Natya Sankalpaa readies for its 100th arangetram

Urmila Sathyanarayanan’s vibrant Bharata Natyam performances strike an instant connect with audiences, her output as teacher and choreographer over the last two decades further reflecting her finesse. Her dance school, Natya Sankalpaa, is all set to present its 100th arangetram on Saturday evening. This will be followed by a special dance presentation by all 100 dancers who have completed their Arangetram at this dance school. 

“We really didn’t keep count,” says the dancer, with characteristic self-forgetfulness. “Rotary Club was going to honour me and asked how many arangetrams I had completed — and then we took a count — and were so excited! I decided to invite all the 100 dancers and celebrate the special occasion with them.” 

The idea has been a year in the planning as Urmila’s dancers are based all over the world. “We informed them, then put an item together, choreographed it and shared it with them through videos online. Many of the dancers who will be performing haven’t danced in years, have even given it up and when they came in, they were worried that they wouldn’t be able to pick it up. But these were the very dancers who picked it up the fastest,” she adds. 

It has been most gratifying for Urmila to hear of her students “getting recognition or when they acknowledge the work that has been carried out by the school. Just to see them grow and spread their wings in dance as well as in their personal lives is the biggest gift,” says the proud teacher.

The special evening will be dedicated to Urmila’s gurus, the late Padmashri KN Dandhayuthapani Pillai and Kalaimamani KJ Sarasa, “who made me the artiste I am and helped me carry forward this legacy,” she says. “Almost all dancers have, at some point, helped their teachers take class. Both roles require commitment and hard work, have their ups and downs and go hand in hand.”