On March 8th, 2025, senior Angela Johny, performed a series of dances in the Little Theater that was extraordinarily important to her family, her audience, and her adulthood.
Angela danced a collection of songs that each represented an element of coming of age in Indian culture.
The dance references Indian gods and the seasons, which represents Angela’s transition into adulthood.
Angela has been rehearsing and practicing ever since she was four years old in order to properly prepare for a completely solo performance lasting nearly two hours called Bharatanatyam Arangetram.
The dance was very tedious with little breaks and a completely memorized routine that began to be planned in June of 2024, where stamina, memorization, facial expressions, posture, and footwork were all starting to be perfected.
Angela said, “This dance makes me so proud of myself and all the work I have dedicated to this performance.”
This dance is traditionally performed to signify the literal, “ascending the stage,” or coming into the working world.
Within the 2 hour long performance, 7 stages called Margam are performed throughout dance called Pushpanjali, Alarippu, Jatiswaram, Shabdam, Varam, Padam, and Tillan which all signify different aspects of nature and movement.
According to legend, it was created by Lord Brahma at the request of Lord Indra and was performed to other gods as a form of entertainment.
However, this is the religious angle of the dances that the performer felt less of a passion for.
Angela said, “Although I cannot connect to the religious aspect of Bharatanatyam, I have come to appreciate the culture I am a part of. It has really been an honor to be able to learn how to embody all these songs, techniques, and stories.”
Throughout the night Angela had three separate costume that ranged from a jade green to a bright pink, and lastly to a wonderfully vibrant orange.
Her garments were traditional to Indian culture, including a blouse, pallu, and hip cover.
The entire night was extraordinarily impressive with every detailed move made by Angela.
There was a clear sense of drive and passion that proved her hard work and dedication was to be paid off, as Angela was the second in her family to perform such a sequence of tedious dances.
At the end of her performance, she thanked her audience with Samosas and a beautiful thank you speech given by her sister and mother as well as her wonderful dance instructor Mrs. Roajani Nayak.
It was an honor to be invited to such a life altering ceremony.
