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Harini Indrakrishnan Shines at Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival
BY MAHADEV DESAI
Harini Indrakrishnan, a multi-talented fifteen year old sophomore from Woodward academy, Atlanta won the second place in the 15-18 Age Group category of Bharathanatyam Dance Competition at the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival in Cleveland, Ohio, held in April 2012. As an added reward, she has been invited to perform in Chennai, India during the 2012 music and dance winter season festival.
Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival is the premier forum for classical Carnatic music and Bharatanatyam in North America. It is the largest Indian classical music festival outside of India, with more than 8,000 attendees. Dancers from across the globe convene in Cleveland for this prestigious annual Bharathanatyam competition which is judged by prominent artists from India.
The level of performance and competition were of the highest caliber. The competition was intense and there were only very few things that differentiated the competitors.
Harini is a disciple of Smt. Subathra Sudarshan of Johns Creek, GA. She also has been regularly attending the Bharathanaatyam Gurukulam in Yogaville, VA and enjoys the privilege of learning directly under Natyaachaarya Sri V.P. Dhananjayan & Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan of Bharathakalanjali, Chennai, India and under Smt. Padmarani Rasiah Cantu, director of Fine Arts Society, Yogaville. Harini who has blossomed into a confident and proficient dancer at young age has played an integral part in the fundraisers/productions, like ‘Dayanidhi’, ‘Prana’, ‘Anjali’ and ‘Enchanted Snow White’, presented by her Guru Smt. Subathra Sudarshan.
Harini, a dedicated and passionate dancer is striving to extend her repertoire by playing violin and presently is a member of Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra. She is also a member of String Machine, Woodward academy’s elite orchestra ensemble.
She competes in math tournaments, participates in Model UN and is involved in many volunteer activities. Harini has taken part in her school’s ballet, jazz & modern dance and also has competed in Odyssey of the Mind, creative problem solving competition. Imbued with compassion, Harini strongly believes that art forms can be medium of communication and social activism and wishes to pursue one of her many dreams of helping those who are in need through dance. No wonder, she had dedicated her Bharathanatyam arangetram debut performance last year to Shepherd Center, a nonprofit hospital in Atlanta, Georgia specializing in medical treatment, research and rehabilitation for people with spinal cord and brain injuries.