Rani Bharatanatyam Maryland USA KNS Tamil Videos

This section is dedicated to RANI.

KALAIRANI NATYA SAALAI (KNS) – Bharatnatyam Institution -- Guru/Artistic Director for 23 years. www.ranidevi.com/kns.htm Trained in Thanjavur style by Guru Shanmagasundaram, in Kalekshetra style by Guru Mythili Raghavan, Nattuvangam by Gurus Seetharama Sharma and Adyar Lakshman. In ths 20 years, she has choreographed 300 classical pieces and staged her school in more than 800 performances.

Kalairani Natya Saalai (KNS) Inc. (1) Established 1984. Served Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission from 1987-1994. (2) Non-Profit Tax Exempt Status (3)Member of International Dance Council, Greece/France

First to bring Tamil Cinema to big screen and distribute throughout USA (1992-2000). When video piracy crept in, and Tamil Sangams had scanty attendance, she planned and legally brought the first movie to the theatres, Roja and screened it in Maryland. She then explored other cities, sent students and screened them here and there and developed San Jose, Chicago, Detroit, etc. Her concerned well-wishers and video distributors called her crazy, but soon became local screeners; Indian store owners also began screening movies. Profit-making was not her intention – it was only Service to Thamizh Makkal to the 40+ cities in USA. Like Rome wasn’t built in one day, a lot of hard work, tension, and $$ losses went into it. Experimenting in cities like Colorado, Kansas, Richmond, etc. swallowed thousands of dollars. Driving in the snow, carrying huge boxes, staying up all night sending out flyers (before email age) was all possible because of her two sons. Her niece, Priya, helped screen in the West for sometime. When the movie ‘VIP’ got lost by FEDEX and incurred a great loss, when the screeners she developed undercut her in the name of business, when her $$ loss was in the thousands beyond recovery, when the whole thing became too commercial, she gracefully withdrew. A saga in memory!
Arangetrams www.ranidevi.com/Sishyas.htm 43 Graduates (equivalent to Arangetram) of which 15 have completed Arangetrams traditionally.
Bharatanatyam to Christian themes. Several dance tours in the past ten years: Check this website: www.ranidevi.com/Christian.htm Globally KNS is one of the very few dance institutions where dances are not biased to a particular religion. Bharatnatyam is based on Hindu mythology. KNS teaches all the traditional items related to Hinduism. After 10 years of its establishment, KNS began a series of dances based on Christian themes. The first concert was called YESU YESU YESU - just like Krishna-Krishna-Krishna -- where Christ was portrayed as a child, as a friend and as a lord. More than 60 such classical pieces have been choreographed and staged several times. Unique choreography: En Athumavae Psalms 103, Dasaniyamaha on the Ten Commandments, Kanngalai Yeruduppaen on Psalms 121 using Dhristibedha, Beattitudes, etc. etc.
.Senior students performed with world-renowned dancer and National Award Winner Shobana for IDEA -- Nov. 2001 Shobanaji arrived that Saturday night and taught an entire Tillana to the KNS Sishyas (Arangetram completed students). They practiced again the next (Sunday) morning and performed with her that afternoon!
Mahayatra on the traditions and life-styles of India, April 2006
The Jungle Book Rudyard Kipling’s classic was presented in Bharatanatya style. November 2004
Dance program involving other cultures such as Greek, Egyptian, etc. July 2000
Dance performances in a theme park, Adventure World. 1995-1998.
Danced on the road/float and moving vehicle. Won acclaimed awards. July 4^th parades. 1993, 1986.
Taught Bharatanatyam to Poorna Rajagopalan from Gallaudet University. And what's different about that? Poorna is hearing impaired. Poorna performed Tillana at the KNS Annual. 1993-95.
Staged men, mother-daughter teams in various programs.

v American Ladies did a Tamil folk dance (Malligai Manase) after a crash course in a Fitness Center

v Engineers (men and women) who have never wiggled their feet to music were trained several times, yearly, to perform on stage for their office International Festival. (Vallore, Saajan, Humma Humma, Bichua, etc. etc.)

v Three Mothers (not dancers) were staged together with their daughters. (Ennadi Aachi) Concept: Guru Rani. Three sets of Mother-daughter on cultural issue: Dressing – wearing Jeans vs Indian dress; Long hair vs short; Dating.

v At a week-end convention, Guru Rani picked up 8 girls who knew dancing, taught them a new folk dance over night, and staged them the next day.

v Influenced by male dancers in Tamil films, taught a group of young boys (4-6 years old) to perform a Masala Mix from Chandrababu to Prabhudeva/Vijay/Lawrence styles.

v Indian Dance Aerobics for Women!

· Social Project in India: 'Kalaakshram' -- Vittalapuram, Tamil Nadu. This is still under construction. .

· Collection of 6K Tamil Video. www.ranidevi.com/tamilcinema.htm Videos from 1930s to present, a collection you cannot find anywhere in India or Malaysia or UK.

· Dance tapes you cannot get elsewhere. www.ranidevi.com/dancetapes.htm From her vast video tape collection, there were a number of rare dance footage, which is something that simply cannot be found anywhere in the world. Day and night she worked on these and put them out for only dance lovers.

· Cable Television Producer ‘It’s a Dancing World’ a series of television programs produced for Cable channels, 1988-1996. Using KNS dancers, choreographed, directed, produced and telecasted ‘A Glimpse of India’ ‘Indian Lifestyle by the Beach’ ‘Aadal-Aadai’ on Indian attire ‘Eyarkai’ on dances in nature. Presently: Instructional DVD for Bharatanatyam beginners.

· Proficient in computer software. Worked for SDA organizations (13 yrs), World Bank, Law Firms(part-time), INTELSAT (18 yrs) in various key positions. Experience in websites, editing, DVDs, etc.

Awards click here to view a few

Valued Intros on stage: *Rani can make even the Monument dance *Rani is a slave to art

Namaskar

-- those who shaped me, taught me, inspired me -- to you my jenmanthara (life time) 'Nanri - Namaste' and if possible – a paadha-pranam!

ß Albana & Pastor S. Thomas who gave me life; a sacrificial mother who encouraged dance – bought music albums even when we had no proper food. à Swithin & Sumithrin, my two kanmanis: the only two greatest men in my life; not only did they tag along with me from programs to studios -- they danced for me, criticized me, challenged me and still stand as Two Pillars – I couldn’t ask for more…

Mani(Ansuya) akka and Kanchana akka, my neighbors in Bangalore: from age 2-15 these two were my world. They introduced me to dance and cinema. At age 6 gave me the opportunity to dance for world renowned Guru who trained The Travancore Sisters.

ß Dr. M. E. Cherian, my College President, who not only gave Christians an Indian identity but uplifted Indian culture, encouraged my dancing skills, and inaugurated Kalairani Natya Saalai. à Smt. Chengappa, College Professor, who taught me whatever she knew.

Picture not available: Guru Shanmugasundaram of Kombakonam who taught me and led me to Arangetram -- in the Tanjore style at Sasikala Mandram, Pondicherry.

ß Smt. Mythili Raghavan, direct disciple of Rukmini Arundale, coached me in the Kalekshetra style. 1973-77.

à Prof. Seetharama Sharma who taught me Nattuvangam when I enrolled in the first batch when he began KALAPEETHAM in Chennai, India. 1991. He also introduced me to Guru late Venkatachalapathy, his brother-in-law who taught me a few items.

ß Nattuvangam under Guru Adyar Lakshman, Yogaville. 1994

ßShobana the greatest dancer of our times who has inspired me in recent years. She conducted workshops for KNS. What a great Guru! She taught a Tillana overnight and performed with my Sishyas for the IDEA Festival, 2001. She shared her musicians and gave us a prestigious platform at Jocelyn’s Arangetram, Nov. 2003

ARTICLES

The Guru – The Art (from the recent Arangetram brochure of Jocelyn Watson)
The Guru’s background (from the brochure of Shirani’s arangetram – first Christian arangetram)
The art of Christianizing (article for IDEA dance festival brochure)
Christian Items
Christian Programs

Taj Mahal at each arangetram there is something innovative in the second segment of the recital. KNS and Rani's choreography is known for Christian themes but here's a sample of a wider range. Taj Mahal and the story behind it was portrayed in Rashi's arangetram.

We praise you Rani some compliments are not easily forgotten. To those who believe in me, I bow my head in gratitude. The best compliment I got was Dr. Sridhar's at Bharathiyarin Navarasangal in 1986 -- he introduced me as 'slave to art'. Another compliment came from the community when I had men do the boat dance and staged actual mother-daughter for a cultural dance 'she has the ability of making the Washington monument dance'. I got this 'kavithai' (poem) in mail after one of KNS programs.
Why Bharatanatyam KNS is one of the few dance academies that publishes a newsletter NATYACHAKKRA that gives information on KNS and dance. On the second page is a column where Rani has started a series 'Why Bharatanatyam'. In the fast paced USA why should a person choose such a complex dance style, such an intensive art form?

ALBUM

what you taught me .. I imparted … may your blessings ever be…