LAASYADARPANA NATYAMBALAM Aqualily,Mahindra World City Chengelpet-Chennai
O body swayed to music, O brightening glance,
How can we know the dancer from the dance? ....WB.Yeats
WELCOME TO LAASYADARPANA NATYAMBALAM
VISION
"Sahitya kala viheenaha sakshat pashuhu I
pucha vishana heenaha II"
MAN WITHOUT LITERATURE AND ART IS EXACTLY LIKE A COW
WITHOUT ITS TAIL AND HORNS.
Going by the above sloka,every human has the need to learn and imbibe art and literature. Hence , to learn the art the only criterion is, thirst for knowledge, physical willingness towards hard work, undying passion to and respect for the art.
Art knows no disintegrations or discriminations and hence through LAASYADARPANA we reach out to the common public & portray the art as a language & literature , rather than something meant only for the people of class & connoisseurs of arts or a certain strata of society.
That being the basic reason why we have consciously opened our portal at Mahindra World City at the outskirts of Chennai.The place being an amalgamation of rural, urban and cosmos - chaos. Making it practically possible for us to take the art forward where there is aridity and hence provide it with inclusivity.
The soul aim of LAASYADARPANA , therefore is to inculcate the Classical arts as a way of life and not just as a performing art. We consider this a SADHANA, A PASSION and endorse the same.
ABOUT THE GURU AND DIRECTOR Smt .JEEVA NARAYANAN
Guru Smt Jeeva Narayanan is the creator and Director of LAASYADARPANA. Having Been initiated in the Field of Bharathanatyam first in Vazhuvoor and later in the Kalamandalam style of the art, she went on to do an intensive study of the art and made it her passion there on.Being educated through out in Delhi, she went on to learn the art from many Gurus,always giving more importance to the education and learning part of the art than the performance. Graduating from IIM(Bangalore) she was fortunate to work with the cart man of India Padma Vibhushan Prof.N.S.Ramaswamy the founder Director of IIM (B) during his project "The modernization of slaughterhouses" in the early 8.Possibly through these experiences and more, she developed a passion to work for the under privileged and went on to receive the title of 'Bal maitryi' from Nehru Bal Samiti at the hands of the then prime minister Late Smt Indira Gandhi for spreading Art & education among the lower strata and marganilized communities in the slums of Delhi ,by not just providing them art but education and and occupation ,single handedly .Having taken an early VRS she started her own school for Bharathanatyam in Delhi in the name of NATYALAYAM training her disciples including her daughter Lavanya. After many years of hard work in Delhi with training students to treat the art as a passion a Sadhana & not as a mode of fame, she took the decision to move base in Chengelpet and settle in Mahindra World City,where she saw the aridity of Art & culture . Here she,along with her daughter and senior disciple created LAASYADARPANA.
ABOUT THE GURU AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR:GURU Dr. LAVANYA IYER
Dr.Lavanya Iyer, also known as Lavanya Iyer word sculptor, in the field of writing , is a seasoned artist in the field of Bharatanatyam.She is the daughter & disciple of Guru Smt Jeeva Narayanan .She started her tutelage under her mother at the age of 3 and started performing at an early age .She was awarded the title of Kala shri from the 'Nehru Bal Samiti ' a renowned cultural Sabha in Delhi.By the age of 11 she got press reviews in Indian Express & Sun magazine by great critics like Vasantha Iyer, V.V.Prasad for The Indian Express etc, appreciating her perfection & matured dancing skills.Under the able guidance of her Guru, Lavanya went on to receive the Senior talent scholarship from the Government ,Ministry Of Culture . Lavanya has conducted & directed many workshops for the Delhi Govt , specifically for the under privileged strata via Sahitya Kala Parishad of Ministry of Culture, following her Guru's footsteps. She has also given numerous performances in respected Sabhas within & outside the country ,receiving rave reviews for the same.She has been repeatedly invited by the Delhi Doordarshan to talk about her early teaching skills as well as her research subject regarding Classical dance. Lavanya is a graded Doordarshan Artist and was recently chosen to represent her field among stalwarts like Vijay Sethupathi from the Film industry and Dr.Narmada and Smt.Gayathri Girish to address the nation for Defence flag day on behalf of Podhigai Chennai Doordarshan.Lavanya is the youngest jurist empanelled in the selection committee of National School of Drama.
Lavanya who is of scholastic capacity, has been a gold medalist in the field of debates, poetry writing and quizzes on national and International politics ,She has also received awards atthe hands of President late Giani Zail Singh at the age of 6 competing with students aged 14 for National debate competitions & winning many quiz & poetry writing at inter school,interstate competitions and similar competitions held at Russian Culture Delhi. Dr.Lavanya is an English Literature scholar from Delhi University. She worked as a professor in the field of English Literature for Delhi University , till she decided to follow her passion of Art and writing. Anyhow she continues to be a research guide for literature art histiry especially pictoral analogy as well as for subjects related to English Literature, especially Modernist Literary movement and its corelations to Indian, Greek and Celtic mytholoy/theology/folklore.Dr. Lavanya is a known blogger , art critic and abstract writer and poet. Her work has been featured in many world class calssical art magazines like"Sruthi". Chapters written by her are featured as part of National School of Drama educational chapter in their yearly editions,under ministry of culture.Her columns can be found in many local papers as well as in tabloids like"Vidura" a Press Institute of India Journal.She, along with heading certain other work spaces related to writing and literature and percussion mathematics is the Creative Director and chief trainer,at LAASYA DARPANA
Guru Smt.Jeeva Narayanan and Lavanya are both hopeful that Laasya their next in generation,A JUNIOR TALENT SCHOLARSHIP holder from central govt of India, Under Ministry of culture in the field of Bharatanatyam through training under her Grandmother and Guru Jeeva as well as her motherLavanya, a very talented and prodigious vocalist under Dr.Nithyashree Mhadevan and Dr.Gayathri Girish, along with being strong academically.while pursuing her ambition to study medical science, will also take on the art form with equal passion and make it a PARIWAR PARAMPAR.
OUR UNIQUE INFUSION OF LAASYAM AND THE STRENGTH BEHIND ITS GRAMMAR
"Kantaanyat Lambayat Geetam l
Hastana Artha Parakshayat ll
Chakshubhyam Darshayat Bhavom l
Padabhyam Tala Acherait ll
May the song be sustained in the throat,
Let the hands bring out the meaning,
May the glance of the eyes be full of expression,
And let the feet follow the rhythm to perfection.
LAASYADARPANA the name of the institution roughly translates to " Reflection of grace" or Mirror of grace and " The temple of Dance". Therefore the structure of tutelage here revolves around training the body towards geometric grace and taking the soul on the path of the divine discipline of the art.
LAASYA literally means grace, beauty brought about by grace and the inner ecstasy that partaking of this structured grace brings about... Grace , Beauty and ecstasy --- words co relating to any dance form like nothing else.
According to the ancient texts ,Nataraja is the God of dance and it is his Tandavam , the highly vigorous and masculine form that manifested the eternal energies. Thought it is understood that nothing births through the masculine without it's connection with the feminine energy , yet it is less known that an equally captivating form was performed by his beautiful consort Parvati in response to his Ananda Tandavam.... It was this dance of grace and beauty with strength that was called THE LAASYA , the feminine manifestation of energies.... Since there is always a balance of male and female in nature.
At LAASYADARPANA we strive to strike the same balance between male ,female or any gender responses to the art form of Bharathanatyam .
The theoretical fact remains that a woman exudes feminine grace and a man displays masculine grace and neither should be interlinked except in their mathematics .One is a response to the other and they permanently question each other.This is the learning LAASYA DARPANA is preserving and persevering to promote.
Beyond this, we at LAASYADARPANA , under the able tutelage of Guru Smt Jeeva Narayanan ( the director of Laasya Darpana) and Dr.Lavanya Iyer ( the creative director), broadcast the understanding of Rasanubhava, the idea which involves bhava & Rasa aspects not just in Literature /Sahityam but also in pure dance ie Nritta as well. We stringently adhere to the Margi tradition that manifests itself in its disciplined symmetric geometry, arithmetic and physical rigidity,. Nonetheless, the upkeep of Deshi traditions as per the age old art of Sadir that radiates grace via its fluidity, flow, high dramatics and ease is also part of our teaching techniques and composition inclusions.All this while retaining our pedagogy and the traditional margins of purist Bharathanatyam .
CONCEPTION, INCEPTION AND ASPIRATIONS OF LAASYADARPANA
LAASYADARPANA - BIRTH AND BANI
LAASYADARPANA is the brain child of Smt Jeeva Narayanan and her daughter and foremost disciple Dr.Lavanya lyer, who endorse style of Bharathanatyam which is created and crafted keeping The Laasya form of the art in mind. A style conceptualized with intense research and thoughtful approach and passionate dedication, amalgamating multiple schools of thoughts or multiple Bharatanatyam Bani in mind including Vazhuvoor, kalakshetra, Kalamandalam and certain aspects of BharataNrityam, taking the best structure from the vocabulary of each Bani.
LAASYADARPANA - FORESIGHT AND FOCUS
Our Gurus Smt. Jeeva Narayanan and Dr.Lavanya Iyer, both veteran scholars of Bharathanatyam as well as highly scholastic academically, founded this institution in MWC about in 2014 after studying the aridity for classicism in this area. The lack of Classicism was a smaller issue as compared to the infestation of mal practitioners, an art epidemic specific to this area, though common everywhere. A place which they chose j just for investment on their way to Kanchipuram from Delhi, became their new habitat and the abode of art in its true sense. It also became the focal point to start the eradication of malpractices through good value systemic tutelage.
LAASYADARPANA - FOUNDATION AND STRUCTURE
The plan of tutelage at LAASYADARPANA is based on keeping the art of Bharathanatyam in its true and pure form . To ensure that every student who comes into LAASYADARPANA gets a holistic understanding of what art is all about and why they are a class apart as soon as they become one with classicism.
The method of the Gurus at LAASYADARPANA,has been to broadcast true and pure classicism while taking special efforts into corrective measures for the resurrection of the lost posture of students worn out by attending classes of mal practitioners. This is our specialization.
LAASYADARPANA - PAST ROOT AND HISTORY
This venture, to work towards resurrecting manipulated art, was proposed and executed first in Delhi . Some 40 years of extremely successful tutoring in Vikas Puri at Snt. Jeeva Narayanan 's first dance baby NATYALAYAM. Post taking VRS from IIM BANGALORE she wishes to put her deep knowledge in Classicism to good use. The initial venture of Jeeva Narayanan was to promote culture among Delhi slums for which she was recognised by the late PM. Smt Indira Gandhi and awarded the title of " Bal Miytrei".
The intention of starting NATYALAYAM in Delhi was the desire to spend honest classicism where there is aridity and manipulation. The physical strategy and focus worked very successfully for 35 years.
Now the idea of LAASYADARPANA has been to bring the art of the land in its true form to that part of its birthing where it is hardly available in its artistic richness and factual beauty .
We have seen the same success here in MWC that we saw in Delhi and look forward to making the place rich in cultural resources pertaining to classicism.
LAASYADARPANA - AIMS AND AMBITIOUS
Since 2014 we have worked incessantly on bettering the bodies atht learn the art and working towards their souls. We have earned rave reviews in tabloids, received awards for being efficient Guru, received high recognition in govt agencies and places of Classicist patronage . Nevertheless, our bigger happiness is that where it takes a minimum of eight years to establish the art physically in the human body ,our students have earned the govt scholarships of Ministry of culture and have received best performer award via Madras Sabhas.
We hope to get the blessings of the divine to strive to do better and give better. We hope to teach the art in a holistic way , as a life discipline and a reason to rejoice and not just as an art meant for the podium.
We would love to have you join us in our venture if you too wish to learn the art in its purest form.
LAASYADARPANA - LOCATION AND WHEREABOUTS
LAASYADARPANA NATYAMBALAM The institution for Bharathanatyam , is situated in the green locale of MWC in the Chennai outskirts , at the lush villa residence of the Gurus.Classes are often conducted in the open air environment of the terrace overlooking looking the beautiful hills , lakes and temples surrounding MWC, amidst the secular sound of the temple chants and devotional songs played on the nadaswaram along with the Azan from nearby mosques. While the multiple birds from Vedantangal sanctuary as well the lush greens and the lake sides of MWC fly around and above the terrace, the students learn the Pancha Veda - The Natya Yoga - the sacred art of Bharathanatyam - akin to a thousand purification yagna.
Photo Gallery
CCRT NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP HOLDERS FROM LAASYADARPANA UNDER MINISTRY OF CULTURE
