Electrifying dance recital by students of ... - Asian Media USA

By: Asian Media USA (02/11/2012) 

Electrifying dance recital by students of Kalapadma Academy 

Chicago, IL: Kalapadma Dance Academy Chicago celebrated their 17th Annual day Event with students and 

their families, friends and prominent leaders of our community on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Niles West 

High School Auditorium, 5701 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL . Students of Kalapadma, ranging in ages from 3 to 50 

yrs, adorned in colorful costumes, dazzled the audience of about 600 art lovers of Greater Chicago land area. It 

was 3 hours of pure entertainment that consisted of Indian classical as well as folk, Gujarati and Hindi Bhajans, 

Bollywood, tribal and fusion dances which were presented by more than 105 students. 

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Asian Media USA © 

Chicago, IL: Kalapadma Dance Academy Chicago celebrated their 17th Annual day Event with students and 

their families, friends and prominent leaders of our community on Saturday, February 11, 2012 in Niles West 

High School Auditorium, 5701 Oakton Street, Skokie, IL . Students of Kalapadma, ranging in ages from 3 to 50 

yrs, adorned in colorful costumes, dazzled the audience of about 600 art lovers of Greater Chicago land area. It 

was 3 hours of pure entertainment that consisted of Indian classical as well as folk, Gujarati and Hindi Bhajans, 

Bollywood, tribal and fusion dances which were presented by more than 105 students. Such a grand show was 

made available to the audience at no cost. 

Dr. Jayashree Raju was the Chief guest. Many other dignitaries and VIPs who graced the show were Mr. 

Narendra Patel, president and CEO of MedStar Labs, his wife Mrs. Sumitra Patel, Mr. and Mrs. Dixit, Beena 

Patel, Mr. and Mrs. Om and Usha Kamaria, Mr. Rohit Joshi, Mr. Raja Krishnamoorthy, and many other 

community leaders and business leaders. The event marked the sheer celebration of Indian heritage, culture, 

dance and music. The students, the Artistic Director, Ruth Varghese, the President, Santosh Varghese, and all 

those who were involved in the presentation of the show deserve esteem. 

Surprisingly, young Chief guest, Dr. Jayashree Raju and her husband Mr. Ravinder Raju, were instrumental in 

helping Kalapadma establish its roots in Chicago about 18 years ago. Also, Dr. Jayashree Raju, was a medical 

intern at that time and she helped emcee the first annual show of Kalapadma at the Taft high School Auditorium 

in 1993. 

The event started at 3:30 pm with a Welcome speech by Mr. Santosh Varghese which was followed by Mr. Raja 

Krishnamoorthi's speech. Lamp Lightning ceremony was performed by Dr. Jayashree Raju, Mr. Narendra Patel 

and his wife Mrs. Sumitra Patel, Beena Patel, Mr. And Mrs. Om and Usha Kamaria, Mr. Santosh Varghese, 

Sachi Patel, Shivani Thakker, Hiteshshree Patel and Trisha Modi (students who performed their "Arangetram) 

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Kalapadma Dance Academy students dressed in colorful costumes and gorgeous make up, presented a beautiful 

medley of about 18 dances. The program opened with "Pushpanjali and Ganesh Vandana " in rag Andolika, Tal 

Tishratriputa and rag.. Jog and Tal... Adi respectively. The show concluded with "Om Shanti", a prayer for 

peace, followed by a patriotic number "Bharat ko ek Salam". 

Mr. Santosh Varghese, the President of Kalapadma Chicago, was the Emcee for the evening. Welcoming the 

gathering, he thanked the invited chief guest, student families, friends, media and prominent leader of our 

community. In between the introduction to each dance items, Mr. Varghese narrated the story of how Kalapadma 

was founded. His interesting story about Kalapadma and how it is connected to an internationally famous 

institution for classical arts, "Kalakshetra" was very fascinating. Santosh Varghese traced the history of 

Kalapadma Dance Academy which was opened by the late Dr. Shankardayal Sharma, former President of India 

in Bhopal. Varanasi and Chicago branches were opened later. The main spirit behind the academy was Shankar 

Hombal, a disciple of Rukmini Devi Arundale of internationally renowned Kalakshetra of Chennai. He is also 

the father of Ruth Varghese. His story enlightened the audience about the value of a rich and ancient tradition of 

our country that is often taken for granted by our community because of the lack of awareness. He made the case 

for preservation and propagation of all the traditional art forms of India to the audience in a convincing manner. 

The concluding item of Kalapadma was “Aisa Des Hai Mera” which brought patriotic flavor to the show. The 

dancers dressed in the national flag colors, brought the audience to their feet. About a hundred children ranging 

from 4 years to 17 years dazzled the audience and kept them glued to their seats for 3 hours. 

Ruth Varghese is the artistic director of Kalapadma Dance Academy , Chicago . She is not only a versatile 

classical dancer but an innovative dance teacher and a choreographer. Ruth had her early training under her 

father Guru Shri Shankar Hombal. She had her advanced training in Bharatnatyam at the internationally famed 

academy for classical art, Kalakshetra, Chennai. Ruth Varghese’s deep knowledge of the Indian classical 

Bharatanatyam and literary aspect of Sanskrit was evident when she delivered a demonstration lecture through 

the recitation of various slokas and simultaneously she displayed intricate Mudras or physical gestures while her 

students followed her in unison. It was a great education for the audience who were able to understand how the 

Indian dance forms were expressed through the movement of fingers, palms, hands, feet, legs, waist, neck, eyes 

and head. The narration and explanation of each dance sequence by Santosh Varghese, and the choreography by 

Ruth Varghese were outstanding. 

Suresh Bodiwala, chairman of Asian Media USA had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Santosh Varghese, the 

President of Kalapadma, about his perspective of their 17th Annual day celebration. He replied that, “We need 

the help and support of the parents to shape up their children in learning the Indian classical dance forms. We lay 

the foundation for their personality and character. The students must utilize and put to use the knowledge they 

acquire at Kalapadma Dance Academy . We teach the students various aspects of the dance and music and make 

them embrace the values of life. We teach them how to enjoy the unity in diversity through dance. We need the 

help of parents and community leaders in our effort to train these children. This celebration is also meant to 

show to the parents about what we teach at Kalapadma Dance Academy". 

Audience comments for today's program was "An observation worth noticing is that Kalapadma dance academy, 

with its innovative Choreography and experimentation within the framework of classical dance is making the 

complex art of Bharatnatyam more accessible and interesting". 

The students who performed their "Arangetram" last year are Sachi Patel, Shivani Thakker, Hiteshshree Patel 

and Trisha Modi. They met the challenge of Arangetram with determination, strength and Total confidence. 

The performance items were: 

I. Shlokam 

2. Pushpanjali - Ganeshvandana 

3. Jatiswaram 

4.Bhajan ( Mai Poojarin) 

5. Shabdam 

6. Bho Shambho 

7. Devotional 

8. Madhurashtakam 

9. Bhajan (Choti Choti Gaya) 

10. Peacock dance 

11. Tillana 

12. Bhajan (Prabhji ) 

13. Devotional 

14. Kirtanam 

15. Bhajan (Payoji Maine ) 

16. Thillana 

17. Om Shanti 

18. Patriotic (Aisa Des Hai Mera ) 

19. Patriotic (Bharat Ko Ek Salam 

) 

20. Mangalam 

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About Kalapadma Bharatnatyam Dance Academy 

Dr. Shankar Dayal Sharma was not the president of India when he inaugurated Kalapadma in 1960. He was 

Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh at that time. Later in the 90's he Became President of India. "It was 

founded by Guru Shri Shankar Hombal and Smt. Vishalakshi Johri, the sister of well known dancer and the 

founder of internationally acclaimed institution for classical arts, Kalakshetra, where Guru Hombal studied 

dance. Kalapadma Chicago is run under the Tutilage of Smt. Ruth Varghese. daughter of Shri. Hombal. 

Santhosh or Ruth Varghese, 2498 E Church Street, Desplaines, IL 60016 

Phone: (847) 390 6104 / Email: Santosh Varghese ; 

Photographs and Press release by: Asian Media USA 

Suresh Bodiwala 

Chairman 

Asian Media USA 

Bus: (847) 679-8583 

Fax: (847) 679-5336 

Cell: (847)420-4789 

sbodiwala@sbcglobal.net 

www.asianmediausa.com 

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Electrifying dance recital by students of ... - Asian Media USA

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