Do you remember what you were planning ahead when in class three? Here at K K Nagar, Chennai, an extraordinary girl has completed 110 Bharatanatyam performances at the age of eight.
Neerajha Balakrishnan is the daughter of Vanee Gayathri Bala and Balakrishnan. She is a class 3 student at a private school, Ramapuram. What made here get into dance? It is obviously the gene – her mother, a Bharatanatyam guru, who runs a dance school at K K Nagar.
“Neerajha’s first dance performance was when she was eight months old in 2010 – ‘Sambavami Yugae Yugae’ and ‘Dasavatharam’ dance ballet. Her solo dance was in 2012 and she has been performing on all stages till now – both in India and abroad. Some of the shows include Margazhi Utsav, all India dance festival, Adi Pooram festival at Srivilliputhur, Natarajar temple at Chidambaram and many temples in and around Chennai,” says her mother Vanee.
“Her arangetram was held on 28 October 2018 and it was her 100th stage performance,” she adds. Neerajha says, “My role model is my mother. Though, I have performed 110 dance shows till now, I want to perform along with my mother on stage.” To this her mother says it will happen soon.
The lass also wants to perform in all countries as she loves to travel. Asked about her ambition, the class three student says, “I want to become a dancer and also an IAS officer.”
Apart from winning various awards, Neerajha has made it to the Guinness Book of Records and Asian Book of Records.
“My daughter will appear for fourth grade exam in Bharatnatyam this Sunday, conducted by Bridge Academy of Fine Arts. There are eight grades. The exams will deal with both practical and theorical knowledge.
It will help her to know the nuances of Bharatanatyam,” says Vanee.
Neerajha resides at No 734, 59th Street, 10th Sector, K K Nagar. Ph: 98413 27333.