|     |
|
| |
 Nrityaitva 2025: A sacred splash of tradition in Canada- Bijoy Shivrame-mail: bijoyshivram@gmail.com Photos: Paras Parikh August 17, 2025 Destiny, like dance, has its own rhythm - sometimes measured, sometimes unexpected, yet always purposeful. The life of Rupal Patel is a testimony to this eternal choreography. From a gifted student in Ahmedabad to a torchbearer of Bharatanatyam in Canada, her journey is one of resilience, surrender and triumph. As a young girl, Rupal excelled in academics, much to the delight of her father, the respected mathematics teacher Amin Patel Saheb. Yet, destiny nudged her toward a different pursuit - the world of dance. Against her father's wishes, she enrolled at Mrinalini Sarabhai's Darpana Academy of Performing Arts, where she trained under the eminent Guru Patagudi S. Ramaswamy. While her father envisioned a life of academia, Rupal chose the timeless language of Bharatanatyam. Deeply rooted in tradition, she once wished to remain in Ahmedabad even after marriage. But once again destiny charted its course - her fiancé, Vipul Patel, received an unexpected opportunity in Canada. After marriage, she embraced her new life abroad, balancing work, family and dance. The birth of her son, Kramay, brought joy, but also new responsibilities. For a while, she continued to dance and teach, until a sudden break forced her to step away. For two years, she lived without dance, vowing never to return. Yet, as if scripted by a higher power, on the first Monday of Shravan Mahina in 2017, with the consecration of Lord Nataraja and a friend's gentle insistence, the divine rhythm returned to her. What followed was nothing short of extraordinary. With renewed force, Rupal reclaimed her passion and today she is the proud guru of over 150 students in Canada, imparting Bharatanatyam not merely as technique, but as tradition, discipline and devotion. This year, her annual production Nrityaitva 2025 at the Rose Theatre, Brampton, was a resounding celebration of culture and community. A packed audience of 800 rasikas gathered to witness 140 of her students - children of Canadian soil, yet deeply connected to Indian heritage - unfold the magic of Bharatanatyam. The evening sparkled not just with artistry, but with the authenticity of an Indian temple festival transported onto foreign shores.  Mayor & Deputy Mayor with Rupal Patel Dignitaries as Guests of Honour, including Mayor Patrick Brown of Brampton, Deputy Mayor Harkirat Singh, Mr. Yadaram Yadav (Vice Consul, Press, Information and Culture, Consulate General of India, Toronto), Dr. V.I. Lucky Laxmanan (Order of Canada), Lata Pada (Artistic Director Emerita, Sampradaya Dance Creations, Mississauga) graced the event, lending weight to an evening already rich in cultural significance.  Purvarang  Gajanan Tubhyam Namaha The programme opened with Purvarang, the sacred prelude described in the Natya Shastra. Through ritual gestures, symbolic offerings, and invocations, the stage was transformed into a consecrated performance space. As the dancers slowly adorned the metaphorical temple on stage, the audience was transported into a sanctified realm where art became worship. This was followed by Gajanan Tubhyam Namaha, a vibrant invocation to Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles and harbinger of wisdom. Senior dancers filled the stage with rhythm and devotion, their movements echoing both dynamism and grace.  Krishna The six-part Krishna narrative that followed was a tapestry of divine love and philosophy. Krishna appeared in his myriad forms - the cherished child of Yashoda, the mischievous friend of cowherds, the eternal lover of Radha, the charioteer-philosopher of Arjuna, and the omnipresent divine force. Each vignette was layered with bhakti, interweaving music, abhinaya, and movement into seamless storytelling.  Mahakali If Krishna was luminous, Mahakali: The End of the Unending was fierce. The powerful dance drama retold the cosmic battle with the demon Raktabija, whose blood birthed countless clones of himself. With unrelenting energy, the dancers brought alive Kali's rage, her wild mane and fiery tongue embodying Shakti in its most primal form. The climax arrived with Shiva's calming intervention, restoring cosmic balance - an image that lingered in the minds of all present.  Semi-classical In contrast, the semi-classical presentation that followed offered gentle grace, blurring the lines between structure and spontaneity, tradition and modernity. It reminded the audience that Bharatanatyam, while rooted in the ancient, has the capacity to embrace contemporary sensibilities.  Shantam Rasa Anubhava - Ninefold Pulse was a Bharatanatyam exploration of the Navarasas. Sringara, Haasya, Karuna, Raudra, Veera, Bhayanaka, Vibhatsa, Adbhuta and Shanta were reimagined in modern contexts - digital longing, the tension of protests, moments of silent compassion and the rediscovery of peace. The piece was both a tribute to the Natya Shastra and a bridge to the contemporary world, proving how timelessly relevant these emotional essences remain. The evening concluded in exuberance with a Rajasthani folk finale. Mothers of Rupal's students took the stage, their swirling ghoomar and soulful Chaudhary song filling the auditorium with colour, joy, and community spirit. This intergenerational performance - students on one side, their mothers on the other - symbolised the continuity of tradition and the rootedness of Indian culture across oceans.  Ghoomar Behind this grand success was a collective effort. Rupal's husband Vipul Patel, son Kramay, daughter-in-law Garima, her senior disciples and parents, strong pillars like Helee Mehta, Jay Patel, Hastee Patel and others worked tirelessly on planning, executing sets, costumes and properties. Their devotion to detail transformed the production into a festival of heritage, not merely a recital. In the end, Nrityaitva 2025 was more than a dance programme. It was a reaffirmation of identity, an authentic splash of Indian tradition in Canada, where second-generation children embraced an art form foreign to their birthplace yet deeply resonant with their roots. It was a reminder that when nurtured with faith and passion, culture transcends borders, weaving together families, communities, and generations. Rupal Patel's journey, supported by her family and students, exemplifies the living spirit of Indian dance abroad. They are not merely performers, but ambassadors of India's soul - ensuring that Bharatanatyam continues to breathe, thrive, and inspire, even thousands of miles away from its homeland.  Son of journalists K Shivram and Amni Shivram, the first Malayali woman English journalist, Bijoy Shivram is an accomplished Indian classical dancer trained in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. A passionate promoter of the arts and a skilled graphic designer, he currently serves as the Vice Principal of JG College of Performing Arts and the Assistant Director (Operations) overseeing 17 JG colleges. He is also the founder of Preksha, an organization dedicated to the promotion of art and culture in Ahmedabad. Since 2020, Bijoy has curated the YouTube series 'Gurudakshina - An Ode to our Gurus,' celebrating the legacy of mentorship and tradition. |
