#arangetram

Bharatanatyam

Dancer: Ambiga Krishnasamy
Photographer: Gabriela Bhaskar (2010)

This was shot as part of a pre-arangetram photoshoot. I love this unique set up and how different it is from most arangetram photoshoots. I first saw this picture a couple of years ago somewhere in cyberspace, but I didn’t post it because I didn’t know the credits. I’m so glad I finally found out the name of the dancer/photographer today through some internet stalkingresearch.

Happy #InternationalDanceDay. Here is Hema Ramaswamy performing bharata natyam, the traditional South Indian narrative dance form, at her arangetram, the formal public performance after years of study that often marks a coming of age. Hema is believed to be the first Indian American woman with Down syndrome to perform an arangetram. September 20, 2014.

#indiandiaspora #indianamerican #bharatanatyam #bharatanatyamdancer #arangetram #downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness #dance #tamil #newjersey (at Lincroft, New Jersey)