Odissi Sandhya Dance by Vrindarani. Vrindavan, November 2, 2014 Vrindavan is home for the Russian Veronica, rechristened Vrindarani, who is devoted to Odissi and Lord Krishna. Born in St. Petersburg, the cultural capital of Russia, Vrinda literally started walking and dancing simultaneously when she was just two years old. Her parents, both connoisseurs of Indian culture and ISKCON devotees, could soon realize that the child was born to dance and thus took her to an Indian dance teacher in their city who taught Bharatanatyam. “My mother had once seen the video of an Odissi dance recital and she was so captivated by the beauty of the dance style that she always wanted me to learn Odissi. And thus I was sent to India when I was six and I have been learning and performing Odissi since then,” revealed Vrinda who is being trained under the Vrindavan-based Odissi dancer couple Pratap Narayan and Kunjalata. Her devotion for dance was so intense that she did not like to go back to her family and friends in Russia and made India her home. “Vrindavan is my home now. I have Krishna and Odissi here. Once I went to Russia but I felt as if I was foreigner in the country of my birth,” said Vrinda who did her schooling through correspondence course from Russia. Did she ever miss the fun that the children experience at schools and with friends? “I dance, paint and prepare garlands for the temple every day. I am too happy with such a life of discipline, devotion and dedication that would make me a dancer,” pat came her answer. “Of course, my parents have been very liberal and understanding. They never restrict me to experience anything but I do not do anything that I should not do. I even watch old Hindi movies to know how dance is being used in it”, content Vrinda maintained. “Dance is not merely a means for livelihood for me. It is an offering to the Lord through which I aspire to experience divinity. In fact, dance in India originated as a spiritual service and I believe in it. I do not worry much over my future and enjoy every moment of present life in dancing,” said a confident Vrinda who also teaches Odissi to juniors at Venunad Kala Kendra in Vrindavan. thehindu/features/friday-review/dance/devout-dancer/article484934.ece Photos by Ananta Vrindavan.
Posted on: Wed, 26 Nov 2014 14:02:10 +0000
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