Dance recital reflects a girl's rite of passage
By Shelly Schweizer Contributing Writer

PHOTO/COURTESY OF MEENA Akshaya Krishnaswamy, 16, of Shrewsbury, recently had her American solo debut. She has studied Bharata Natyam, an ancient form of Indian dance, for the past seven years.

Shrewsbury - Recently, Akshaya Krishnaswamy celebrated a Sweet 16 of sorts. Unlike the outrageous celebrations shown on MTV, this aff air did not begin with a performance by a major label rap star nor end with the keys to a shiny new sports car.

Instead, Krishnaswamy had a dance recital at Ashland High School, where she made her American debut.

For the past seven years, Krishnaswamy, a junior at Shrewsbury High School, has studied an ancient form of dance called Bharata Natyam, which originated in southern India 2,000 years ago.

"I had seen my dance teacher, Guru Sridevi Ajai Thirumalai, dance at the temple in Ashland and I was blown away. It was so intricate. She's an amazing dancer. I was so mesmerized, I knew I wanted to learn it," Krishnaswamy said. "It's become a really big part of my life. It's not just an extracurricular activity. It means much more to me. It's given me a connection to Indian culture and it's kept me in touch with my roots."

While Bharata Natyam has existed for two centuries, there's been resurgence in interest in the genre in modern times.

"It's an unbroken tradition. Hindu mythology is an integral part of the art form," she aid. "All of the different dances portray diff erent Hindu myths. It involves a lot of expressional dance as well as pure dance, which involves very intricate foot work and hand gestures."

Bharata Natyam dancers wear brightly colored, elaborate silk costumes to add to the drama of the performance. There's a special focus on eye makeup, since eye movement and expression are used to convey the meaning of the dance.

Born in Bombay, India, Krishnaswamy emigrated here with her family when she was 2. She and her family have lived in Shrewsbury since 1996.

Krishnaswamy's recital at Ashland High School, in which she performed "Nrityopasana," was her American solo debut and a rite of passage.

"Usually when a dancer has acquired a certain repertoire, they are given a debut performance as an introduction into the world of dance," Krishnaswamy explained.

She performed 10 solo dances during the threehour program. Afterward, Krishnaswamy's invited guests - family, friends and teachers - celebrated her performance at a dinner hosted by her parents.

Krishnaswamy said Bharata Natyam has had a major effect on her life. She's formed close friendships with other dancers and has learned a lot about herself. She's even had the chance to travel to India, where she performed as a soloist this summer.

"Dance teaches you a lot more than just the art form," she said. "I've learned so much from my teacher about discipline, perseverance and determination. It teaches you a lot about yourself and other things too. Dancing is just amazing. You feel something you didn't know you can feel and that you can portray in the dance. When I dance I forget about everything else.

"Dance is an art form that conveys emotions and feelings like no spoken language can."