Our Bureau
Beijing
Lei Muzi, a 13-year-old school student, made history by performing her Bharatanatyam “Arangetram” the graduation ceremony of the dance form, in China. This event marks a significant milestone as it’s the first-ever Arangetram performed by a student fully trained in China.
Lei’s solo dance debut performance took place in front of a large Chinese audience, including celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson and Indian diplomats. This achievement highlights the growing popularity of Indian classical dance forms in China and showcases the cultural exchange between the two countries.
For Chinese fans of classical art and dance forms from India, who have put a lot of effort into learning and performing them for decades, her debut was a golden moment for Indian culture in China.
T S Vivekanand, Indian Embassy’s First Secretary in charge of culture who attended the event, explained “This is the first-ever Arangetram by a student fully trained in China and performed in China.”
Arangetram, in Tamil, means debut stage performance in the presence of teachers and experts along with the audience. The students of Bharatnatyam are allowed to perform on their own or teach aspiring dancers, only after Arangetram.
Noted Chinese Bharatanatyam dancer, Jin Shan Shan, who trained Lei, said “Lei’s Arangetram is the first time that Chinese students trained by a Chinese teacher have completed in China, which is a landmark in the history of Bharatanatyam inheritance.”
