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Incidental swimming session turn into passion
Chennai :
In most cases, when an upcoming sportsperson is asked how he/she got into their respective sport, the likely answer is that one of their family members was the reason. Or that they went to watch the sport and instantly fell in love with it. But not Janhavi Girish. For hers is a tale of hope and determination that is finally reaping fruits more than a decade later.
Janhavi has been performing at a rate that has made her one to watch out for in the near future. She was born premature, and her parents’ main aim was to make sure she made it through those initial stages in a stable condition. “However, she barely ate anything, and that wasn’t a good thing. That was when doctors suggested putting her in the pool, so that she gets some exercise, which would make her hungry. At that point, I never thought she would swim competitively. But slowly, she became interested in the sport, and it was helping her develop,” said B Girish, Janhavi’s father, a renowned swimming coach in the national and State level.
Janhavi says it was a gradual process. “Despite being involved so deeply with swimming, my father never forced me. What started off as an exercise in maintaining my health and improving my physical state became a passion,” she shares. Janhavi first got into the pool when she was two years old. “But as I went underwater, the interest increased. That’s when I started going for practise with my father. It helped that a successful swimmer like J Agnishwar and his father JP sir were there to motivate me,” said the 14-year-old, whose father is the coach at the Turtles Swimming Club that runs from the Anna swimming pool near Marina Beach.
Jahnavi also credited her mother, Prabhavati, for her sacrifices. “We are vegetarians, but for my swimming needs, we decided that my diet should include some meat. And my mother began preparing non-veg food. I’m grateful to her.”
Having ended 2016 with a slew of gold medals, Janhavi can now look forward to completing her Class 9 in peace at her school, Asan Memorial.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Ravi Iyer / Express News Service / January 05th, 2017
Chennai designer makes clothes for people with disabilities
Chennai :
Men and women on wheelchairs will take to the ramp as models for adaptive clothing for a city-based designer at the `Trios Fashion Show 2017′ on Sunday for a fundraiser. Having made clothes for her husband and aunt who are both wheelchair users, Shalini Visakan , an alumni of NIFT, is presenting Indo-western party wear for people with different disabilities.
Visakan has recently designed a one-piece sari with pleats and blouse that can be worn as a housecoat for her aunt. “She could never go to temples because she could only wear nighties. So I designed it in one piece so that she could be comfortable without having to wear a separate skirt inside,” says Visakan. “Designer wear in adapti ve clothing is very rare. Some women use diapers and I’ve given extra crotch length for their clothes. For those who lack motor skills, I have used magnetic buttons and Velcro,” she says.
The party wear for the physically challenged has been designed in such a manner that they can wear it independently . Students and working professionals from Vidya Sagar will model for the show.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India /News> City News> Chennai News / TNN / January 05th, 2017
‘Natya Kala Acharya’ for Malavika Sarukkai
The Music Academy’s 11th dance festival inaugurated
Renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and guru Malavika Sarukkai was on Tuesday conferred the title of ‘Natya Kala Acharya’ at the inauguration of The Music Academy’s 11th dance festival here.
Susan Tuller, Deputy Consular General, Consulate General of United States of America in Chennai, who presented the title, said this was her first Margazhi season and that she was awed by the scores of ‘sabhas’ in the city that have thousands of concerts. She congratulated Ms. Sarukkai on winning the title. The US Consulate here enjoyed bringing together South Indian and American artistes, she added.
Academy president N. Murali said Ms. Sarukkai was a wonderful exponent of Bharatanatyam. “Excellence and holistic approach to art are her hallmarks and she is never afraid to explore and innovate. To her, innovation is only an organic growth from within,” Mr. Murali said. The 2017 edition of the dance festival will feature 26 performances over seven days comprising a variety of dance genres, including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kathak, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam, he said.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Sarukkai said it was an honour to be recognised by the Music Academy which has played a pivotal role in the resurgence of Bharatanatyam from the 1930s. She acknowledged with gratitude her gurus and her mother Saroja Kamakshi, who anchored her dance journey.
“Classical dance is a gift — both precious and vulnerable — that must be nurtured and supported for it represents the heritage of India and requires a conducive ecosystem to survive and flourish,” she said . The responsibility to do this lay with sponsors, philanthropists, organisers, artistes, media, dance enthusiasts.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Special Correspondent / Chennai – January 04th, 2017