Mani

I first saw Bharatha Natyam at the age of 2 in Madras, India at a performance by Padma Subramaniam hosted by the Lions Club of Madras where she received the title “Suderkodi”. My parents say I loved the music and movement and started dancing in the aisle but fell and cut my lip. Some kids from the Lions Club Youth Group told my mom and dad they would take care of me and they should keep watching the dance. At the end of the dance mom and dad asked were I was and the kids took them to the front of the auditiorium where I was sitting with Chief Guests - tamil movie star Shivaji Ganesan and movie star and famous dancer, Padmini Ramachandran! Shivaji Ganesan told mom and dad that he was so surprised to see such a little girl so enrapted in the dance performance that I didn’t even notice my cut lip. He suggested they should definitely take me for Bharatha Natyam dance classes and Padmini agreed!

I started Bharatha Natyam instructions at the age of 3 from Rajalakshmi Govindan, Salem, India.

In 1974, after moving to Philadelphia USA we learned that Padmini was teaching Bharatha Natyam in New York City. It was a dream come true to become her student! My parents drove to NYC every Saturday so I could learn from Padmini. I was Padmini’s disciple from 1974 to 1980 when my sister, Guna, and I had our Arangetram. Padmini was an incredible dancer and an inspiring teacher. I consider myself very fortunate to have received Bharatha Natyam instructions from Padmini and call her aunty.

My sister and I performed on several occasions in PA, NJ, NY. In Kansas in 78, we gave a 3hr dance recital with the centerpiece being the 45 minute dance “Ramayaman”. I also performed at the Miss India-USA competition held in Central Park NYC, India day celebrations attended by the mayor of Philadelphia, and Christmas celebrations attended by Cardinal Kroll of Philadelphia.

In the Indian Classical Dance Competition conducted by the Creative Indians Association in New Jersey 1978 I won second place with my performance of Bhavayami and in 1979 won first prize with a Thillana.

On Saturday September 13, 1980 Guna and I completed our Bharatha Natyam Arengetram performance in the Main Auditorium of Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA.

After this we started teaching Bharata Natyam in Philadelphia and Lansdale. In 1990 I started graduate school for my PhD in Molecular Biology and only taught part time.

I now teach private and group lessons in Bharatha Natyam and bollywood style dance in Morrisville, PA. I offer lessons from introductory to advanced. I also enjoy choreography of both Hindu and Christian themes.