Blog and News
A place to exchange ideas, reflections, and thoughts
A place to exchange ideas, reflections, and thoughts
Kala Vandanam is proud to be a part of Minnesota Dance Festival 2024, presented by Ballet Minnesota, and looks forward to sharing the stage with many wonderful Minnesota dance groups. […]
Kala Vandanam is proud to be a part of Minnesota Dance Festival 2024, presented by Ballet Minnesota, and looks forward to sharing the stage with many wonderful Minnesota dance groups. […]
#natyamnaatak – Accountability Hits Too Close to Home
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamSometimes, my students’ younger siblings are my best allies.
One of my pre-teen students arrived at the studio for group class, clearly in a foul mood.
I watched closely, and let her settle in. We often start with sharing news before beginning our warm up for class. This gives students a chance to share what’s on their minds, and for me to learn a little about what’s going on with them in their lives.
The grumpy student’s outburst was unusual. This student is usually quite cheerful, and rarely loses her cool. Her younger sister was about 5 at the time, and hadn’t yet started learning dance.
#natyamnaatak – “I’m Going to Tell on You!”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra Sairam2023 Retrospective – A Look Back to Leap Ahead
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Suchitra Sairam
There is a wonderful Sanskrit phrase “simha avalokanam.” The translation is plain, the meaning is profound. It translates to “the lion’s backward look.”
And why is it profound?
Gazing backward introspectively, assessing the path traveled, prepares the lion to leap forward.
This intention opens the path forward with:
As we prepare to leap forward into 2024, we take a meaningful look back. Thank you for journeying with us!
#natyamnaatak – “Why Don’t We Have Class?”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamI recently took a weekend off for wedding anniversary travel, and caught a lot of flack from some students.
#natyamnaatak #dancehumor #nobreaksforteachers
#natyamnaatak – “Stage Anxiety (Not to the Max)”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamIt’s Not a Teacher’s Job to Teach. It is a Student’s Job to Learn.
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Suchitra Sairam
On one hand, he was destined for musical greatness as the son and prime disciple of 20th century tabla legend Ustad Alla Rakha.
On the other hand, his greatness comes from being an exemplary student.
Zakir-ji says, “A student must inspire a teacher to teach.” This, coming from a man who trained under his father’s watchful eye from the time he was 7 years old. Yet, he would also practice and practice, “waiting to see if I would get any attention from The Man.”
The attention came when he took lessons given to him, and he embellished or enhanced it further.
What did this inspire from his father and guru? The next idea or phrase, adding another twist, angle, point of view and level of difficulty. This led to the next level and layer of growth and exploration by the student.
And this growth cycle would continue endlessly.
It’s in our control to take a cupful, a bucketful or a truckload from that river. Or we can keep walking alongside the river.
It’s easy to complain about bad teachers, bosses or mentors. But are we, first and foremost, good students, employees or mentees?
#natyamnaatak – “APOLOGIES, APOLOGIES…”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamOften, parents apologize to me on behalf of their children.
Most often, it’s about:
What’s more hilarious (and sometimes alarming!) are my students apologizing to me about their parents.