Ranjani Murthy enthralled her audience for an hour and a half at East Tennessee State University in a benefit for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund.
JOHNSON CITY, TN -- Ranjani Murthy, an accomplished local dancer, gave a Bharathanatyam and Kuchupudi dance recital on Saturday, April 24, 2010.
Ranjani enthralled her audience for an hour and a half at East Tennessee State University in a benefit for the Haiti Earthquake Relief Fund. The performance raised approximately $1,385.00.
Using her compelling eyes, Ranjani portrayed a multitude of emotions in her Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi pieces, which were a delight to watch. Her footwork was sharply etched in the Kuchupudi piece, which requires good laya and strong footwork. Her competence was tangible in her timing, grace and postures throughout the performance. Each item was distinct in treatment and brought artist's creativity to the fore.
The clarity of Ranjani's dance speaks of the excellent grounding she has had under her teachers. Ranjani is a fine blend of talent, hard work and commitment that is so rare among girls of East Indian origin who are born and brought up in the United States.
The dance choreography in Bharatha Natyam by Sandhya Sree in Kuchipudi, Bhavani Murthy and Ranjani herself was superb.
The live orchestra, which enhanced the program, also deserves individual mention. They included flutist Aditya Sarvesh, Veena player Priya Chandrasekaran and two vocalists, Geetha Navanithan and Mridangist Srinath Bala.
About the reviewer: Rathna Rao is a Bharatha Natyam teacher and dancer from Knoxville, Tenn.
