International Cultural Exchange

International Cultural Exchange (ICE) is commonlya scholarship from The Centre for Cultural Resources
understood as people of one country visit anotherand Training in New Delhi to study Kuchipudi for 8
country, to learn about a new culture while exhibitingyears. Subsequently, he obtained a Diploma in
their own culture.Kuchipudi dance from the Telugu University,
A regular practice with schools and youthHyderabad in 1995.
organisations across the globe, is to send a handful ofHari Om had shown interest in learning Kuchipudi in
students / youth from their region to anothervarious traditions like Pasumarti tradition and
country, and allow them to live with local natives.Vempaty tradition from the Kuchipudi Kalakshetra,
Once the students start living in a home of totallyVisakhapatnam under Smt. Bala Kondala Rao and Sri
different culture, they get to understand and learnHari Ram Murty for a period of 3 years. He also
about a new culture. Recently, I had my friendslearnt Bharat Natyam from Sri. A. Rukmaji Rao for a
daughter from Singapore who was chosen for ICE,couple of years from 1991 and Andhra Natyam and
and was sent to Hong Kong. She had to choose aPerini Shiva Tandavam from Sri Nataraj
local family to stay with for a couple of days. It isParameswaran for a couple of years from 1986 and
very hard to speculate how much she would haveobtained a certificate in Mridangam from the Telugu
learnt about the Hong Konger's culture in those twoUniversity, Hyderabad in 1999. He started teaching
days.dance at a very young age of 14, when his mother
Have you ever heard of teaching dance to people ofhad started a Music and Dance school called Sri
different language and country? Well, not manyGowthami Kala Vihara.
would have had the opportunity to listen or see suchHari was invited in 2003, to work in a Yoga Center in
accomplishments. Here's a true story of a DancerHong Kong where he became the trendsetter of
from Visakhapatnam, South India.Kuchipudi, Semi classical Indian dance and Bollywood
I have been living in Hong Kong for nearly a decadestyles. His popularity as a teacher had prompted all
now, and had always attended Indian Cultural Eventsthe other yoga centers to have this kind of dance
Festivals, Aarangetrams or Dance shows conductedclasses with all forms of Indian dances being very
by Indian Dancers and their Indian students. Butpopular in Hong Kong. Hari has carved a niche for
recently, I was surprised to find a young enthusiastichimself amongst many dance teachers in Hong Kong
and passionate Kuchipudi dancer who works for aby giving several performances and organizing shows
reputed Yoga centre and teaches Bollywood andapart from being the trendsetter of Indian dances in
other forms of Indian dances which includes ClassicalHong Kong. The fact that he can equally teach and
dance Kuchipudi.choreograph both classical and modern/Bollywood
He is a person full of dance passion and wanted todance forms with equal finesse has given him a
do something more than what he was assigned tospecial place in his students hearts.
do. Therefore, he took the initiative to teach theThe Chinese students have developed a passion to
traditional dance Kuchipudi at this Yoga centre. Intially,learning Telugu, as it is their Master Hari Om's mother
there were quite few students, but the love andtongue and Kuchipudi songs are in Telugu. My
passion for dance inculcated in them was escalatingteaching experience with them has been very
to new heights and many more started learningenthusiastic and vibrant, and am proud to say that
Kuchipudi dance. And today there are more than awithin a span of few lessons, they have already
hundred students. The most amazing fact is, all thestarted speaking few words and sentences. It's an
students are Chinese and do not understand oramazing experience, which has no words...
speak the language - Telugu of Kuchipudi songs.Another Classical dancer Master Rajendra R.Nyathi is
To encourage his students into further learning, healso another popular Teacher in Hong Kong. He is an
started conducting shows to perform in a traditionalinternationally acclaimed Artist of Bharatnatyam and
manner with all the costume and jewellery. ThisKuchipudi and Bollywood dances as well. He holds a
astounding, passionate dancer and choreographer isfirst class Master degree in Performing Arts and a
Hari Eranki, who is popularly addressed as Master Harireceipient of JRF and the National Scholarshipsfor
Om by all his students. Master Hari Om is one of theoutstanding young artists by the Governmenet of
rare dance masters who are capable of doing bothIndia. He has served as Head of Department of
the traditional and modern dances at the same time.Dance in some well established Universities in INdia.
He trained and taught several dancers in Hong KongHe has travelled extensively in Europe, UK, USA,
with utter dedication and passion which can be foundMiddle East, Australia, New Zealand Russia, China and
in the dance of all his students who dance to themany Asian Countries.
best of their spirits and to be happy. His students areMaster Rajendra has setup "Natya Yoga" a cultural
now performing professionally as well. His work as aorganisation which is engaged with a desire to serve
dancer, choreographer and dance master speaks forand propagate Indian Classical and other art forms to
his talent, love and passion for dance and histhe world. He too has inspired students and audience
students.of a diverse background and culture. His dances are
Eranki Srihari Baladitya was born to Professors Latesoulful, expressive,full of grace, aesthetically highly
E.Nagamamba and E. S. Murthy belonging to a familyappreciative.
of Musicians and Dancers. Under the skilled guidanceAs a seasonal festival of Harvest, known as
of legendary Guru Sri Pasumarthi Sitaramiah, anSankranti in Andhra Pradesh, he started celebrating
exponent of Kuchipudi dance, Hari Om startedSankranti since 2008, where his students perform
learning Kuchipudi at a very tender age of 3 andClassical, semi-classical, and other dance forms
started performing by the age of 5. His mostChoreographed solely by him. He has been a
prestigious achievements include his participation inmarvellous trendsetter for all dancers and also sets
the 1994 and 1995 International Kuchipudi Dancean excellent example of International Cultural
Festivals in Mumbai and Hyderabad respectively, alongExchange. The Hong Kong Telugu Samakhya feels
with the likes of Swapna Sundari, Meenakshi Seshadriproud in having Hari Eranki and Rajendra R.Nyathi,
and other such great dance exponents. He also wonboth exceptional Classical Dancers.