A Bharatanatyam rangapravesha/arangetram is a significant and traditional milestone in the life of a Bharatanatyam dancer that celebrates a dancer’s dedication, talent and years of training. The term “rangapravesha” comes from the Kannada/Telugu language and "arangetram" comes from the Tamil language which translates to "ascending the stage" or "debut on stage". The arangetram is seen as a rite of passage for a Bharatanatyam dancer. It signifies the dancer's readiness to perform professionally and is a proud moment for both the Guru (teacher) and the Shishya (dancer).

The rangapravesha is the result of several years of dedicated training in Bharatanatyam. It involves mastering intricate footwork(angha shudhi), hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions (abhinaya), and complex choreography. During the arangetram, the dancer performs a full-length well-rounded solo repertoire/margam that includes traditional pieces, such as the Alaripu, Jatiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam/Javali and Tillana. This performance showcases the dancer's proficiency in various aspects of Bharatanatyam, including both pure dance (nritta) and expressive storytelling (nritya). Accompanying the dancer is a live orchestra, which consists of carnatic musicians playing traditional South Indian instruments like the mridangam (drum), violin, flute, vocalists who sing the lyrics and the nattuvanar who provides rhythmic and melodic support.

THE PROCESS

At Laasya, it takes 6 months to prep for a rangapravesha, the dancer will undergo rigorous body conditioning, review of adavus & fine tuning of the dances. The last 4-6 weeks will include practices with the musicians along with 2 stage rehearsals. Volunteer committees are setup for all aspects of the rangapravesha so the parents can sit front & center to enjoy their daughter’s big day.

There is a lot of planning involved, the main aspects at a high level are…

1. 6 months - Book a performance hall 6 months in advance with a downpayment, 8 hrs (12-8pm) on the rangapravesha day ideally on a Saturday & 2 rehearsals ideally on a Tuesday & Thursday for 4 hrs (4-8pm) each day

2. 5 months - Place an order for 2 costumes - 1 pant & 1 skirt costume. Laasya will provide contact info for dance costume tailors in Bengaluru, India.

3. 5 months - Place an order for real temple jewelry, some variation of necklace, headset, waistbelt for the 2 costumes. Laasya will provide contact info for temple jewelers from India.

4. 4 months - Photosession & send out save the date

5. 3 months - Create RSVP website, book videographer, photographer, MC & chief guest

6. 2 months - Brochure design and printing, photo blowups

7. 2 months - Volunteer committees (backstage, sound, light, decor, food, welcome etc) meet & execute planned activities. RSVP closes

8. 1 month - practice sessions with musicians begin

9. 2 weeks - end to end rehearsal

10. 1 week - 2 stage rehearsals with light & sound and decor

THE MUSICIANS

We are blessed to have musicians in Calgary & Edmonton. Our ensemble includes…

Maha Narasimhan (Vocalist): Maha's musical journey exemplifies her unwavering passion and dedication to Carnatic music. Initially trained by her father, Sri Cuddalore Rajagopalan, she built a strong foundation rooted in the tradition of Sri Vina Varadayya. After moving to Calgary, Maha expanded her repertoire under the mentorship of Smt Kamala Kumar and pursued continuous learning with Dr. Ashwin Iyer. She actively participates in local cultural events, supports Bharatanatyam Arangetrams, and collaborates on dance productions, showcasing her versatility. As a board member of Alberta Arts and Cultural Talent Showcase (ACTS), Maha is committed to nurturing local talent, promoting Indian culture, and passing on her knowledge to future generations.

Mukund Shankar Krishnan (Violinist) journey highlights his dedication, talent, and commitment to music. Born in Vancouver and raised in Chennai, he began learning Carnatic music at age six and trained under Guru Sri Sikkil B. Balasubramaniam from age ten. After relocating to Edmonton in 2010, Mukund continued his training during visits to India and made a significant impact on the local music scene through performances and collaborations in Edmonton, Calgary, and Vancouver. His versatility shines through his involvement in Bharatanatyam dance productions with organizations like Alberta ACTS and the Vancouver International Dance Festival. Alongside his musical achievements, Mukund balances his professional career at National Oilwell Varco, exemplifying his dedication to both personal and artistic growth.

Adhitya Narayan (Mridangist), a fifth-generation musician, began learning Mridangam at 10 under his father and Guru, 'Mridanga Selvam' Kumbakonam Dr. N. Padmanaban. By 14, he earned recognition through Yuva Vani (All India Radio), CCRT and Sahitya Kala Parishad scholarships, and participation in the "layamadhura Mridangam Yagna" event under Grand Guru Thiruvarur Bakthavatsalam. A Bachelor of Technology graduate, Adhitya has performed with legends like Shri Sirkazhi G. Sivachidambaram and Shri Guitar Prasanna, while actively contributing to Canada’s music scene through festivals, research, and collaborations. His versatility spans Thala Vadya kutcheris, Jugal Bandhies, Jazz collaborations, and proficiency with instruments like Mridangam and Kanjira.