Dancing queen

CLASSICAL dancer and Indian expatriate Prarthana Praveen has staged her first-ever solo public Bharatanatyam performance at the age of 16, a dream she nurtured from the tender age of nine.

Arangetram or dance debut symbolises a ‘graduation’ ceremony, making the student eligible to pursue the art as a career through teaching or accepting commissioned performances.

The event, which was graced by Parliament’s foreign affairs, defence and national security committee chairman MP Dr Hassan Bukhamas, and other important members of the community, was held at Ramee Grand Hotel and Spa, Seef. It featured eight solo acts by the grade 11 New Millennium School science stream student.

The 90-minute performance comprised eight acts, with breaks after the first three sets and then the next two – a difficult test, considering the physical effort and multiple attire changes, but the young talent was determined to take it to the end.

Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest Indian classical dance forms and is derived from bhavam (expression), ragam (music), talam (rhythm), and natyam (dance).

“This will always be an unforgettable milestone in my journey as a classical dancer,” the creative, who lives in Adliya with her parents Praveen Nambiar, Hilal Technology sales and operations director, and Ramanpreet Praveen, psychologist, author and film director, told GulfWeekly.

“The experience was a perfect blend of excitement, hard work, and personal growth,” she added.

“Of course, it wasn’t without its challenges – long rehearsals, nerves before the performance, and the pressure of getting every step perfect – but with the support of my teacher and the encouragement from my loved ones, I was able to overcome those hurdles and truly enjoy the moment.”

While Prarthana had been preparing for her big day since March this year, with daily practice sessions focusing on perfecting her technique, expression, and rhythm, she aspired to present her first solo performance more than two years ago. However, her dance teacher Hansul Ghani felt that she needed more time, according to mum Ramanpreet, better known as Preety.

“We were told she is ready to perform as part of a group, but we were very keen on a solo act. Well, the wait was worth it. We, as a family, are so proud of her achievement and have watched her work dedicatedly towards this goal.

“I want to offer a special mention to Prarthana’s dance teacher for training her and preparing her so well,” Preety noted, adding that she had always wanted to train in dance but couldn’t, making her daughter’s achievement all the more exciting for her.

Preety went on to narrate the first time she observed a spark for dance in Prarthana. They were halted at a traffic signal on the way to Prarthana’s school when the young talent saw a shooting star and said out loud, ‘one day I will become the best Bharatanatyam dancer in the world’. The rest, as they say, is ‘her’story.

“From a young age, I was drawn to the grace and storytelling of Bharatanatyam, and as I grew older, I began to appreciate the discipline and spirituality it offers,” the Bahrain-raised prodigy, who has an older brother Pranav, studying artificial intelligence and machine learning in Bangalore, India, explained.

“The sense of connection I feel when dancing, whether it’s with my own body, the music, or the audience, has kept me inspired to continue learning year after year.” 

While Prarthana is still savouring the memories from her performance, she is clear about the way forward.

“As I step into the New Year, my dance goals are centred on growth, consistency, and self-expression,” she said.

“I aim to refine my technique further by focusing on perfecting my footwork, posture and expressions. I also want to challenge myself by learning more advanced choreographies and exploring new styles of dance to broaden my horizons.

“Along with technical improvement, I hope to deepen my emotional connection to each performance, allowing my storytelling to resonate more with the audience,” she said.