Commitment leads to the path of excellence

Venkat Raman – 
venkat@indiannewslink.co.nz

Sincerity of purpose always enables a person to seek orderliness in one’s affairs, which in turn creates commitment and passion, leading towards the path of achievements and loftier goals in life.

Practicing the art of Bharata Natyam is one such; there are those who desire to make it a career and those who aim to achieve proficiency in the first instance and thereafter consider future options.

Suzett Perry, who is set to present her Bharata Natyam Arangetram on October 22, 2016 is focused just on reaching that milestone.

There is a certain joy in doing things well and being focused on one project at a time; for it helps to channelise energies and succeed in the mission.

Post-Arangetram phase

Suzette does not wish to reflect on her Post-Arangetram life, for, such an advanced look is likely to create a state of emptiness – the absence of excitement, the need to visit the Guru for practices, more rehearsals at home, the poring over the programme in its minutest detail and most important of all, the anticipation of audience response.

“But I have a few other projects to pursue. Dance will always be there, but I also have a need to write and further develop a particular style of writing that seems to be my metier,” she said.

Vidal influence

American writer, novelist, playwright, politician the late Gore Vidal could be her ideal object of pursuit, since she could, like the late leader, “use love for in-depth researching and study into diverse, specialised topics to put a unique spin and distilling other truths on mainstream and non-mainstream socio-political issues.”

“I have spent years writing hundreds of pages of personal journals, and this stream-of-consciousness style of writing has allowed me to uncover personal truths about myself, other people, and the world around me. It is about going deep and finding truths, rather than superficial, generic, and clichéd interpretations,” she said.

Suzett also said that she has prepared a list of writing topics to develop post-Arangetram that she would like to explore and research so as to develop new thoughts and angles of perception around these topics.”

This Reporter is not only looking forward to watching her forthcoming Arangetram but also reading her works and following her chosen career.

The single-minded, one-job-at-a-time approach enables most people to reach a level of concentration that put them in pace with their tasks or projects, ensuring success and making them worthy of emulation.

Other Classical Dances

Suzett has written a lengthy article that covers a range of topics, including the challenges that she faced to become a dancer, her foray in to Ballet while at the University in the first instance, thence into Kathak (the why of it) and later how a knee-problem kept her away from Bharata Natyam for a length of time.

Her article is a testimonial to her focused approach and hence more of these in an ensuing edition.

Kalaichelvi (better known as Selvi) Uthayakumaran, Principal and Director of the Howick-based Narthana Aalayam always prepares her students well before accepting to conduct their Arangetram. Suzett would be no exception.

The forthcoming programme would comprise the usual items such as ‘Pushpanjali’ (Floral Tribute to Lord Nataraja, the Supreme Master of Dances), Alaripu Jateeswaram, Varnam, Padam, Thillana and Mangalam.

Selvi distinguishes her debutantes presenting Arangetram with the inclusion of a few elements, thereby adding to their individuality.

These could be ‘Ganesh Bhajan,’ praising Lord Ganesha, the Remover of All Obstacles; and ‘Shabdam-Sarasi,’ a number that would comprise pure dance and expressions (Abhinaya).  Lord Krishna would form the core theme of this dance item.

Photo Caption:

Suzett Perry