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| Sudha Peethambaran, Sri Sankara School of Dance, Kalady, Ernakulam |
Someone who had scored first class in M.Sc (zoology) forgoing all attempts to seek employment and instead starting a dance school in a rural setting like Kalady was not something which skeptics would accept easily. At least in the beginning. But their opinions and jeers were only like the cover of soil that the determined sapling will push aside to emerge into the world.
So too, Sudha Peethambaran started the Sri Sankara School of Dance started in 1993 in a rented building with 20 students. Today, there are 700 students and 10 teachers in this institution
To someone who loved dance since the age of 5, seeking employment elsewhere was never an option. Behind every successful woman, there is an understanding husband. In Sudha’s case, her husband Peethambaran was all support for starting a school of dance. So four months into their marriage, she was able to start the institution in a low key.
The value system has been laid rejecting market-oriented approach. While the school does not discourage students contesting in youth festivals etc, it does not encourage those who approach it with the sole purpose of winning a prize at such competitions.
The teachers of the school go to the rural areas nearby and teach. An innovation of the school is the independent accreditation council called SAAC.
Every year noted dancers come to assess the performance of the students. The students are called upon to perform at least five items in the Kacheri tradition before them. In addition there are theoretical exams too. Only those with deep knowledge and practice can hope to get the accreditation. On an average two or three students get it every year.
Every alternate year, the school organizes dance festival, where noted exponents perform. Performers like Padma Subrahmanyam, Bharati Sivaji etc have graced these functions.
Sudha dreams of studying Mohiniyattam more deeply and raising the institution to higher levels.
Courtesy:
Josy Thomas, Kanyaka, March 31, 2010
Contributed by: Administrator
