Meghna Iyer
Meghna Iyer
Composed of two words, "arangu" meaning "stage" and "etram" meaning "ascending", it is the first time that a Bharatanatyam dancer takes the stage as a solo performer.
This dance form originated about 2000 years ago in Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India and was originally performed in temples.
The orchestra is live and will consist of the dance teacher, a vocalist, a mridangist (percussion), a violinist and a flautist.
There will be a brochure when you arrive at the venue and the Master of Ceremonies will describe each composition briefly.
A traditional "margam" or repertoire consists of 7- 9 dances, each based on a Hindu deity and the stories that surround them. Each dance varies in duration with the focal point being a "varnam", which can be close to 30 min, and others ranging from 6-18 min.
The timeframe varies, but 8-10 years is average, with one year focusing exclusively on the arangetram repertoire.
It can take 2-4 hours to perform the repertoire, which includes costume changes, family/ friends' speeches, Guru's speech, receiving the graduation certificate etc.
No, you are an invited guest of the dancer.
There is no scheduled intermission, but you are able to take breaks in between the dances. We just request that auditorium doors stay closed while the dancer is performing (unless absolutely necessary).
Yes, snacks, tea/ coffee and cold beverage will be served prior to the event, and dinner after the performance.
Yes, absolutely, after the performance is over.