invited dance schools from Durban and Johannesburg to participate in lecture demonstrations that were hosted by Shri & Shrimathi. V.P. Dhananjayan themselves. We also had the opportunity to share the talent and skill of other well known artists from India and South African:
Dr Anita Shanmuganathan, who conducted the orchestra;
Vanathy Raghuraman, who provided vocal support;
KP Ramesh Babu, who played mridangam and;
Leo Manickam on the violin.
Verushka Pather Dance Artist
This was a great opportunity for South African artists to collaborate talents with Indian artists and showcase to South Africa, the rich culture and traditional that is within us, as it was with our forefathers.
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We waited in anticipation to see the great artists merge from the International arrivals. Weeks of hard work and the realisation just dawned on us that the arrival of the Artists was the true success of our venture. The International artists; the Dhananjayans, Dr Anita Shanmuganthan, Vanathy Raghuraman and KP Ramesh Babu, arrived in Durban on the 9th March 2010. Our parents and students of our school all gathered anxiously to meet and have the blessings of our great Guru, master Dhananajayan. Just before landing at the Durban International Airport, Emirates Airlines acknowledged the Dhananjayans in flight and extended a warm welcome to the guest artists, to our country. The Airports Company of South Africa, kindly obliged to let the school welcome the international artists appropriately. As is customary in India, great artists and dignitaries are adorned with floral garlands as a mark of respect for their contribution in their field. This was an overwhelming feeling knowing that we have succeeded by bring the Dhananjayans to SA to share their lineage and great expertise with the rest of SA. |
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The worship and honour of a Guru is highly respected in Hindu Tradition and our vision of having all SA students and teachers have this opportunity to have the blessings of the Dhananjayans was greatly achieved at this special prayer. Our tour commenced in the beautiful and spiritual form of a Guru and Shalangai Pooja. Natya Ananda took the opportunity of inviting all dance students and dance gurus to the Sathi Sanmarka Sungum, Dunnotar Avenue, Asherville, to participate in the celebration of Teacher and Student, where students and gurus observed a hawan ceremony and the Dhananjayans were asked to bless each student. Verushka Pather honoured the 3 most important figures in her life. Her Guru, Master Dhananjayan who has blessed her with this great Art of learning Bharata Natyam, her Spiritual Guru, Guru Krishna Naidoo who has guided and blessed her school to reach greater heights and has always been a pillar of strength for her family and finally her fantastic husband who shares in this great vision of Art. His support to Verushka and the school has been unconditional and tireless. Our guests were also entertained by one of our talented local lads – Kerolin Govender – who wowed all present with spiritual and divine hymns and bhajans. |
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Offices of the Indian Consulate, Durban (11th March 2010) Our respected Consul Shri Anil K Sharan hosted a phenomenal Lecture Demonstration and a reception dinner to honour the Dhananjayans. this took place at their offices on Kingsmead Boulevard, Durban. This was a wonderful opportunity for other knowledgeable and respected members of the Durban community to interact with the Dhananjayans on a personal level. He shared valuable information about the History of Dance and its arrival in South Africa. During the dinner the audience appealed to Sri VP Dhananajayan to perform a short piece – he humbly obliged and performed a beautiful piece on a deer in a forest. He also took the opportunity to enlighten the guests on the ease with which anyone can understand the classical dance form. He provided guests with simple hand gestures and movements for easy interpretation and put this into his performance – allowing guests the opportunity to experience dance in a whole new light. Consul General Sharan gave a speech then honoured the Dhananjayans before presenting the couple with beautiful floral arrangements, the flowers in which represented the coming together of two great countries, India and South Africa. Some of the guests were President of the Hindu Maha Sabha of SA, Ashwin Trikamjee, Dr.TP Naidoo Director of the Indian Academy, Member of Parliament Kamal Panday, Representing the Dept. of Art and Culture was Mr. Ravi Govender, Mr Rajish Lutchman the CEO of Aryan Benevolent Homes, other respected dancer teachers and students from different schools. After the demonstrations guest had the opportunity to ask questions and have their doubts about the arts clarified. We were then treated to a sumptuous dinner. |
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Durban (11th & 13th March 2010) and Johannesburg (16th & 17th March 2010) The workshops offered to students of dance in Durban and Johannesburg was extremely well received and well supported. Senior students were taught a dance item choreographed by the Dhananjayans and the junior students were given the opportunity to strengthen their basic knowledge and application of the great art form. While dancers were availed the opportunity to broaden their experience of dance with guru’s of such stature, students of percussion instruments were also invited to participate in a workshop run by KP Ramesh Babu. A great percussionist hailing from and illustrious lineage from Karaikudi Mani of Chennai, India. This was offered to all percussionist in Durban. Ramesh Babu taught them innovation of a classical instrument in a contempory and versatile form. The students felt empowered, motivated and inspired to be taught by great artists from India. A great success for the vision of Natya Ananda, of youth stimulation and empowerment. |
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Durban (12th & 13th March 2010) and Johannesburg (14th March 2010) The first two recitals were staged was at the prestigious Durban venue - Izulu Theatre, Sibiya. Audiences were treated to spectacular performances from the artists. The Master of Ceremony, Mr Kiru Naidoo a political analyst, took the audience through a once in a lifetime opportunity to see the great legends, the Dhananjayans, perform. Sri VP Dhananjayan introduced each item before it was performed, so that the audience may have some understanding of what they will experience. We had a full house on both the nights but we all will agree that the audience of Saturday night were outstanding. They really gave Dhananjayan Master the response he greatly enjoys. A fantastic, stimulating audience. On both the evenings, the Dhananjayans were again honoured with plaques by, Mr Ashwin Trikamjee, President of the South African Hindu Maha Saba and Dr TP Naidoo of the Indian Academy. Deputy Mayor Logie Naidoo also had the opportunity to welcome these great artists to our shores and appropriately gave them a warm Durban welcome and shared his sentiments of all, that it was Durban’s honour to host them. The recital in Johannesburg, was held at The Great Hall, University of Witwatersrand on Sunday, 14th March 2010. Also a maximum crowd gathered to witness a generation of this great legacy. The respected Consul General of Johannesburg, Mr. Vikram Doraiswami graciously honored Mrs. Fatima Meer before addressing the gathering. He spoke about his personal interaction and friendship he has had with the Dhananjayans from India. And recollects a very special production that her witnessed about 20 years ago that has made a dramatic impact on his respect and understanding of the art. His lovely wife honored all the artists with bouquets of flowers. The co host of Johannesburg, Saptaswara ably managed by Ganesh Nardhamuni was the Program Coordinator for the afternoon. The well know dance artist and personality in Johannesburg, Mrs. Jayesprei Mooppen presented the introduction of the Dhananjayans and also shared her personal relationship with them. A very successful performance, well received and appreciated by the audience, mainly art lovers students and teachers. |
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15th March 2010 Devotees of the Ayyappa Kshetram in Johannesburg were treated to a special performance on the evening of 15th March 2010. As part of their divine offering to Swami Ayyappa, Sri VP Dhananjayan and Srimathi Verushka Pather choreographed special items to show their devotion and love. This was hosted by the family of the Shree Ayyappa Kshetram, headed by the most divine soul amongst us, Dr.Raj Kolapen. This was a very personal and intimate setting as the Ayyappa Kshetram is a very significant part of Verushka’s growth and progression as an artist. She has been involved in the temple from the inception and had vowed that one day she will present a dance drama on Ayyappa, where her master and artist from India, will perform in the abode of the Lord. And on that day the first time in the tour did Verushka share her feelings and journey of SAADHANA. This was a very emotional moment to thank her Gurus for her lifetime achievement of The Dhananjayan’s Legacy and that, that day the Lord had fulfilled her wish of having her Guru perform in the Ayyappa Kshetram. All the sponsors and kind friends who had assisted with Saadhana were appropriately thanked. A special heart felt thank you went to Kamendran Pather, Verushka’s husband and her son Darshan for allowing all her dreams to materialize and also to the two main people that had put this entire project together, Priya Naicker and Prindhavanie Iyapian. They are truly women of the 21st century, dynamic, confident, committed and dedicated. Values of powerful women of Hindu Darma. She ended by saying that this is not by chance that we are seated her together, but ordained by God and that we are all placed in each others part for a specific reason and Thanked God for placing everyone that shares her part with her and her journey of her SAADHANA. |
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