Geethashankarandance

aum shree maatre namo namaha...

STAY TUNED!!

We are proud that GSD Performing Arts Studio will be in the Opening segment of RagaRang. Kathak dancers Lam Arunagiri and Sangametra Lam will perform Kathak on August 29th at the SOMA Auditorium.
Our pranams to Guru Arvinder Raina Singh.

Sunday 12th July Classes:

930am Solo Beginner Odissi Class
with Geetha Teacher
10am Drama & Storytelling with
Ghooi Ket
1130 Bharatanatyam for Children
Team 1 with Lethiadharshini Ravichandran
Team 2 with Lam Arunagiri &
Geetha teacher

3pm Kathak with Giri
430pm Winding down & closing

Saturday July 11th classes.

850am Prayer, mindful meditation
9am Surya Namaskar, asanas
930am Sthai revision, runthrough
Alarippu revision runthrough
Sankarabharanam Pallavi
runthrough
Shri Ramachandra bhajan
revision
12 nn Bollywood Class & setting of
- 2pm item for August 2nd show

3pm Winding down and closing.

Preparation for August 2nd show.

The deleted scene from the Tamil romance film '96' features Ram (Vijay Sethupathi) and Janu (Trisha) visiting the residence of legendary playback singer S. Janaki. During a late-night stroll, Ram takes photos of Janu outside the singer's house, which prompts S. Janaki to notice them from her car and graciously invite them inside. In a heartwarming conversation, Ram jokingly complains that Janu—who was named after the veteran artist—only performs S. Janaki's tracks, to which the singer beautifully advises her to sing songs by other artists as well. This pivotal four-minute sequence explains why Janu later surprises Ram by singing 'Yamunai Aatrile' (originally sung by K.S. Chithra) at his apartment, and it notable marks the final on-screen camera appearance of S. Janaki before her official retirement.S. Janaki, affectionately known as the "Nightingale of South India", was a towering figure in Indian cinema who left behind a staggering legacy of over 48,000 songs recorded across a career spanning six decades. Born on April 23, 1938, in Andhra Pradesh, she achieved unparalleled musical prominence despite having no formal training in classical music, captivating audiences with her exceptional voice modulation and emotional depth. She dominated the South Indian music landscape, recording predominantly in Telugu, Kannada, Tamil, and Malayalam, while forging iconic, generation-defining creative partnerships with composer Ilaiyaraaja and singer S.P. Balasubrahmanyam. Over her illustrious career, her vocal mastery earned her four National Film Awards and an extraordinary 33 State Film Awards. Following her official retirement from public life, she spent her final years in Mysuru, Karnataka, where she passed away peacefully at the age of 88 on July 11, 2026, following age-related health complications.

Hari Aum.
Guru Suryakala... was the Heart of ALL, in tonight's celebration and honouring Aradhana - Vande Guru Parampara, held at the Shantanand Auditorium, showcasing a 2 hour program.
12th July 2026
530pm - 730pm.
The 3 women Directors too. Guru Shrimathi Vatsala Sivadas, Guru Shrimathi Radha Shetty and Guru Shrimathi Malar Gunaratnam. Iron ladies, strong willed, and dedicated to serve their Gurus. It was a ceremonious event. 💕💐

I am so GLAD, my students accepted to attend, and paid their respects, offered their dakshina, flowers, a shawl, fruits, and get the gurus' blessings, and photos for memory-keepsake. This would have boosted their inspiration to dance Bharatanatyam henceforth!!
I too felt happy seeing Guru Suryakala after meeting her last with Ket and our children in her home in Chennai, in 2017.

The Story of Bharatanatyam's evolution in Malaysia, and through the TFA, on how Guru Shrimathi Vatsala & Radha Shetty after learning a few dances, brought Guru Suryakala to meet Swamiji in the 70s. The spiritual bond was struck.

Let's go back to the beginning, and truly it was a good, turn back for me too, to understand the history that was showcased through the narration by Shankar K, with an animated AI montage with visuals, photos from the archives. The lineage of a brilliant Male guru/nattuvanar, who passed on his knowledge and light, and it has served for this long through his dear, loyal sishya and now thousands dance his items.
There are actually so many people, alive or passed on, unmentioned that require this KUDOS too. 🌿💐 It took so much to get here. The history of painstaking efforts to record, maintain the quality recordings and produce it. 👏👏👏

This special bond we've shared with this dance guru, a woman, a vocalist and nattuvangust all in ONE, while being at the TFA. I was invited to teach Odissi by Swamiji - same story like Suryakala akka's, in 1992, and somehow, met akka and she was gracious, kind, and embraced Ket, me, Hariraam Tingyuan Lam. We were all Swamiji's family.
Then, while we lived in Chennai, Lam Arunagiri was born and Akka too was checking in on us.

I was lucky as I also learnt the Bhararanatyam items, akka had composed and taught, as long as I served - 18 years.

The history of the TFA and a magical, magnanimous, beautiful repertoire of the Guru KN Dandayuthapani Pillay!!
So lovely to hear, Ulagam pugazhum, Yaarukkum adangaatha neeli, Vachaspati Jatiswaram, Hindolam Thillana, endharo, etc, etc.
Akka, obviously is a rare gem & blessed was her timing and karma to meeting Swamiji. Swamiji infusing his Shlokas, made us get goosebumps. 🙏🏻💕

Tonight, meeting teachers from sister-centers, friends from the fraternity, Shiva family, and students... at a special event like this, enjoying the HONOURING, praying together, watching the repertoire danced by new and senior members/students, and relishing a meal at ALR, just has a meaningful outcome.

Simply heartwarming & loving.
Thank you.