Shadow Creek High School Junior Tanya Mahesh spent 2 weeks this summer travelling through Europe as part of an international cultural exchange program with the Anjali Dance Company, thrilling audiences with memorable choreography and showcasing the ancient, complex art of Indian Classical Dance, Bharatanatyam.
Tanya is a member of the Anjali Dance Company – a professional Indian Classical dance group
which is spearheaded by its Artist Director Dr. Rathna Kumar. They were invited by UNESCO’s
International Dance Council (CID) to perform at The World Festival of Indian Dance, where
dancers from dozens of countries performed at one of the most illustrious venues, the Dora Stratou Dance Theater, (under the Acropolis, Athens) to a packed audience.
As part of the tour, they were also invited by the Counsel Generals of India in Hamburg, Berlin
and Amsterdam to perform in their respective cities to showcase this beautiful artform to the local audiences and give them an opportunity to experience the rich cultural heritage of India through art and dance.
Tanya began the tour in Germany, performing at the Tagore Center in Berlin and the Indian
Consulate in Hamburg. They performed an intricately choreographed production, 'ANSHUMAN: ODE TO SUN GOD'. Following their successful performances in Germany, they traveled to Amsterdam to perform at The Hague, followed by a meet and greet with the audience to answer questions about Indian culture and the dance form. Their final leg of the tour was the performance in Athens, followed by a tour of the ancient ruins, before they returned home.
Tanya has been learning Indian Classical Dance since she was 4 years old with her teacher (guru), Dr. Rathna Kumar. She joined the professional dance company over 3 years ago and has since been part of numerous productions and performed at prestigious venues in Houston such as Wortham Theater, Miller Outdoor Theater and The Hobby Center. Tanya says – “Each performance was a unique experience, with unique challenges. The size of the stage was different in each location, we had to adjust to performing indoor vs outdoor and since we were a group of 8 dancers, it was always hard finding enough room to get dressed for every performance. But overall, I had an amazing time meeting so many people, watching other dance companies perform, and visiting many world heritage sites as part of this tour. I am very thankful to my teacher, Dr. Rathna Kumar, for giving us an opportunity like this!”
While this tour has given the dancers valuable international experience, it has also been a
celebration of diversity and an opportunity to immerse oneself in the rich tapestry of global cultures.