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. […]
Making a Sound
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Suchitra Sairam
As a layperson and a music fan, there is something exciting and romantic about the idea of going into the studio to “record an album.” After my experience recording the soundtrack for Kala Vandanam’s upcoming original production “Ritu – The Seasons,” I confirmed it is most certainly exciting; and there are some things that are definitely romantic about the process. But I also learned that a solid balance of preparation, clarity, flexibility, collaboration and trust are required to make it go smoothly and come out with a quality end product.
All of the magic happened at Resound India Studios in Chennai, India, with the exceptionally talented sound engineer Sai Shravanam at the helm. I am uncomfortable calling Sai a “sound engineer” because he is FAR more than that. For Ritu, I call him our “soundscape designer” – he brought the beautiful music composition of Jyothishmathi Sheejith and the score I created in collaboration with Jyothi together with the individual strengths and talents of eight different musicians together to create the soundtrack to Ritu. We were in Sai’s hands, and ears, as we brought what we had been working on together for months to life in the recording studio.
Jyothi had prepared such detailed notes for the melody instrumentalists to work from, what I learned was called a “fair copy.” The “fair copy” she prepared for our recording was 20 pages of A4 paper notation, front and back! Her preparation was fantastic, and is what made the process for the flutist, violinist and sitarist much more smooth than it would have been otherwise. While I know that all of the musicians who worked on this recording are top notch, it was still nothing sort of amazing for me to watch them basically sight-read and improvise on the fly and create such beautiful music in a half day or full day.
I am convinced that Sai heard the entire thing in his head LONG before I heard it come together. Watching him work with each layer of sound, starting with vocal and vocal percussion, then adding layers of percussion and melody, one by one, was like nerd heaven – perfect confluence of art, science and engineering. Watching the teamwork and collaboration between Sai and each musician was such a delight. It was clear that there is a level of trust between them that really opened up the possibilities for everyone to do their best work.
One of the most important lessons I learned from Sai during the process is one that I have tried to adapt in my dancing and choreography, but had not appreciated it’s importance in music – the ideas of giving “rest” and enjoying “silence.” There were times where I thought we would want to fill with more sound, more or different instruments, not have a gap in the sound, I could go on. But Sai reminded me of the importance of giving the audience’s ear some rest from a particular instrument, or from sound at all. This principle was so important in some of the choices we made in the studio. I am grateful for Sai’s investment in every aspect of the recording, and to each of musicians for sharing their wonderful musicianship for our project.
While I will enjoy listening to and dancing to the recording we created for Ritu – The Seasons for a long time, I won’t lie… I am already looking forward to the next creation and being in the recording studio again!
Kala Vandanam is grateful to the Knight Foundation and friends of Kala Vandanam for their support to create “Ritu – The Seasons”
Reflection on Dance and Yoga
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamBy Vaishalee Ballolla
I am a lifelong yoga and dance student. For many years, I approached yoga and dance very independently. It was only until the last few years, where I really started to appreciate the deep connection that exists between these 2 beautiful classical arts.
Almost exactly 2 years ago, I was at my annual spiritual yoga retreat and was meandering in the woods and here’s what I experienced (excerpt from my journal):
“I went to the woods thinking I was going to focus on the my olfactory sense, It started out wonderfully…Then something happened…the winds changed and I heard the wind rustle through the leaves. Something took over my whole being. I started dancing – classical Bharatanatyam style. Listening, walking, dancing with the music of Mother Nature. It was pouring out from every limb of my body. It went on through the entire woods – I had no concept of time and space. All I could hear is Mother Nature’s orchestra and my body responded with emotion and feeling. Aesthetic arrest.
Dancing in the woods
Mother Nature is playing
A tune filled with love.
My eyes flutter here and there
My fingers follow my glance
My heart pours out love.
Wind, trees, vines are my props
Birds, butterflies, dragonflies are my audience
A shy smile begins to form
My hips sway in melody
The story of my dance starts to unfold
My hands clench my heart
Time and space are non-existent
Dance, Movement, Emotion, Music envelop my being
Ham, Ham, Ham (bija mantra of the throat chakra where artistic ability is rooted)”
Since that retreat, I have started to weave my experiences together with yoga and dance. I use one to compliment the other art and enhance it further. I have started to understand the spiritual aspects of dance and have started to understand the beauty and music of yoga. It’s been quite an awakening for me and overall I enjoy each art at a totally different level now.
The principles of yoga help to ground my dance practice – including the aspect of being in the present now, being aware of my breath, how my physical body feels and being aware of my thoughts in my mind. These grounding principles are key to breaking habit patterns in my dance practice. Also, I have found that letting myself go and feel the emotion in my dance is much easier when I am practicing being here now.
I am filled with joy and contentment that I have been able to connect these two very important aspects of my life.
Vaishalee Ballolla is a long-time student of Bharatanatyam, and has been learning at Kala Vandanam since its inception in 2002. She is a lifelong student of yoga spirituality and wellness, and became a certified hatha yoga teacher from the Institute of Himalayan Tradition in 2007. She is the mother of three beautiful daughters who share her love of yoga and Bharatanatyam.
Reflections on art… and an Art Crawl
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamSomehow, Spring brings out the best in us – even those with seasonal allergies! And Spring 2016 St. Paul Art Crawl was a special experience, with the weather actually spring-like AND it being the 25th anniversary year of the St. Paul Art Crawl. Kala Vandanam shared Bharatanatyam with the Art Crawl audience in another atypical venue for the art – at Golden’s Lowertown – and what a great crowd! Such a cozy space, it made for a warm experience.
We had the lovely experience of having a whole set dedicated to family members dancing together, and sharing art together. Sisters, mothers and daughters shared the stage, and created family memories together through art. One of our touching memories is that this Art Crawl started just one day after the passing of international music icon and hometown hero Prince. Though you wouldn’t think our art forms had much to do with each other, we couldn’t help but try to make a connection. Thanks to the warm audience for indulging us in this small tribute to The Purple One.
I thought it best to leave it to Kala Vandanam students to share their thoughts on their Art Crawl experiences – and why not? It should be about far more than just practice and performance anyway, right?
“I really like practicing and dancing with Mummy, it was fun.” – Maya B.
“I was very scared when I got in line to go up on stage…. When I walked off the stage, I felt so happy and felt like I accomplished something big… It was like when you are on a rollercoaster and you are at teh very top and are about to go down. I feel like I want to do it again, but I also don’t want to. P.S. When is the next Art Crawl?” – Shridula A.
” I enjoyed seeing a dance from another studio, and seeing other dances from Kala Vandanam.” – Shriya B.
“I have been fortunate to have great experiences with all of the Art Crawls I’ve danced in, but this one was probably my favorite. I really enjoyed the atmosphere and the energy of dancing in the Golden’s Deli. Even though it was a cozy space, it seemed quite relaxed and chill. I danced Adidum Arasai with both my sister and some classmates. I really enjoyed dancing with them, and got to dance with some new people as well. I really liked how for one set, family members danced together. I thought it was a really fun idea and liked watching them perform. I am proud of Kala Vandanam as a whole on our performance that day, and I can’t wait for many more of these occasions:)” – Swetha G.
“It was my first time at the Spring art crawl, and it was a wonderful experience to share the dance form with family, friends and art lovers. I thoroughly enjoyed art crawl, and watching Suchi Akka’s tribute to Prince, was awe inspiring!” – Keerthi P.
Showing Up
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamThe night before the Minnesota 2016 caucuses, I attended a session in a “Voting Booth Chronicles” series facilitated by the Citizens’ League. It was a very informative session on the history of caucusing in Minnesota, the nuts and bolts of how a voter participates in a caucus, and how issues get their footing at the grass roots level through “resolutions” at a caucus. It was time well spent, I learned a lot about the process, and how voter turnout impacts each political party. Along those lines, one of the panelists shared a quote, “The world is run by those who show up,” (attribution unknown). Wow – THAT caught my attention; because it is true no matter what we are talking about, what we are doing.
It is a great reminder in our work lives, our personal lives, in our activities across the board – if you are engaged, if you participate, if your strive, if you show up… doesn’t it lead to something more, something better, something bigger?
My mind then quickly wandered to how this applies to my dance life (my thoughts ALWAYS seem to find their way to dance). There is often curiosity about how fast a student will progress, when will they learn a particular piece, when will they be ready for performance, the list goes on. I have to remind people that progress is in part natural talent, but in huge part attributed to practice. To showing up. To taking advantage of every opportunity to absorb, to listen, to observe, to learn. So if we really want to improve, to get better, to progress, to enjoy more… isn’t it to our advantage to “show up” to the best of our ability, every day, and at every opportunity? I loved this reminder to always “show up.”
Stretching
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamIt is the heart of winter in Minnesota, and I spend more time than usual stretching prior to practice, rehearsal or teaching class – just to take extra care during these cold months. But recently while I was stretching, my mind started wandering to, well, stretching. How many different ways we can stretch ourselves, and those around us?
Physically stretching can be uncomfortable, maybe even painful at times. But stretching ourselves in other ways can be equally uncomfortable and perhaps painful during the process – professionally, mentally, emotionally, spiritually, philosophically, the list goes on. But isn’t it through this discomfort that we give ourselves space to explore and grow? Our challenge zone, not our comfort zone, makes us better, stronger, and wiser.
I am grateful to those who help me stretch in different ways. I just performed as a guest artist in a variety show “Here Now Live” by my lovely and talented friend, Tara Weatherly (“La Tarara”) of Sendero Flamenco. I performed Bharatanatyam for the first time in a café (if you had asked me ten years ago, and I would have said it’s not a “suitable” venue for a classical art), and on an 8’ x 8’ stage (tight for a soloist, but impossible for a duet, right?). But yet there we were – and what an absolutely delightful evening it was! It was a privilege to have such a thoughtful, appreciative, intimate audience who took time to share their reflections and reactions one on one after the show. The tiny space was a challenge, but not insurmountable at all. This “stretch” proved to be such a satisfying and enriching experience for me.
Thanks, Tara, for helping me with this little stretch!
“Closing the Books” on 2015
/in Blog /by Suchitra SairamSomehow, 2015 has passed by, and we get to look ahead to the new book and wonderful story we write in 2016. But before moving on, perhaps it is helpful to borrow a page from the accounting world and “close the books” on 2015 first – taking the a moment to look at what we learned, what we spent, what we gained, what nourished us, what deprived us, what was accomplished, what wasn’t. And taking all of that reflection, processing it, adapting it, and then letting it go so we can build on it and move forward in 2016.
While it feels like a luxury to give ourselves a little stillness and quiet space to reflect for a moment, maybe it should be a necessity instead?
This reflection reveals to me what a wonderful and eventful year it has been at Kala Vandanam. There is still much to explore and get better at, but with all of the time and effort spent, I’m excited as I think about all that was gained.
What a bounty it has been! Wishing you all an incredible year ahead, as you open your own new book and start writing your story for 2016. Looking forward with much anticipation!
Vijayadasami – Celebrating Learning, Art and Life
/in Blog /by Kala VandanamIn some ways, Vijayadasami is like New Year’s Day – an opportunity to re-energize what we love to do, rededicate ourselves to a path of wisdom, and to start new things with humble hopes of success. It is a day to honor those who have guided and invested in our knowledge, learning and art, and to aim for knowledge over ignorance.
As I prepare for Kala Vandanam’s annual Natya Sadhana celebration, it is also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the journey of each student. While it is often difficult to find the excitement and joy in the struggle to learn something new as a student, observing this struggle (and how students work through it) is one of the most rewarding things about teaching. Seeing students improve and find satisfaction is the icing on the cake.
Our annual Natya Sadhana celebration is truly just that – a commitment to sadhana (practice) and a celebration of improvement during the past year of study. Some students are participating for the first time, some for the eighth time. My hope is that it always feel fresh and meaningful.
My gratitude to my natyaacharyas for all they have given (and continue to give) me so generously. Because of them, I have the joy of Bharatanatyam in my life. They have given me the gift of art, and the ongoing encouragement to continue my studies, and share the art to the best of my ability. The only thing I can do in return is to keep practicing the art with humility, and share what they have taught with integrity.
While it is very bittersweet this year to offer my Vijayadasami namaskarams in memory of Master, Narasimhachari Sir, who passed away in August 2015 – one year to the day that we lost my grand-guru, Sri Adyar K. Lakshman. I am grateful his guidance; his voice and his choreography will always be with me. Dear Master, your golden voice has left its earthly ties, but it will be with us always.
I am grateful to Kala Vandanam students and their families for sharing in this journey with me – There are some who have been with me on the entire journey, and others who have joined at different times along the way. Wishing all of students and families a wonderful Natya Sadhana performance today, and joyful learning in the year to come.