Bharatanatyam By Vani Ganapathy: Events in Hyderabad

REVIEW FOR BHARATANATYAM BY VANI GANAPATHY

She's been a Miss India, but more people know her as a Bharatanatyam dancer. That perhaps says it all for what's going to be the center of attraction here.

The Times Hyderabad Festival is back this year with 9 days of music and art. The festival will see some renowned musicians, dancers and singers, like Ustad Amjad Ali Khan on the inaugural day, Sonu Nigam on 1st April, and Vani Ganapathy, Ghulam Ali Khan and Ehsan Bharti Ghungroo Wale on 6th April. There are also a fashion show by Vinita Pittie and Neeta Lulla on 7th April, and renowned plays Dance Like A Man by Mahesh Dattani on 7th April and The Vagina Monologues by Mahabanoo Mody Kotwal on 8th April. In addition, there will be carnivals at Eat Street on 31st April and at Hyderabad Central on 7th & 8th April, and cooking classes at Taj Krishna, Novotel, ITC Kakatiya, Mainland China, Taj Banjara and Touch from 2nd to 6th April.

Today, the 7th day, Vani Ganapati, former Miss India and one of the most glamorous women in India, will present a Bharatanatyam recital, at Chowmohalla Palace. A dancer, interior designer and glamorous society hostess, Ganapathy has evolved into a woman of tremendous substance. She is one of the foremost exponents of Bharatanatyam today, and has merited the attention of discerning critics and art lovers for her chaste rendering of the art.

She began her studies in dance under T A Rajalakshmi in Calcutta and later under Late Guru Kuppiah Pillai, Late Guru Govindraj Pillai, Guru Mahalingam Pillai and Guru K Kalyanasundaram. Vani has performed extensively in all major festivals and performing centres in India including at the Music Academy - Chennai, the Sangeet Natak Academy - New Delhi, the National Centre for Performing Arts - Mumbai, the Soorya Festival - Trivandrum, the Nishagandhi Festival - Trivandrum, and the Doverlane Music and Dance Festival - Calcutta.

Vani Ganapathy established Sanchari, a premier insititution of Bharatanatyam, in Bangalore. Her foreign tours have taken her to all parts of the world including Australia, France, Germany, China, UK, Japan and Singapore. She also danced for the 40th anniversary celebrations of Indo-Japan diplomatic relations in Japan. She has been recognized as a Raj Bhavan Artiste by the Governor of Maharashtra, and has also danced in honor of their majesties the King and Queen of Nepal.

The entry to the concert is by invitations, available at The Times Of India office, Planet M and Walden outlets. For further details, please contact 2335-5335.