Bharata Nathyam Arangetram by Amberien Pierkhan

On July 30, 2011, Amberien Pierkhan did her Bharata Natyam Arangetram (Graduation) in Theater Thalia. Approximately 2 months ahead we started photographic preparations for the big event, with a studio photo shoot for the program booklet to be printed. And of course on the big day itself, we photographed the performance and the guests.

110730_ Amberien _232 A view of the guests during the performance

110730_ Amberien _209 India's ambassador to Suriname posing by a lifesize print of Amberien in Thalia's Foyer.

The Arangetram is the debut on-stage performance of a Bharata Natyam student, after undertaking typically 10-12 years of  training. Bharata Natyam is an ancient Indian Temple dance form. In Tamil, Aranga means "raised stage" and etram means "climbing" thus Arangetram literally means "climbing the stage" or "reaching the stage", thus it represents the graduation ceremony when the Guru presents her pupil to the public. Ideally this should be the first solo public performance of an accomplished dancer. After learning bharatanatyam under the guidance of a guru for atleast 8-10 years, this is the occasion for the proud guru to present her deciple to the public. Duration of an Arangetram is approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours. To perform for such long hours one must have good stamina, concentration and proper practice. The ceremony traces its origins from the devdasi (temple dancer) traditions. The origin of the tradition can be traced backto the Tamil epos "Shillappadikram" written around 500 AD.

Amberien-Arangetram-0093 Traditional ceremony before the performance, the Guru is

110730_ Amberien _1641 Amberien with her two teachers Sadhana Mohan on the left and Guru Madhoeri Jagmohan on the right

During the Studio shoot Amberien was guided by Sadhana Mohan who hersel did her arangetram 10 years earlier and the Guru Madhoeri Jagmohan, the leading lady of the Baharata Natyam dance in Suriname. The shoot was a wonderful experience and gave me a good look into all the poses and expressions that I would also be photographing during the arangetram itself.

Studio Session-459

Studio Session-930

Shooting live dance performances can be very tough, like an olympic sport, so proper preparations is always good, with Sadhana by my side and the very critical eye of Mrs Jagmohan, I could not be better prepared Myself.

The images of the studio shoot were used in a 24 page program booklet that was distributed to the 500 invited guests at Theater Thalia on the day of the Arangetram. Fausto Fraser and myself photographed the spectacular performace, while Fausto and Sheetal Bhoelai photographed the guests too during their arrival for the performance. Lifesize prints of Amberien were decoration the voyer of the theater and guests could get their pictures taken by them.

Amberien-Arangetram-1760

Amberien-Arangetram-0213 Amberien "greeting" the band and her Guru

A wonderful experience was the 3 hour solo performance by Amberien, while mucisians flown in from India joined by Guru Jagmohan provided live music for the dance performance.

Amberien-Arangetram-2404 Amberiens parents Faried and Audrey on the left, Guru Madhoeri Jagmohan second from the right, Amberien third from the right and the members of the band

For more images see HERE