Manju Chandran (Thane)
Learning Bharatnatyam from Guru Rajee Narayan – our Aunty – was a life experience. Aunty’s classes were not only about learning to dance but also about appreciating music, connecting with traditions and respecting elders. As we dipped into her treasure trove of knowledge and art, Aunty ensured that each of her students absorbed crucial life lessons on the way.
I started learning Bharatanatyam from Guru Rajee at the age of seven. Within a year, Nritya Geethanjali celebrated its Silver Jubilee and I got to be on stage to celebrate the momentous occasion. Five years later, I completed my Arangetram. Since then, I have been part of prominent productions such as Mahakavi Bharati (at NCPA), Adi Sankara (at Shanmukhananda Hall) and Devaki Tanaiyan, among other performances. As well as Bharatanatyam, I learnt Natya Shastra, Tala Shastra and Nattuvangam from Guru Rajee. I have been associated with Bharatanatyam and Nritya Geethanjali for more than 35 years now.
More recently, I was able to perform at the Margazhi Dance Festival and Natyanjali Festival in Mumbai, thanks to the guidance and encouragement of Jaishree Rao, Guru Rajee’s senior-most disciple. I continue to learn and practise Guru Rajee’s more intricate pieces with support of Jaishree, who is making dedicated efforts to popularise our Guru’s compositions and choreography among the new generation of dancers.
