Kalairani Natya Saalai

Established in 1984 Untiringly serving the community for 20 years…

Pongal celebration at Tamil Sangam starring 7 year old Rachel Prem in higher level classical piece. Jan 2004

Performing at a special meeting by Ambassador Lalit Mansingh for community Indian leaders. Dec. 2003

Jocelyn’s Arangetram. Nov. 2003  click on  www.ranidevi.com/SishyaJocelyn.htm 

Workshop in Los Angeles. June 2003

 

Nataraja Dance Festival at Shiva Vishnu Temple. Mar 2003

 

 

2002 Showcase. Dec 2002

 

Exclusive coverage in local newspaper Gazette focusing on KNS students from Guyana and Trinidad taking Bharatanatyam as the highest cultural link. Dec. 2002   

 

 

Folk items presented at KNS’ performances and programs

 Fundraising for establishing Tamil Kovil, New York . Nov 2002

Performance at P. Susheela’s concert

Film shoots for a DVD on patriotic theme.  This one was filmed at the Indian Embassy, Washington D.C.

 performance for Adventists community, June 2002

 winning awards at the Gujarat performance, July 2002

 

 

 lectures by dancers: Mark Kittlaus, MD and Hema Rajagopalan, Chicago. June 2002

 

 Juniors performing for PG Hospital, MD.  April 2002

 World renowned dancer (& National Award winner actress) Shobana conducted the 3rd workshop for KNS.  KNS’ 6 seniors and Sishyas (Arangetram completed) performed a Tillana with Shobana for the IDEA Dance Festival, Nov. 2001.  She arrived Saturday night and taught the dance and they performed the next day Sunday noon. This not only brought the excellent teaching ability of Guru Shobana, but the ability of the KNS’ trained dancers.

 

 

 

 As the 15th Anniversary celebration a new concept was introduced – merging of various cultures.  AADHI Creation mythology from Greek, Egyptian, Judaism & Hindu cultures was presented June 2001 and repeat performances later.

 

 

 

 

Folk Festival at Anne Arundel College, Annapolis, Maryland.

Textile Museum – first ever ’00

Ecumenicum 2000 – Comparative studies on Hindu and Christian worship ‘00

 IDEA dance festival ’99

 presentations on village folk dances

 Workshop by Acclaimed Dancer and Urvashi award winner Shobana ’98

ARTREACH Texas - First representation of Indian art amidst 300 top dancers from around the world            ’98

Yesuvin Annaiye, Christian Baratanatyam --On Mother Mary- benefit performance for inauguration of Annai Velankani statue at the National Shrine ‘97

Yesuvae Saranam – as a sermon for an evangelical retreat, Syosset, NY ’97

Edwina’s PENNIN PANCHAVATARAM  - five facets of a woman click on  www.ranidevi.com/SishyaEdwina.htm 

First ever to present Christian Baratanatyam in USA (4th globally) Yesu-Yesu-Yesu in       Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Houston, etc. ‘94-96

Benefit performance Marthoma Church ’94

Benefit performance for victims of the Maharashtra          Earthquake – American Red Cross ’94

Performance at the famous Nadaraja Chidambaram Temple, India ’91

Arengetrams with live orchestra:  click on www.ranidevi.com/Sishyas.htm

 

 Maryland State Governor’s citation from William Schaefer      ’91 

National July 4th parade 3rd place amidst 86 floats from USA ’93

July 4th parade Takoma Park 1st place ’86

 

 

 

 

 

First Indian group -for Asia-Pacific Day, Adventure World amusement park ‘93-96

 

Click on www.ranidevi.com/awards.htm

Trophies, plaques awards from DC Mayor Human Rights Day programs ‘85-’87

Ethnic festivals – annually -Dept of Labor, Dept of Health, US Postal Service, ‘88-00

Award from Kerala Cultural Society     ’00

Award from Tamil community    ’99

Trophy from Kerala Cultural Society    ‘85

Graduates (after intensive 6+ yrs of training) equivalent to an Arangetram. Total to date: 26

Edwina, Sumihira, Jocelyn, Annie, Kathy, Vandana, Ashley, Reshma, Shiny, Julia, Tina, Shirani, Daniel, Nancy, Nesi, Sonali, Rashi, Deepti, Pooja, Vallaban, Jennifer F, Jonathan, Jennifer R, Geeta, Reeja, Reena.

Distinguished Thematic Programs

Navarasa – on 9 emotions in dance ‘96

Sakiye – on Indian women ’95

Unity ’94, Freedom ’93, Love ‘92

Distinguished Chief Guest s– to name a few: Indian Ambassador Lalit Singh, Veteran Actress Padmini Ramachandran, Adventist Leader Dr M. E. Cherian, Dance Exponent Chitra Visveswaran, House of Delegates Kumar Bharve, James Rosapepe, Senator Sarbanes, MNCPPC Carolyn Tate.

Exclusive dance programs filmed for TV cable channels in Montgomery, Prince Georges, Fairfax counties:

Aadal-Aadai – on Indian attire ’93

Eyarkai – dance in Nature         ’92

Glimpse of Indian Dance ’88

Indian Lifestyle by the Beach ’87

Several Individual awards – to name a few…

IDEA Solo Dance Festival         ’99

UMBC Dance Competition ’93-’98

Penin Panchavatharam – benefit show by Edwina for John Hopkins Children’s Hospital – Performing Artist Award from Maryland State Arts Council – Governor’s citation + $1000 cash award ’96

Tina Mathew performs for Doordarshan       ’94

Tina Mathew selected by Ambassador to perform for National Symphony Orch.     ’95

Jonathan Rajkumar – awards from FeTNA, TNF, India Forum, Tamil University, UMBS, AIMFA, ‘99-01

 

Artistic Director/Guru: Rani David

 

Trained Hundreds of youngsters.

To date choreographed 377 dances of which 261 are classical dances.

Received Training under

Sharma in Pandanallur style –‘67

Shanmugasundaram in Tanjore style ‘71-73

Mythili Raghavan, Kalekshetra ‘73-78

Late Venkatachalapathy Kalekshetra ‘ 91

Nattuvangam Seetharama Sharma of Kalapeetham ‘91

Nattuvangam under Adyaar Lakshman ’94

 

 

 

Music - Subash Vinjamuri

Sanskrit - Maragatham Sunderesan