Stage set for Bharatnatyam Arangetram

This weekend, on the occasion of Maha Shivratri, Mehak Chawla will set the dance floor on fire with her enchanting Bharatnatyam Arangetram performance. A disciple of renowned dancer Geeta Chandran, Mehak has over eleven years’ experience of teaching Indian Classical Dance in schools and institutes.

Mehak Chawla came under Geeta Chandran’s tutelage at Natya Vriksha in 2017.

Currently teaching at the Ambience Public School, Safdarjung Enclave, she has been since 2012, an examiner with Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Mumbai.

Arangetram is an important occasion in the career of any Bharatanatyam dancer. After several years – decades even – of arduous training, when the Guru is confident that the disciple can sustain a solo performance, the disciple’s Arangetram is announced.

The Arangetram thus is an honor to the Guru, a momentous rite of passage; it marks the first milestone in the disciple’s journey into the ocean of Bharatanatyam

Mehak is the recipient of the Venkatraman Iyer Award of Excellence, Gurukul Anubhav Scholarship – SPIC MACAY, where she took a month-long intensive training of Kudiyattam under Guru Margi Madhu Chakyar.

Besides, Mehak holds a Bachelor’s degree in BCA, GDIT, B.A. & M.A. in Dance, Post Graduate Diploma in Yogic Science, Post Graduate Diploma in Cultural Management (PGDCM), Foundation & Certificate course is “Yogasana” and “Pranayama & Meditation” from the Morarji Desai National Institute of Yoga under Ministry of Ayush.

She will open her Arangetram performance with a Pushpanjali in Ragam Gambhira Nattai in which the dancer will pay obeisance to the “arangam” or stage, on which she will present her arangetram. Then the Alarippu – Tisram, which represents the body slowly showcasing Bharatanatyam postures, like a lotus slowly opening in the sunlight. Her next presentation will be the traditional Ragamalika Jatiswaram, which presents a more advanced enunciation of Bharatanatyam adavus. This will be followed by Varnam – Nataikuranji.

Mehak will also present Padam Indendu Vachitivira in Tamil. The khandita nayika is angry that her hero has spent the night with that “other woman”. She refuses to entertain him and rejects his explanations. She says that she is not fooled by his syrupy words, and asks him to leave and her arangetram will conclude with a fabulous Tillana in Ragam Brindavani

When: 6.00 pm, February 18
Where: Triveni Kala Sangam Auditorium, Mandi House