My usual walking path to the old location of the Kala Vandanam studio took me past a public park in downtown St. Paul. As usual, I’m walking down the street dressed in my practice saree – I’m not bothered, and generally no one gives me a second glance.
Until Halloween a few years ago.
From about 20 yards away, I hear…
“Hey, beautiful, how are things today?”
“Oh great,” I think to myself… “I can do without the catcalling today.”
“Is that your Halloween costume? GREAT COSTUME! Come trick or treat with me!”
Then his buddy standing next to him chimes in, “Dude, no! She dances, man! Belly dance or somethin’.”
Navaratri is here, and Kala Vandanam’s annual Natya Sadhana celebration on Vijayadasami day is just a few days away… and the 20th time we’ll be celebrating together!
The final prep can be tense for some students, and occasionally for the teacher; but there is always amusement to be had.
Past questions at the final class before the program. (Where do they come up with this stuff?!?!?!)
“What do I wear?”
“What if my mom doesn’t know how to dress me up?”
“What if my dupatta falls off and I trip on it?”
“What if I forget the entire dance when we are ON STAGE?”
“What if I run into someone else and we both fall down?”
“What if I faint on stage because I’m hungry?”
“What happens if we get blinded by the lights and fall off the stage?”
“Can you make sure my mom sits somewhere where I can’t see her?”
“If you forget my name in the program, should I still dance?”
“Can we go first and get it over with?” followed immediately by “No, we should go in the MIDDLE so no one will remember our mistakes.”
“What happens if there is a fire alarm in the middle of the performance?”
And the best I’ve heard in all these years…
“Do you think we will be famous after this performance?”
Let’s see what they have in store this weekend.
#natyamnaatak
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/natyamnaatak_20220930_finalcountdown_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2022-09-30 18:46:142022-12-19 18:47:45#natyamnaatak - The Final Countdown
I usually have a lot of heart-to-heart chats with students as they are preparing for major milestone performances, and the 1st of such conversations usually happens before rehearsals even start.
I include warnings about a few things, such as:
“There are some days you will leave here not liking me very much.”
“As long as you come back, all will be fine.”
“I will nitpick you, but know that all of the nitpicking is with love.”
Fast forward a few months into rehearsals with one student…
Student has been getting nitpicked about a particular thing for several rehearsals in a row… each time there is progress, but of course Teacher dutifully follows by a more detailed nitpick.
Student, taking it all in stride and in good spirits, tells me deadpan… “Suchi akka, I finally got the whole “nitpick” warning. The more I dance and improve, the nits keep getting smaller, and your pick keeps getting pointier to get rid of them.”
It was an unseasonably sultry day in the Twin Cities (temp 97F, felt like 100F), and our non-air conditioned studio started to feel a wee bit warm, by late afternoon.
Young students, who just started learning a few months ago, came in for their class. There was clearly only one topic of conversation.
Student 1 – “Suchi akka, do you know how hot it is?”
Student 2 – “It is SO hot, and I’m SO sweaty!”
Student 3 – “I think it’s 100 degrees, but it feels like a million degrees!”
Teacher – “It is very hot outside today, so it’s very important that we drink a lot of water.”
Student 4 – “But we’re already so sweaty, if we drink more water, we will just sweat more!”
Teacher – “Well, we have started class yet, so we are going to be sweating even more soon! And it’s important to replace all of the water you are sweating out. Let’s get started, ok?”
(Fast forward 1 minute into our warm up and exercises.)
Student 5 – “Suchi akka, are you sure we really need a warm up today? We’re already SO HOT.”
Student 1 – “Yeah, see, I’m sweating here.” (points to armpit)
Student 2 – “I’m sweating here!” (points to head)
Student 3 – “I think I am sweating inside my nose.”
Teacher – “Yes. But sweating a lot is one of the best things when you dance. You will feel SO good afterward!”
Student 4 – “I don’t believe you.”
Teacher – “You don’t yet, but I hope you will someday…”
#mindvoice “Reminder…. trust takes time, trust takes time”
#natyamnaatak
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/natyamnaatak_20220624_Idontbelieveyou_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2022-06-24 18:40:512022-12-19 18:42:43#natyamnaatak - "I don’t believe you."
There is no doubt that adults get a lot of things wrong. We’d like to think that we know more than kids, but they remind us daily that is a fallacy. My students have been an integral part of my book writing and publishing process. They have given GREAT inputs, and are so invested in it. But, they seem to have some trust issues. Aside from requiring weekly updates, there was this exchange not too long ago:
Student 1 – “Suchi akka, are you done with the book yet?” Teacher – “Well, it’s all written and edited, the illustrations are done, and now it’s just being prepared for printing.” Student 2 – “Did you write your author bio yet?” Teacher – “I did, it’s…” Student 1 – “Wait, it’s already done? How come we haven’t seen it?” Student 3 – “Yeah, you haven’t read it to us yet.” Teacher – “I didn’t know you wanted me to read it to you – you don’t want to be surprised?” Student 4 – “No, we want to know everything that is going to go into the book.” Student 5 – “We have to make sure you are doing a good job.” Student 2 – “Yeah, you need some child supervision.” Teacher – #mindvoice “Yeah, I probably do…”
P.S. They approved of my author bio. 😅 😂
#natyamnaatak
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/natyamnaatak_20220603_childsupervision_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2022-06-03 18:38:302022-12-19 18:40:10#natyamnaatak - "You Need Some Child Supervision…"
Sept 28th 2009 – was our family’s Day 1 at Kala Vandanam.
For the past 13 years, we’ve evolved and grown with Kala Vandanam. The culture embodies long term value over short term outcomes, obsession with learning and having fun, and puts commitment and being a good human being at the center of everything. Kala Vandanam fostered guided exploration, pursuit of ambitious goals, bold innovation, and dancing for the mere joy of dancing.
It’s about being constantly curious, nimble, and experimental. It’s about being brave enough to fail if it means that, by applying the lessons learnt, we can better surprise and delight ourselves in future.
Some of this might sound very familiar to those in the business world. I see this as Kala Vandanam’s “Day 1” mentality. There’s always something new, something to do, and a path for you. And plenty of #natyamnaatak moments to keep it fun and refreshing.
Devi Vijayakumar is a software product management professional and adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. She is an art lover, passionate and supportive Bharatanatyam mom, mother of twins, and one of the most meticulous, organized people you will ever meet.
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/blog_day1_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2022-06-02 11:49:302022-06-02 11:49:30Day 1 at Kala Vandanam
Students are learning hasta viniyoga (the usages for each hand gesture), and we arrive at mushtihasta (a fist), 9th in the series of single handed gestures. Usually, before we start with the codified usages, I ask students to use their imaginations and tell me what they think a hasta can be used for. This time, before we even get started, there is much excitement…
Student 1 – “Ooooh, this one is going to be so great.” Student 2 – “Yeah, I’ve been waiting for this one.” Teacher – #mindvoice “What the… ok, let’s just go with it.” Teacher – “Why are you all so excited about mushti hasta? Is it more special?” Student 1 – “Not more special – just that I think you can use it to show punching people.” Teacher – “Uhhhhh – that is definitely one way to use it. We show fighting with mushti hasta “yuddhabhaavepi” – but why do you want to start there?” Student 2 – “Well, I thought that I can use mushti hasta to punch my sister, and then I’m practicing dance at the same time.” Student 3 – “Yeah, I can use it to punch someone else too.” Teacher – “Why so much violence? Did you know mushti hasta is used to show steadiness “sthire” and strength or courage “daardhye” too?” Student 4 – “Suchi akka, those are kind of boring compared to punching someone.” Student 2 – “Am I learning this first, or my sister?” Student 5 – (to Student 2) “It doesn’t matter who learned it first, it matters who uses it first. And better.” Teacher – #mindvoice “So much for non-violence in art.” 😳
#natyamnaatak
https://kalavandanam.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/natyamnaatak_20220513_mushtihastaviniyoga_845x321.png321845Suchitra Sairam/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/logo.pngSuchitra Sairam2022-05-13 18:36:132022-12-19 18:38:02#natyamnaatak - So much for non-violence in art
#natyamnaatak – “Great Costume!”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamMy usual walking path to the old location of the Kala Vandanam studio took me past a public park in downtown St. Paul. As usual, I’m walking down the street dressed in my practice saree – I’m not bothered, and generally no one gives me a second glance.
Until Halloween a few years ago.
From about 20 yards away, I hear…
Uh, no. And no.
#natyamnaatak #halloween
#natyamnaatak – The Final Countdown
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamNavaratri is here, and Kala Vandanam’s annual Natya Sadhana celebration on Vijayadasami day is just a few days away… and the 20th time we’ll be celebrating together!
The final prep can be tense for some students, and occasionally for the teacher; but there is always amusement to be had.
Past questions at the final class before the program. (Where do they come up with this stuff?!?!?!)
And the best I’ve heard in all these years…
Let’s see what they have in store this weekend.
#natyamnaatak
#natyamnaatak – Nitpicking
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamI usually have a lot of heart-to-heart chats with students as they are preparing for major milestone performances, and the 1st of such conversations usually happens before rehearsals even start.
I include warnings about a few things, such as:
Fast forward a few months into rehearsals with one student…
Student has been getting nitpicked about a particular thing for several rehearsals in a row… each time there is progress, but of course Teacher dutifully follows by a more detailed nitpick.
Student, taking it all in stride and in good spirits, tells me deadpan… “Suchi akka, I finally got the whole “nitpick” warning. The more I dance and improve, the nits keep getting smaller, and your pick keeps getting pointier to get rid of them.”
#myworkisdone #natyamnaatak
#natyamnaatak – “I don’t believe you.”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamIt was an unseasonably sultry day in the Twin Cities (temp 97F, felt like 100F), and our non-air conditioned studio started to feel a wee bit warm, by late afternoon.
Young students, who just started learning a few months ago, came in for their class. There was clearly only one topic of conversation.
(Fast forward 1 minute into our warm up and exercises.)
#natyamnaatak
#natyamnaatak – “You Need Some Child Supervision…”
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamThere is no doubt that adults get a lot of things wrong. We’d like to think that we know more than kids, but they remind us daily that is a fallacy.
My students have been an integral part of my book writing and publishing process. They have given GREAT inputs, and are so invested in it. But, they seem to have some trust issues. Aside from requiring weekly updates, there was this exchange not too long ago:
P.S. They approved of my author bio. 😅 😂
#natyamnaatak
Day 1 at Kala Vandanam
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Devi Vijayakumar
Sept 28th 2009 – was our family’s Day 1 at Kala Vandanam.
For the past 13 years, we’ve evolved and grown with Kala Vandanam. The culture embodies long term value over short term outcomes, obsession with learning and having fun, and puts commitment and being a good human being at the center of everything. Kala Vandanam fostered guided exploration, pursuit of ambitious goals, bold innovation, and dancing for the mere joy of dancing.
It’s about being constantly curious, nimble, and experimental. It’s about being brave enough to fail if it means that, by applying the lessons learnt, we can better surprise and delight ourselves in future.
Some of this might sound very familiar to those in the business world. I see this as Kala Vandanam’s “Day 1” mentality. There’s always something new, something to do, and a path for you. And plenty of #natyamnaatak moments to keep it fun and refreshing.
Devi Vijayakumar is a software product management professional and adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota. She is an art lover, passionate and supportive Bharatanatyam mom, mother of twins, and one of the most meticulous, organized people you will ever meet.
#natyamnaatak – So much for non-violence in art
/in #natyamnaatak, Blog /by Suchitra SairamStudents are learning hasta viniyoga (the usages for each hand gesture), and we arrive at mushti hasta (a fist), 9th in the series of single handed gestures. Usually, before we start with the codified usages, I ask students to use their imaginations and tell me what they think a hasta can be used for. This time, before we even get started, there is much excitement…
#natyamnaatak