The story of the founder

Natya Tharakai Suneetha Prakash started learning this divine art form at the tender age of 3.  She began her tutelage under Natayaacharya Sarasama in 1986 after learning her basics under different gurus in different baanis. Her dedication in this art form was recognized by her Guru, and she was permitted to perform her arangetram in 1989. On completion of which she was conferred with the title Natya Tharakkai by her Guru. As every dancer knows the Arangetram is the Graduation certification, a stepping stone, Suneetha Prakash was enrolled as a member in the Sarasaalaya Dance Troupe.  The World was the stage henceforth for her. 

Some of the many stages where she has performed on yearly basis since then.

TTK Music Academy, Narada Gaana Sabha, Mylaapore Fine Arts, Karthik, Fine Arts, Kumbakonam Mahamaham, Mamallapuram Shore Festival, Thirupati Devastanam,

She was always part of her Gurus choreographing crew to stage new productions.   She was one of the key members in mentoring International students from Malaysia, Singapore and Korea. Eventually she was called to be part of an International Dance Troupe with her Gurus blessings.  Under the guidance of Nagaswamy mama and Surya-narayanamoorthy they took on the expedition of staging Manni-ka-vasagar and Appar to Germany, England, USA and Canada. Little did she know when she visited then that this would be her permanent home then.

Aadina Kaalum Paadina Vayum summa irukaadhunu solradhu pola

which translates as a dancer’s feet and the voice of a vocalist can never be restricted. The Cambridge Centre for Arts opened their doors for her to start a Bharathanatyam Program with them.  They were startled with the number of enrolments for a brand-new project such as this. This led to the launch of Laya Lasya Dance Studio in 2004. With her dedication, devoted students, parents and just word of mouth, Guru Smt. Suneetha Prakash has successfully established 4 diff locations. She and her Studio has been a vital part of major cultural events in the Kitchener Waterloo Region, Brant & Greater Toronto Area in  Ontario, where they have been actively involved for the past 15 years. She has also been part of the judging panel for GTA Malayalee Association and Ontario Arts Council – an Ontario Government Agency for approving grants for dancers all over Ontario & assessing dancers  who take their dance exams.

The performance this year

Today senior dance students of Laya Lasya Kumari Kamala Rajasekaran, Kumari Gayathri Rajsekaran & Kumari Komal Patel will be performing of the challenging compositions of Sri Lalgudi G Jayaraman sir.  

Navaragamalika varnam – Angayarkanni. This is a combined choreography of Guru Sarasama and Guru Suneetha Prakash. This is a very challenging varnam focussing highly on bhavam skills.  This is a navarasa varnam which means every lyric starting from Pallavi, anupallavi, chittaswaram all emote a unique and completely different emotion/rasam.

The Pallavi – opening lyric begins with demonstrating Veeram/bravery/valiance.  Devi is born as a baby with 3 bosoms, which confuses her parents, when a heavenly voice (asaree-ri) guides them that the 3rd bosom will disappear when she falls in love.  In this particular varnam which is in praise of Devi Meenakshi it talks about her dhigvijayam, her interest in being a brave warrior in her early  
years rather than a conventional girl’s interests. The anupallavi delivers shingara rasam – LOVE…When goddess meenakshi has a glance of Lord Shiva, its love at first sight, they both fall in love instantly and feels her femininity taking over her turning her into beautiful Devi, who is given away in marriage by Lord Vishnu.

The chi-tta-swaram branches into arbhutham/surprise.  Devi is blown away in surprise when Her husband burns god of love maaran and kicks yama the god of death to protect maarkandeyan. The next emotion highlighted is haasyam/laughter when devi gets a good laugh when lord shiva disguises himself to help out an elderly lady for a plate of pittu by doing hardwork carrying sand to build a temple for him on the instruction of the king of the land.

We are also proud to mention here that the orchestration for this song is purely done by all Canadian artists who live in Ontario.

Nattuvangam Guru Smt Suneetha Prakash
Mridangam Master Siva Mahadevan
Violin Sri Natarajan Vaidhyanathan
Ghatam Sri Prakash Venkataraman