Glimpses from Tanvi’s Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performed her Bharatanatyam Arangetram in the Granville Arts Center in Garland, Texas on Aug. 21st, 2011. Her Arangetram was blessed by his Holiness and also by family members and friends.

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting ready before her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia performing her Bharatanatyam Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting felicitated by Guru Madhushri Sethuraman after her Arangetram

Tanvi Mongia getting felicitated by Guru Madhusri Sethuraman after her Arangetram

Tanvi getting emotional after her Arangetram. Mom(Nishi) kisses her with joy.

Tanvi getting emotional after her Arangetram. Mom(Nishi) kisses her with joy.

Tanvi enjoying with friends after her Arangetram as her childhood videos play in the background.

Tanvi enjoying with friends after her Arangetram as her childhood videos play in the background.

Kuchipudi Rangapravesham – A magical experience

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

I was very excited to shoot my very first Kuchipudi Rangapravesham two weeks back. Rangapravesham is equivalent to Arangetram in Kuchipudi (pronounced as ‘Koochipoodi’). I was told by several people about the speed of this dance, due to which I had prepared myself for a tough shoot.

It was Bhaskari’s Kuchipudi Rangapravesham. Bhaskari Burra started learning Kuchipudi when she was six, initially under Guru Smt. Padma Sonti, and later under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Srilatha Suri. Her Rangapravesham at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, TX on Sunday, July 31st, 2011 marked the culmination of twelve years of training. Ably accompanied by Guru Smt. Srilatha Suri, Kuchipudi Guru and nattuvanar Sri Kishore Mosalikanti and a live orchestra led by Smt. Neela Ramanuja, Bhaskari used a strong repertoire of items to dazzle the audience.

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Beyond the stylistic differences of Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam steps, there are certain types of dances that are unique to Kuchipudi. Specifically there is the Tarangam of Kuchipudi which is unique in that the dancer must dance upon a brass plate, placing the feet upon the raised edges.

Bhaskari moved the plate with such finesse and balance that I was left speechless.

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Kuchipudi, a blend of music and abhinaya, is Andhra Pradesh’s unique contribution to dance.

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra during her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari with her Guru's after the Rangapravesham

Bhaskari with her Guru's after the Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra getting ready before her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra getting ready before her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra getting ready before her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

Bhaskari Burra getting ready before her Kuchipudi Rangapravesham

All photos are copyrighted and cannot be copied without written permission by Uday Khambadkone

For a detailed reporting of Bhaskari’s performance, checkout PriyaLasya’s blog post “Rising Talent – Kuchipudi Rangapravesam”

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Thu Tran’s Pregnancy Story

I know Thu past couple of years when our photographs were exhibited at the Mountain View College representing North Lake College. So it was an absolute delight when she approached me to photograph her pregnancy. She wanted me to photograph her baby showers, yes showers as in her case there were going to be three. I suggested her, if we could do it as a story covering different phases including the child birth. She loved the idea and was immediately on board. Each one of us marked our calendar starting with the baby shower in March.

The 1st one was an Indian baby shower at the residence of JP Reddy who works with Hiep, Thu’s husband. It was an elaborate ceremony with Thu dressed up in a traditional Indian Shalwar Kameez looking beautiful.

The 2nd baby shower was organized by Thu’s office colleagues. It was a small affair with yummy Vietnamese food, lovely cup cakes baked by Thu’s sister who came specially from New York.

The last one was organized the very next day at her home in Valley Ranch with extended family. Only women and kids were at the event. You can only imagine what happens when so many women meet in one place;)It was a lot of FUN!

It is different to set up and decorate a room for someone who is not even born yet:)Thats exactly what I was documenting. PJ(Hiep’s sister) and Thai(Hiep’s brother-in-law) along with their two beautiful daughters were helping Hiep and Thu decorate baby Tran’s room.

I really wanted to photograph Thu at her doctors office getting a sono, but it never happened due to schedule conflict. However I was on her emergency contact list when she would go into labor. Just like her hospital bag, I had my camera bag packed and ready to go. This was my 1st time being in the delivery room and I was nervous like hell. It is different when you don’t know what to expect and things are happening in “Real time”. You have the added responsibility of making those momentous shots. At the same time, I had to be discreet and maintain that privacy especially in their most vulnerable moments.

So when Hiep called me at 12:30am Tuesday night, I immediately rushed to Baylor Medical in Irving. Luckily for Thu, the delivery was smooth and quick and Vi Tran came into this world on June 8th @ 1:55 am weighing 6lbs 1 oz and 19in tall.

I am so grateful that Thu and Hiep allowed me to be part of their wonderful journey.

Anna-Karin Lukash - July 24, 2011 - 8:43 PM

Wow! Great pictures Uday. Especially like the ones of the delivery. /Anna-Karin

Prajna Rao Ullal - September 1, 2011 - 3:52 PM

Absolutely beautiful pictures Uday!!! I wish you were in VA! We would have got some portraits done for Janya.

Prajna

uday - September 1, 2011 - 4:38 PM

Thanks Prajna for those nice words. If I am travelling to VA in the near future will let you know.

Pranati Ahuja’s Arangetram – Not just another Arangetram

An extremely talented Pranati Ahuja performed her Bharata Natyam Arangetram on July 10th, 2011 at the Eisemann Center in Richardson, Texas. But it was not a regular Arangetram performance. She not only impressed everyone by her prowess on stage but her commitment to take this opportunity to ask for help, for a greater cause. She along with her little brother Mayank had setup a booth in the auditorium to ask the audiences to open their hearts and wallets to help the good cause of “Akshaya Patra”, an organization whose mission is to Eradicate Hunger and Promote Education One Child at a Time in India. All the money collected was donated to the Texas wing of Akshaya Patra. Both Pranati and her brother have been volunteering for this organization for the last 3 years. They were able to raise $1021.00 sufficient to feed and support about 33 kids for the entire school year.

Pranati learnt Bharata Natyam at the Arathi School of Dance first under the guidance of Guru Alpana Jacob and then taught by Guru Revathi Satyu. Pranati got a great compliment during the award ceremony from her Guru Revathi Satyu, “I have no doubt in my mind that whatever else Pranati chooses to do in her life, dance & music will be her FIRST love and she will connect to this art with her heart & soul! Pranati, I am so proud of you today!”.

Apart from her dancing skills she is good at singing, plays the Tabla and Harmonium, an Indian percussion instruments.

Pranati performing her Bharata Natyam Arangetram at Eisemann Center on July 10th, 2011

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