Nrityati - Alumni Meeting at the Department of Dance, University of Hyderabad

 This was an initiative that we had been thinking of for a few years now but it never took off. Finally, this year, out of a casual conversation in class where Srividya said she would take up the initiative and with support from Professor Anuradha, Professor Aruna Bhikshu and Professor Sivaraju, the alumni meeting happened. What was originally envisaged to be a 25-30 member programme became one with 60 attendees and a full program with lunch. 

The Department of Dance - All decked up with a rangoli and a banner!

The present batch students dressed up for the occasion and it was lovely to see them all looking so mature and dignified, working so hard (carrying stuff here and there, putting up and pulling down posters and banners). 

An immensely talented and happy bunch of artistes who attended!

They named it 'Nrityati' Alumni Meet 2023. Srividya compered the show and did an excellent job of it. Sannidha, Poojitha, Aiswarya, Vaishnavi, Sharmila, Ketharani, Shreshta, Pratyusha, Abhirami, Devamanohari, Harideeptha, Nayani, Sreelakshmi, Sreelakshmi Shaji, Sofia and Sridevi.

A thoughtful return gift! 

I met so many of my ex-students including Vijayalakshmi garu who was part of the 2008 batch when I had done a one day workshop (that time the department was in some run down sheds on campus). Janimiya, Suchismita, Aparna, Shiva, Seenaiah, Tejaswitha, Sharath, Parijatha, Sravani, Sravya Manasa, Anusha, Radhika, Vaishnavi, Lakshmi, Gangadhar, Bhargavi, Mallika Madhuri...many more. Lots of pictures taken but I have only a couple shared by two former students - Suchismita and Tejaswitha. More when they arrive.

With Suchismita

With Tejaswitha

There were many accomplished names in the alumni group - Anupama Kylash, Yashoda Thakur, Geeta, Sindhuja - were some that I heard of. Everyone spoke, introduced themselves. Lots of joy at reconnecting, many plans were made to take the initiative forward and help build a fine community of dancers from the University of Hyderabad and hopefully something even bigger in latter years.

Well done students and well done Department of Dance. I am sure this is one initiative that will benefit one and all in many ways in years to come.