As a Bharatnatyam artist, I performed on stages all over the world, each one shaping my art and defining me as a performer. But today, I am thrilled to take on Samsonite bags as my stage.
These bags are built to withstand an incredible amount of pressure – up to 290 kgs – and endure intense impacts, thanks to rigorous overload and impact tests.
Because you deserve, what’s only been #TestedLikeSamsonite!
@dancerukmini
#SamsoniteIndia #DancerRukmini #Samsonite #MySamsonite #Luggage #luggagebag #Lifestyle
Day 43: #100daysofinnergrowth Yesterday, Kong went after a snake. He smelled the snake in the front yard (on our farm) from over 50 ft away and ran to find it.
It took me a minute to realise what he was doing and I ran after him. When I saw the big snake, I was so terrified of what might happen to kong and I was screaming to make him back off. I finally got hold of kong and pulled him away from the snake. We were all 1 ft apart, the snake, Kong and I.
Later I found through google images that it was probably a rat snake which is non venomous. But there are also cobras and vipers on our farm and I don’t really know enough to recognise which snake it is so quickly – and would never take the risk.
After the incident, kong just came back and sat next to me and fell asleep.
I was thinking about how simple it is with animals and even children. They will put their life at risk and do something for someone they love, with no thought of “something owed” or an expected obligation.
I’m a part of his pack , and I must be protected. It’s that simple. He just does what has to be done. The action was so philosophical and Vedantic in a way that I cannot explain. Made me think about it all the way home.
I wish I can also learn to be like that. Duty bound – in a simple clear manner. Do what needs to be done and continue with no emotional baggage or expectations.
#learningfromnature #simplelife #vedanta #innergrowth #spirituality #findingpeace #gsd #dogmom #germanshepherd
I spent most of yesterday with @sunnyjagesar taking some photos around the city.
Some walking around between shots… taking in the sights while working ….. and manoeuvring my curly hair in the midst of things…. look out for our Black & white series !
Photographer: @sunnyjagesar
Location: @hairbysanjay salon in Haarlem
Curly hair: my parents/ genetics
Straight hair : @hairbysanjay
#shootday #happy #justforfun #dancerlife #indiangirl #browngirl
Happy Mahashivaratri to all! May you all find the awareness that we seek to know ourselves and this world…
Video: was created for @aimforseva and is a part of “Srishti” a full length dance Video production@by @raadhakalpa
This particular dance , is available to watch on Raadha Kalpa’s YouTube channel as “Finding Shiva”
Video: @vivianambrose
Music : Dr Rajkumar Bharathi @saishravanam @keerthanavaidyanathan
I’m dancing tonight at the Bhoganandishwara temple at 12 am in bangalore. Near Nandi Hills – as part of Shivaratri celebrations!
Open to all
#shiva #parvati #shivaratri #srishti #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #indianclassicaldance
We performed at the @heritageparampara Gudiya sambhrama festival this morning. It was a beautiful ode to Devi. And it made me so happy to dance happily with freedom with @raghuramvocals and @bruthuva . Here’s me and my bestie Raghu having some fun on the temple stairs after the show.
Don’t miss the rest of the festival!!! We are going to be back on the 31st with “The Goddess” with @raadhakalpa . And there are a host of other performances everyday…:
Check the @heritageparampara profile for the full schedule
Thank you for this video @cycle.in_ @kish_5oo7
#bharatanatyam #templefestival #gudiyasambhrama #indiandance #dancerlife #mallari #besties #temple #devagiri
Day 42: #100daysofinnergrowth it’s taken me a while to post about inner growth and many days have gone by inbetween. I know that I started with simple tasks of drinking tea quietly. Taking a silent walk, and making time to introspect. But as schedules have become hectic again, with travel, performances and endless administrative demands to facilitate all of this, it’s difficult to get quiet time.
My challenge has become to find quiet within the chaos of daily activity. Quiet inside. Without that, I tend to react emotionally. This is something that I truly do not want. Emotional responses are literally the worst thing for everyone.
I’ve found that catching myself before the response is the best. Once I’m able to do that – I respond better – more quietly, consciously and thoughtfully.
More about this in the weeks following. I have been making an effort on a personal level to be more thoughtful etc. I just haven’t found the time to share it with you all.
Photo @nehapunjabiandco
#innergrowth #contemplation #findingquiet #innerpeace #emotionalresponse #spirituality
Good night…. #goodnight #dogmom #gsd #gsdlove #germanshepherd #cuddles
Whenever I have to take a long flight, I feel like I just want to stay home. But once I get there, the people make everything worthwhile. When an audience is moved, or when students have a genuine curiosity for learning, somehow those long hours on a flight and time away from home feels alright. I have the gift of dance, and through that I have the fortune of meeting wonderful people. So thankful for everyone who had me!
1 : eating a traditional Hungarian pastry. The best thing in that cold. #musttry
2/3/4 : looking at the sights in the castle district in Budapest with the lovely @eva_anjalidance and her husband.
5: post performance joys with @eva_anjalidance students. I’ve never come back on stage so many times for audience applause. Both exhilarating and humbling at once.
6 : students in Budapest. Too many to fit into a square post.
7: @prasanth_artist88 , his wife Yazhini and their lovely daughter who took care of me in Germany.
8: workshop in Germany, again too many students to fit into the square post 🙈
9: workshop in Amsterdam that @sawezer organised. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture with her 🙄 @indian.dance.europe she’s the best! ♥️
10: workshop in Amsterdam by the lovely Anna, at @yojigendojo
#dancerlife #travel #indiandance #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #classicalindiandancer
Whenever I have to take a long flight, I feel like I just want to stay home. But once I get there, the people make everything worthwhile. When an audience is moved, or when students have a genuine curiosity for learning, somehow those long hours on a flight and time away from home feels alright. I have the gift of dance, and through that I have the fortune of meeting wonderful people. So thankful for everyone who had me!
1 : eating a traditional Hungarian pastry. The best thing in that cold. #musttry
2/3/4 : looking at the sights in the castle district in Budapest with the lovely @eva_anjalidance and her husband.
5: post performance joys with @eva_anjalidance students. I’ve never come back on stage so many times for audience applause. Both exhilarating and humbling at once.
6 : students in Budapest. Too many to fit into a square post.
7: @prasanth_artist88 , his wife Yazhini and their lovely daughter who took care of me in Germany.
8: workshop in Germany, again too many students to fit into the square post 🙈
9: workshop in Amsterdam that @sawezer organised. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture with her 🙄 @indian.dance.europe she’s the best! ♥️
10: workshop in Amsterdam by the lovely Anna, at @yojigendojo
#dancerlife #travel #indiandance #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #classicalindiandancer
Whenever I have to take a long flight, I feel like I just want to stay home. But once I get there, the people make everything worthwhile. When an audience is moved, or when students have a genuine curiosity for learning, somehow those long hours on a flight and time away from home feels alright. I have the gift of dance, and through that I have the fortune of meeting wonderful people. So thankful for everyone who had me!
1 : eating a traditional Hungarian pastry. The best thing in that cold. #musttry
2/3/4 : looking at the sights in the castle district in Budapest with the lovely @eva_anjalidance and her husband.
5: post performance joys with @eva_anjalidance students. I’ve never come back on stage so many times for audience applause. Both exhilarating and humbling at once.
6 : students in Budapest. Too many to fit into a square post.
7: @prasanth_artist88 , his wife Yazhini and their lovely daughter who took care of me in Germany.
8: workshop in Germany, again too many students to fit into the square post 🙈
9: workshop in Amsterdam that @sawezer organised. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture with her 🙄 @indian.dance.europe she’s the best! ♥️
10: workshop in Amsterdam by the lovely Anna, at @yojigendojo
#dancerlife #travel #indiandance #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #classicalindiandancer
Whenever I have to take a long flight, I feel like I just want to stay home. But once I get there, the people make everything worthwhile. When an audience is moved, or when students have a genuine curiosity for learning, somehow those long hours on a flight and time away from home feels alright. I have the gift of dance, and through that I have the fortune of meeting wonderful people. So thankful for everyone who had me!
1 : eating a traditional Hungarian pastry. The best thing in that cold. #musttry
2/3/4 : looking at the sights in the castle district in Budapest with the lovely @eva_anjalidance and her husband.
5: post performance joys with @eva_anjalidance students. I’ve never come back on stage so many times for audience applause. Both exhilarating and humbling at once.
6 : students in Budapest. Too many to fit into a square post.
7: @prasanth_artist88 , his wife Yazhini and their lovely daughter who took care of me in Germany.
8: workshop in Germany, again too many students to fit into the square post 🙈
9: workshop in Amsterdam that @sawezer organised. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture with her 🙄 @indian.dance.europe she’s the best! ♥️
10: workshop in Amsterdam by the lovely Anna, at @yojigendojo
#dancerlife #travel #indiandance #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #classicalindiandancer
Whenever I have to take a long flight, I feel like I just want to stay home. But once I get there, the people make everything worthwhile. When an audience is moved, or when students have a genuine curiosity for learning, somehow those long hours on a flight and time away from home feels alright. I have the gift of dance, and through that I have the fortune of meeting wonderful people. So thankful for everyone who had me!
1 : eating a traditional Hungarian pastry. The best thing in that cold. #musttry
2/3/4 : looking at the sights in the castle district in Budapest with the lovely @eva_anjalidance and her husband.
5: post performance joys with @eva_anjalidance students. I’ve never come back on stage so many times for audience applause. Both exhilarating and humbling at once.
6 : students in Budapest. Too many to fit into a square post.
7: @prasanth_artist88 , his wife Yazhini and their lovely daughter who took care of me in Germany.
8: workshop in Germany, again too many students to fit into the square post 🙈
9: workshop in Amsterdam that @sawezer organised. I can’t believe I didn’t take a single picture with her 🙄 @indian.dance.europe she’s the best! ♥️
10: workshop in Amsterdam by the lovely Anna, at @yojigendojo
#dancerlife #travel #indiandance #bharatanatyam #bharatnatyam #classicalindiandancer
The last few years, I’ve been reading on one subject and creating multiple works addressing the same idea. Traditional work, contemporary work and ensemble work that have the same theme have emerged over the past year.
I’ve been working on the feminine energy and have created Abducted, The Goddess and now Devi. I also made a film on Kaikeyi and the idea of desire.
I’ll be dancing and performing these pieces over the coming year in different places. Look at the calendar highlights in my profile for details. Or my website www.dancerukmini.com . Also the link in my bio.
Jan 28th: Devotional songs on devi, morning performance, @heritageparampara , bangalore
Jan 31st : “The Goddess” for @heritageparampara , bangalore
Feb 11th: “Devi” & “Abducted” @shankaraa.foundation @soma_artfestival bangalore
Feb 16: “Abducted” @kalarigram Pondicherry
Feb 18th: MAP museum, bangalore
Feb 22nd: open level workshop, Amsterdam
Feb 24th: “Krishnaa” Budapest, Hungary
Feb 25th: workshop, Budapest, Hungary
Feb26th: workshop for Bharatanatyam repertoire, Düsseldorf
Feb 27,28: Charis and adavu exploration, Amsterdam
Shoot day with @sunnyjagesar and @hairbysanjay .
Sunny is the sweetest person ever! I’ve known him for many years … and if any of you want photos taken in the Netherlands… go find him! He’s the best….
First time meeting Sanjay, and he’s so good! I’m not certain about people always handling my curly hair… or doing a great job with it. But Sanjay was great. Thank you for everything ♥️
#shootday #netherlands #haarlem #photographer #hairstylist #lovemyjob #dancerlife
Shoot day with @sunnyjagesar and @hairbysanjay .
Sunny is the sweetest person ever! I’ve known him for many years … and if any of you want photos taken in the Netherlands… go find him! He’s the best….
First time meeting Sanjay, and he’s so good! I’m not certain about people always handling my curly hair… or doing a great job with it. But Sanjay was great. Thank you for everything ♥️
#shootday #netherlands #haarlem #photographer #hairstylist #lovemyjob #dancerlife
I thought that I was making an entrance…. 🙄
Until….
Thanks @vivianambrose 😜
This is the beautiful @shankaraa.foundation and I’m looking forward to performing at the @soma_artfestival on the 11th of February
#dancerlife #anticlimax #lovemylife #saree #walk #friends
I wrote a book, “Finding Shiva” about the performative experience, and what it has helped me realise about life. Subsequently, I made this film, commissioned by @tatacliq based on the book. I don’t have any proper dance clips from last night, so I’m sharing this.
Last night, I danced Mata Kalika, a bhajan, fully improvised. I’m familiar with the music, because I’ve choreographed the piece on ensemble, but I don’t think that it made a difference. It might have been easier for me if it was never choreographed.
A few things that become very important in an improvised performance.
– being present and completely available to the moment. No anticipating or planning.
– saying “yes” to everything that the musical artists offer at that very moment, without hoping for specific outcomes or trying to guide their decisions. This is very important because it allows each performer to listen, instead of trying to be heard
– skill, practise and command over their respective performance languages is of prime importance in an improvisational performance. The more you know about your area of expertise the more options you have in a millisecond. This was really beautiful last night with @raghuramvocals @shyam_rhythmgam Mahesha swamy and @khanjiraboy .
– lastly it becomes very important for me to immerse in the character and believe in what I’m dancing. There can be no judgement and no conscious crafting to suit a viewer. The skill of covering the stage, finding an emotional trajectory, building a story, creating pause, resolution, etc must all be second nature so that nothing is at the forefront of one’s thoughts.
I must either be completely rehearsed to a point of exactness or have an open improvisation for a fulfilling performance. It’s strange – but I can never have anything inbetween.
It’s also important to have artists with me who converse and listen to one another through their art – for it to work. Then it becomes about the art and not about an individual.
So thankful for @raghuramvocals @shyam_rhythmgam Mahesh anna @khanjiraboy
Film credits
@vivianambrose @saishravanam @tatacliq
#bharatanatyam #findingshiva #shivaratri #shiva #innerjourney #improvisation
“The Goddess” tomorrow! Don’t miss it. At the @heritageparampara Gudiya Sambhrama Festival . BNMIT college, Banashankari, bangalore. 7:30 pm
Open to all!
Come early to grab your seats.
Choreography & Direction
Rukmini Vijayakumar
Rehearsal Directors
Padmashree & Asokavadhani
Dancers
Rukmini Vijayakumar
Padmashree
Asokavadhani
Anusha Yash
Priyadarshini Rajendran
Samyuktha Jujare
Surabhi Gopal
Reanna Ranjan
Manasvee Gupta
Light Design
Gyandev Singh
Music
Ambi Subramaniam : Violin
Raghuram Rajagopalan : Vocals
Sunaad Anoor : Percussion
Anoor Vinod Shyam : Mridangam & Percussion
Photography:
Vivian Ambrose
Rakesh
#bharatanatyam #indiandance #classicalindiandance #theater #dancer #bharatnatyam #dancerlife #classicaldancer
The Vallachi Tillana, one of the first compositions that I learned from my Guru Narmada and the first Tillana that I teach my students even today.
A beautiful composition by the loving Dwaraki aunty, form bangalore…. Dwaraki Krishnaswamy.
In many ways this Tillana celebrates one of the primary women in my life who made me a dancer – Guru Narmada . The Tillana is about the Devi, but this Tillana, for me – also stands for the beautiful person that Narmada aunty was.
Although I’m not performing this particular Tillana this month in The series of performances that are around the feminine energy, I thought it was appropriate to share this as I thought about Narmada aunty. I miss her.
For upcoming performances
www.dancerukmini.com
Video @vivianambrose
#guru #love #lovemydanceteacher #narmadaaunty #gurunarmada #bharatanatyam #vallachitillana #tillana #vallachi
I’m on my feet a lot and spend a considerable amount of time barefoot. My feet get blistered, chaffed and even my arches get tight sometimes.
It’s important for me to wear comfortable footwear when im not dancing. I need something that takes the shape of my foot, something that supports it while also allowing it to relax. Birkenstock’s have been the best for me! I feel like my feet are loved when I wear Birks. @birkenstockin
I love the new colours and will be expanding my shoe closet to get all the different styles !
Thank you for sending me some love @birkenstockin . My feet are truly happy ♥️
#dancerlife #birkenstocks #lovemybirks #birkenstock #footwear #comfortablefeet #comfortablefashion
The “attami” , side to side neck movement is often used by people to represent bharatanatyam. It has become indicative of the style itself in some ways to the layman, and I’ve seen it used as a comic metaphor for traditional indian dance in many different places.
Strangely enough, the movement of the neck is unique to this dance vocabulary, but to make it represent the entire form would be as arbitrary as choosing chicken tikka to represent the entirety of indian cuisine.
Classical indian dance is layered in more ways than one. It’s not just mimetic as many presume, it is theatrical in a unique way. the layering of rhythm is incredibly complex and the possibilities of creativity are endless.
So the next time you see a strange head bobbing used to represent bharatanatyam, I hope you think of me and smile to yourself. 😊 (knowing that they have no idea about the true wealth of Bharatanatyam)
Music: Kalakriya
Video: @vivianambrose
#bharatanatyam #attami #represent #indiandance #indianclassicaldance #indiandance #bharatnatyam
I don’t think he realises how big he is. 🙄
He just decided to sit like this, for half an hour today afternoon forcing me to use one hand to make calls…
#bestie #dogmom #gsd #gsdlove #germanshepherd #dancerlife #kongyboy
I’m so happy to have @somyarout2806 as my coach. Yes I train by myself, and I work out even when travelling and have always had routines that balance flexibility and strength. I’m obsessive and absolutely cannot go even for 2 days without training/ dancing/ yoga or running at the minimum. I have been like this for almost 22 years now- Since I was 18.
But in all these years, I have never felt comfortable enough to give up this responsibility of strength and functional routines for myself – to someone else.
My dance teachers definitely took aesthetic and skill as their responsibilities for as long as they were around, but strength and functional work has always been something that I’ve done for myself.
But Somya has been special… I’m not only taken care of, but I’m also learning so much as I train with him. I’m given rest when necessary and I’m pushed so much that I could cry when necessary.
As a soloist, who works, trains, choreographs and travels alone for the most part, having a coach has made a world of difference to me.
Thank you @somyarout2806
#dancerlife #bharatanatyam #strength training #balance #coach
Love this song by @therukural and @khatija.rahman . All of nature is in harmony…The world at large is in harmony.
If we learn from nature, humans will also live harmoniously.
Enjoyed dancing to #Sagavaasi ! @cokestudiotamil
#ad #bharatanatyam #dancereel #onewithnature #idhunammalsai #cokestudiotamil
Video @vivianambrose
