Wearing a sleek golden top, bells at the feet and a somber face, junior Apoorva Kakkilaya stood at the side of the stage waiting to begin the “War Dance, Part Two” for the Srutilaya School of Dance Production of “Amrapali” last Autumn at the Granville Arts Center.

With exaggerated facial expressions and complicated footwork alongside intricate eye movements enhanced by thick black eyeliner, Apoorva tells stories of the Indian culture through the art form, Bharatanatyam.

“Bharatanatyam is Indian classical dance prominent in South India,” Apoorva said. “It’s a combination of structure and facial expressions.”

Bharatanatyam focuses on storytelling. Whether it be the story of “Amrapali,” the mystic beauty turned Buddhist monk, or the mischievous antics of baby Krishna, a Hindu deity, as he steals butter.

“The essence of Bharatanatyam is expressions and devotion towards this art form,” Jasper High School sophomore Malvika Manoj, a friend of Apoorva said. “That alone will truly connect you to something larger than life.”

With support from her mother, Hema Kakkilaya, Apoorva began dancing in the first grade. After realizing her enjoyment in the classes, she not only continued, but also excelled in the dance form.

“I wanted her to stay in touch with her cultural roots,” Hema said. “I saw it as an opportunity to develop a talent that could always be a part of her.”

India has eight forms of Indian classical dance. Although India is one unified country, each part has distinct cultural characteristics that emerge in language, clothing, and art. Originating from Tamilian temples, Bharatanatyam is composed of rhythmic and emotional elements.

“The hardest part is learning how to express yourself and let it go,” Apoorva said. “It’s easy to be kind of shy to be expressive. It’s hard but you just have to learn.”

Apoorva learns as a part of the Srutilaya School of Dance under Madhusri Sethuraman. Sethuraman has been dancing for over 40 years starting at the age of four. She performed her Arangetram, or debut solo recital, at the age of eight.

“My teacher is inspirational,” Apoorva said. “The amount of passion she shows for dance, really inspires me to be dedicated and improve.”

In October, Srutilaya School of Dance presented “Amrapali” in celebration of Sethuraman’s 25 years of teaching. Dance students practiced from the beginning of the summer until October in order to perfect the dances. Apoorva describes this as her favorite production.

“I dressed up and got into the part of a character,” said Apoorva. “I was a warrior and it was really fun.”

Bharatanatyam is a vital component of Apoorva’s life. Hours of practice on top of the complexity of the steps lead to the unbreakable connection between dance and the dancer.

“Dance class is stress-free and breathable,” Manoj said. “That’s why we do so well and at the same time, enjoy it immensely, which is a rarity these days. Even if we spent hours trying to perfect one step, we get this satisfaction that can’t really be found anywhere else.”
With her makeup-on, hair tightly in a bun and a sword prop in hand, Apoorva plays the role of a male soldier. She assumes the part as if it were a second skin, allowing the experiences she has gained over the past nine years to culminate into this one performance.

“Dance is my connection to my culture,” Apoorva said. “Everything about it is really amazing.”