Chandralekha Rasika Dance Academy
Chandrakala (Mahalakshmi Rathinavel) watches as her ardent lover, Sashikumara (Nikitha Sesha), stages a grand dance drama, conceived, choreographed and presented especially for her. Before her unfolds the divine story of Lord Shiva and Sati – an epic tale of devotion, sacrifice and eternal love.Chandralekha Rasika Dance Academy
As she watches the magnificent performance with her family, Chandrakala becomes completely immersed in the story. The music, the emotion and the divine energy in the air begin to stir something dormant within her. She no longer feels like Chandrakala; instead, she becomes the legendary Chandralekha, reliving a story from a distant past life. Overcome by this awakening, she breaks free from her family and rushes to dance with her lover.
It is a compelling dramatic moment, made all the more powerful by the intensity of Chandrakala’s transformation. Her inner turmoil is palpable, drawing the audience fully into her emotional awakening.
This was one of the defining moments in Chandralekha, a dance drama staged by the students and Guru of Rasika Dance Academy at Sydney’s Riverview Theatre on 1 August. The performance also marked a significant milestone for the academy – its 25th anniversary celebrations. Chandralekha Rasika Dance Academy
The sold-out theatre buzzed with enthusiasm and energy. Dancers of all ages took to the stage in a vibrant array of colourful costumes. Nearly a hundred performers participated in the production, with some of the group sequences featuring as many as 25 dancers at a time.
The centrepiece of the evening was the dance drama itself, a story that unfolded across two lifetimes. In the kingdom of Nagananda lived the celebrated dancer, Chandralekha. King Nagananda (Anusha Kumar) desired her, but Chandralekha’s heart belonged to Shashikantha (Sagarika). Unable to accept this, the king slew Shashikantha – a dramatic moment that held the audience spellbound.
Devastated by her lover’s death, Chandralekha cursed the kingdom to a future without rain or crops, before taking her own life. Two hundred years later, Chandrakala entered the story. Her debt-ridden family had pledged her to Nagaraja (Nandana Nithin), a man she did not love. When Chandrakala finally danced with her true love, Nagaraja conceded defeat and set her free. Her liberation, in turn, lifted the ancient curse on the land.
Tanishka Ramesh portrayed Sati and Parvathi, while Pavisha Thiagarajan took on the role of Swami.
The drama was brought to life effectively through pre-recorded dialogue and English narration, with the dances set to the pleasing music of composer Praveen D Rao. Particularly haunting was the piece in Raag Malkauns.
Choreographed by Guru Manjula Vishwanath, the production was strongly abhinaya-oriented, drawing on Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, Kathak and folk traditions. The variety was showcased to striking effect: one group executed graceful chakkars from Kathak, while Manjula, as Chandralekha, performed the distinctive Kuchipudi feat of dancing on a copper plate. Folk influences, meanwhile, enlivened the large ensemble sequences, many of which brought multiple groups of dancers together on stage. Chandralekha Rasika Dance Academy
Rasika at 25
Rasika Dance Academy was founded by Manjula Vishwanath 25 years ago with the aim of promoting and nurturing Bharatanatyam in Sydney.
As MC Samyuta Pillamarri observed, over that period Rasika has grown into “one of the premier institutions of Indian performing arts in Australia – a home where tradition breathes, where discipline meets devotion.”
Its record is impressive: more than 1,000 solo productions, over 50 full-length dance musicals and more than 50 arangetrams. Its contribution has extended well beyond the stage, with the academy raising more than $250,000 for charitable and community causes.
Beneficiaries have included Westmead Children’s Hospital, the Leukaemia Foundation, Northwest Disability Centre, Sri Venkateswara Temple in Helensburgh, OzIndCare, Aim for SAVA, Diabetes Australia, Randwick Children’s Hospital, Satguna Sanga Trust in Bangalore and Cancer Council Australia, among others. As Pillamarri aptly summed it up: “Twenty-five years of art. Twenty-five years of impact.”
Earlier that evening, before the dance drama, groups of students presented a selection of thillanas and padams, set to evocative ragas including Behag (Irakkam Varamal Ponadenna Karanam En Swami) and Dwijavanthi, the latter proving particularly impressive. It was also delightful to see two of the academy’s youngest dancers confidently sharing the stage with their older counterparts.
The evening had begun on a stirring note, with nearly 100 dancers assembled together on stage, bowing in tribute to their country, Australia.
The anniversary celebration also provided an opportunity for Rasika to acknowledge the people and organisations that had supported its journey over the years, including Indian Link. Representatives were honoured on the occasion, while several dignitaries, including local mayors, were among those in attendance.
Samyuta Pillamarri steered the evening admirably as MC, keeping a large and ambitious program moving smoothly.
Twenty-five years on, Rasika Dance Academy can look back with pride on a significant contribution to Sydney’s Indian performing arts landscape – and forward to the next chapter of its journey.
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