By Suchitra Sairam

Simhaavalokanam – the lion’s backward look.

The look back to leap forward.

Observing lions, they take a few steps, then pause to look around. They take a moment to gauge the path taken.

Is it wise to continue? Is course correction required?

Gazing backward introspectively, assessing the path traveled, prepares the lion to leap forward.

At Kala Vandanam, we use this through lenses of…

🙏 Gratitude

😞 Mourn Losses

✨ Empowerment

✅ Lessons Learned

📈 Recognize Growth

🧱 Building on a Foundation

🎉 Celebrate Accomplishments

👎🏽 Acknowledge Disappointments

💡 Thoughts, Ideas and Actions to Repeat (and Avoid)

In the moment, it’s easy to miss reflection (and celebration!). But looking backward, we can’t help but see how far we’ve traveled.

 Aside from our year-round Bharatanatyam, nattuvangam and konnakkol classes at the studio for over 50 students:

January

Arudra Darsanam offering at HSMN

Performance at Landmark Center’s “Urban Expedition”, in collaboration with IAM

February

Launch of Education Videos for The Ordway Education – Bharatanatyam and Konnakkol

March

Elementary School Residency – in collaboration with East Side Arts Council

April

Elementary School Residency

St. Paul Art Crawl – workshop

Konnakkol masterclass (private event)

May

Elementary School Residency

Launch of “Singing Surya Dreams to Dance”

Dance Informance – Dakota County Libraries

Student performances for “Swaravedika” at HSMN

Minnesota Dance Festival performances by company dancers and apprentices

“Singing Surya Dreams to Dance” book reading at St. Paul Saints “Reading Tree” – CHS Field

June

Featured in Woodbury Magazine

Dance Informance – Camp Masala

Dance Informance – Dakota County Libraries

Bharatanatyam Salangai Pooja of Mira Jayant

Bharatanatyam Salangai Pooja of Amithy Sharma

Bharatanatyam Salangai Pooja of Dhriti Rayadurgam

“Grand Guru” – MC and “Singing Surya Dreams to Dance” book reading for Geetanjali Dance School (NY, NY)

July

Residency for ArtStart’s “Passage to India”

Bharatanatyam Salangai Pooja of Diya Satish

Dance Informance – Dakota County Libraries

August

Residency for Classical Ballet Academy / Ballet Minnesota

IndiaFest by India Association of Minnesota – featured performance by company dancers and apprentices

September

Elementary School Residency

October

School book reading and dance lab

Konnakkol masterclass (private event)

Natya Sadhana – annual student concert on Vijayadasami day

Vijayadasami – “Singing Surya Dreams to Dance” book reading for Arpana Dance Company (Irvine, CA)

December

School book reading and dance lab

Plus multiple #natyamnaatak and #trikalathursday posts shared with our community and online over the entire year. (check out our blog and YouTube channel)

Thank you! The support for our creative and teaching work gives us so much momentum and motivation for the years ahead.

We look forward to sharing with you in 2026 (and our 25^th anniversary in 2027!)