Incorporated Under the Society Act in BC
and a Registered Charitable Organization
Newsletter, December 2004
Dear members and friends,
We once again had a great artistic year at Mandala with many wonderful projects and realization.
The highlight was certainly the premiere of our Bharata Natyam video by jamie griffith’ Dancing for the Gods, and the performance of Nadopasana with dancers; Rena Boggaram, Ishwarya Chaitanya, Anusha Fernando, Priya Kumar, Paromita Naidu, Ashika Narayan and Sheri Pypper.
The event was held at the Vancouver Playhouse on June 13, 2004 and gathered a full house and a standing ovation. We had a great response to this unique presentation, and we thank all of you to have made the event so successful! We had many requests for more such events, and we will certainly keep that in mind in our future artistic agenda.
There was an article on Jai Govinda and Mandala in the Summer Issue of the National fashion magazine, I STYLE.
This year we also saw two of the Academy’s students complete their Arangetram. We once again congratulate the successful graduates Shawn Jagdeo and Kiruthika Rathanaswami. Both performed to a full capacity of audience and received heartwarming reviews from the rasikas.
Jai Govinda was the chief guest for the spellbinding Arangetram of Shruti Jayaraman. He spoke about the importance of the Varnam in a Bharata Natyam repertoire. We wish her a continuous successful career in dance.
In October, we held an intimate concert of Carnatic music in Jai Govinda’s studio with Sri Vidyasagar of Sa Pa Sa Vancouver and Sri Prabakar, an invited mirudangist from Edmonton. We thank them again sincerely for their enlighting and heartwarming presentation. It was greatly enjoyed by all present. We look forward to be able to work with them again in the near future.
Kiruthika and Ishwarya performed in Victoria on October 30, 2004, for the Victoria Hindu Parishad’s Diwali celebration. We thank our gracious hosts and their family for their kind hospitality, and Mr. Agarwal, organizer of the festivities, for the warm reception.
Ishwarya performed for our local Diwali celebrations at The Roundhouse Community Centre in Vancouver on November 14, 2004. Her picture made the cover of the West Coast section of the Vancouver Sun on the next day with the title, Dancing in the New Year.
Mandala was requested to present two dancers for a special publicity advertisement for Global Television that will be running throughout the year starting January 2005. Dancers Kiruthika Rathanaswami and Priya Kumar are featured.
We were also requested to present a short performance at the City Hall for the Mayor Mr. Larry W. Campbell and City Councilors. Ishwarya Chaitanya performed for them on Tuesday, November 30, 2004.
Up-coming Events
We are working on many exciting projects for the new year ahead, which already includes the performance of Lata Pada’sSampradaya with 6 dancers and 3 musicians from India. It will be presented on June 10 and 11th 2005 at The Roundhouse Community Centre. This will also be accompanied by a master class, lecture-demo to be held at the Dance Centre. We will keep you informed as the dates grow closer.
We also have scheduled the Arangetram of Julie Price, past chair of Mandala and a student of the Academy, for September 2005 at the Roundhouse Community Centre. Please stay tuned for more information in our oncoming Newsletters.
To fulfil a demand and facilitate the acceptance of new students, the Academy will restructure it’s classes in January 2005. We will keep you informed.
Jai Govinda has again been invited to teach a master Bharata Natyam class for On the move, a yearly initiative of the Dancers in Transition Resource Centre to be held at the Dance Centre.
He has also been invited to perform in Winnipeg in celebration of India School of Music and Dance’s 25th anniversary celebration in March 2005.
Other information
Jai Govinda remains on the board of directors of the Scotiabank Dance Centre and on its Artistic Advisory Committee.
Beginners classes started at the Dance Centre were a success, and created much enthusiasm! Beginners, intermediate and advance classes will begin at the Academy in January 2005. For information, kindly contact Jai Govinda at: 604-874-8985.
Anusha Fernando is no longer teaching at the Academy. We thank her for her work with us and wish her well in her continuing dance career and development.
John Scott is also no longer on our board of directors. We thank him for his service at Mandala.
Mandala requests every member to renew their yearly membership by paying the $20 yearly membership due. Everyone is also encouraged to bring other art lovers and register them as members in Mandala. Please obtain the new membership forms from any one of the Board of Directors of Mandala for this purpose.
Did you know that a donation to Mandala Arts and Culture is charitable? Everyone who donates to Mandala is given a receipt for tax purposes. Utilize this opportunity and donate generously!
We would like to extend our warm wishes of health, peace and joy to all of you for the upcoming New Year.
AUM TAT SAT.
Mandala Board.