Chitra Visweswaran is a renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, famous for her highly successful Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts.
She has won several laurels throughout her career. On 8 December, at the inauguration of the 24th fine arts festival of Mudhra, she was honoured with Mudhra’s Award of Excellence, earning another feather to her cap.
Speaking to News Today she shared about her plans for this Margazhi season. Her academy has brought out its latest production called Skaandam. “We have a team of live musicians,” she says. “It is an ode to the Lord of Tiruchendur.”
She adds proudly that some of her students will also be giving solo performances. Her academy has brought out several initiatives over the years. “We conduct a class every Saturday that not just focuses on theory of Natyam but also our cultural history,” she says.
Her academy also gives short holidays for students to encourage them to attend as much performances as possible. Chitra voiced her suggestion on how sabhas can function more efficiently. “I feel that rather than pushing every major music fest to December and January, sabhas can bring out a plan to keep themselves busy throughout the year,” she says. ‘This will help them find more audiences and more artistes can perform.”
She adds that online streaming of performances will help senior citizens to watch their favorite artistes perform right from their homes. Chitra ends the conversation by offering tips to aspiring artistes.
“You become a holistic artiste only when you develop awareness and get sensitised to all cultural, art and literary forms. You must decide what you really want to do. There should be commitment and passion to your goals,” she says.
She says that the path to become an artiste is never easy. “It is not an easy life but the little flowers of success that blossom on your way is fulfilling,” she signs off.
Chitra and her dance company will be seen performing on 16 December at 6.30 pm in Infosys Hall, Ramakrishna Mission School in T Nagar.