My Story

Introduction

Vanakkam, Kia Ora and Hello. My name is Anuradha Ambalavanar and I am a Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music teacher living in Christchurch. I have been teaching to local students for two decades, and have founded the dance company ‘Bharatanatyam Group of Christchurch’. I have choreographed many dances, which have been well received by the Christchurch community.

Carnatic Music

In addition to Bharatanatyam, I also pursued the study of vocal and Instrumental Classical Music and successfully completed standardized examinations of the North Ceylon Oriental Music Society in Bharatanatyam (Grades 1 – 5), Vocal Carnatic Music (Grades 1 – 4) and Veena* (Grades 1 – 3; *the Veena is an Indian string instrument), with distinctions and first divisions. I have recorded Carnatic music with Australian musicians and performed at a concert inaugurating the temple tower (Kumbabishekam) at the Shiva Vishnu Mandir in Canberra, Australia.

Bharatanatyam

I was introduced to Bharatanatyam at the early age of six. The culmination of extensive study in Bharatanatyam is a ‘rite of passage’ performance known as an ARANGETRAM, to demonstrate one’s mastery of all aspects of this dance form and to mark the end of one’s days as a student and the beginning of one’s status as a full-fledged dancer. After 11 years of training, I performed my Arangetram before a packed audience of experts and well-wishers at the Tower Hall Trust Fund Arankam in Colombo on the 25th of May 1989.

My Performances

I have given solo performances before the Governor-General of New Zealand at the opening of the New Zealand South Asia Centre at the University of Canterbury Citizenship Ceremonies in Christchurch, as well as a one-hour solo performance at the Body Festival in 2011. In addition to this, me and my students have performed at several other cultural events.

“The performance of Bharatanatyam, by Anuradha Ambalavanar at the Body Festival, was simply stunning.”
– Frank Lad, The Press, October 10th, 2011

“The evening is presented in a balanced mix of solos and group dances. Anuradha Ambalavanar performs the solos; her dedication and that of her dancers is obvious in their polished performance.”
– Emily Napolitano, Theatre Review, October 5th, 2014

Special Moments