This Is My Arangetram

A message from the Co-Founder, in regards to Dandilyonn's dance show Elements. Buy your tickets today!

"The lights go out. The tablas start playing a familiar taal. I count in my head, “One, two, three, four,” and with it, I enter the stage. This is my arangetram! But, I am not performing a solo.

An arangetram, which literally means ‘ascending the stage,’ has almost a sense of elation in the minds of the Indian community. It’s a culmination of one’s commitment to dance with years of discipline. And for the parents, it’s a great satisfaction for the hours, energy, and money spent, finally ending in the child’s achievement of a solo.
My parents also secretly hoped I would do a solo as the landmark of the ten years I have spent dancing. But, as I approached sixteen, I got to thinking: what is the true meaning of an arangetram to me? Not only is it the culmination of what I have learnt, but how I have grown into the person that I am today. My love for dance, my passion for climate change awareness, my friends, and my community: I wanted it all to be a part of my event. And I wanted my partner, Ojaswee, who has been one of the steadiest parts of my life in dance and Dandilyonn to be right by my side. I wanted to ascend my stage with every aspect of me in it.

Just like any other Kathak or Bharatanatyam student, I have poured days and nights into making my show the best it could possibly be. Whether it be choreographing and practicing two different dances, organizing every miniscule detail of the event, writing blogs, marketing, walking store to store for sponsorships, applying for grants, presenting to total strangers… there isn’t a minute I don’t spend preparing for my arangetram. And I’ve learnt a lot from this experience too: how to work with other musicians as I tap into the world of becoming a choreographer, or how to talk to other people such as the meeting I had with my principal last year where I first pitched this idea. Elements has brought many emotions, tears, negotiations,  pounding hearts, anxiety, and yes fights with my mom, but everything will be absolutely worth it in the end. There will be no regrets when I will see the joy on my audience’s faces and hear their pledge of commitment to fight climate change with me.

Yes! This is my arangetram! And I cordially invite all of you this April 1st to join me!"

- Shreeya Indap