Age is rarely a deterrent if you are pursuing something you enjoy and 32-year-old Sankari Jayakumaran Unnithan is a case in point. This dancer is making a come back into the Indian classical dance arena after 10 years.
She will be performing a Kuchipudi rangapravesam at 6 p.m. at Vyloppilly Samskriti Bhavan on March 28.
Sankari recollects how, as a child, a dance programme on television, captivated her. “I loved the brisk foot movements, the gamut of expressions that crossed their faces…I wanted to learn how to dance like that then and there.”
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The then three-year-old had to wait for a year before she started learning dance from Kalamandalam C.N. Sathyabhama.
“They said I would not have the stamina required for a dancer at the age of three. But Sathyabhama teacher taught me Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam and when I reached class 10, Kuchipudi.”
The passionate dancer had to hang her anklets up for a bit, after marriage and its numerous commitments consumed her.
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Sankari is currently working as executive director at Timetronic Management Consultants Limited, a recruitment firm in the city.
“I decided to restart my dance lessons last year. I was sceptical though as to whether I would be able to start off from where I left off. However, Sathyabhama teacher’s faith in me was encouragement enough. I decided to train in Kuchipudi in earnest as I have always been fond of the dance form. What I like about Kuchipudi is that most of the songs used are simple; songs the common man knows and can sing along too. In fact, I will be using familiar bhajans such as ‘Narayaneeyam’ and ‘Narayanthe Namo Namo’ in my recital.”
Sankari hopes to conduct various other Kuchipudi performances soon.
“I have rediscovered my joy in dance and through my performance I hope to inspire other dancers, who have put their love for dance on hold, to adorn those anklets once again.”