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Sujatha | Divya | About School
Sujatha was trained to score her stage debut in Bharatanatyam by the world renowned dance couple (late Gurus) Smt. Chandrabhaga Devi and Guru U.S. Krishna Rao. She has also trained under Guru Smt. Narmada. She has chiseled her performance through dedicated complementary studies under other well known teachers in Bangalore.
Sujatha Venkatesh's work theatre for the last couple of decades has been Geneva. She has not used her talents for mere self-projection, but evoked and cultivated it to help people in need. This involves working with Dr. Arpin (Psychiatrist and Anthropologist) under the title of Trans-Cultural Consultancy in Geneva. Also working with children, with special needs, has given new dimensions to dance.
She has trained numerous students from various backgrounds, and quite a few of them have given their debut performance (Arangetrum). She has hosted and managed the tours and publicity to enable a number of artistes to perform in Switzerland.
Sujatha has been acclaimed by many reviewers for her wondrous and exceptional capability in hand gestures. Art critics of many journals have noted her grace and fluidity on stage, and how she brought joy in her several roles.
Success in any art form is not to be measured in terms of either purse or mere personal fame, but by the magnitude to which it touches the others, particularly the needy, the learner and the lay, at home and abroad. It imparts a wonder and comprehension, appreciation and enjoyment, while it traverses its own journey in innovations and development.
Sujatha has quietly but surely achieved this.
Divya Venkatesh was born and brought up in Geneva (Switzerland) and received her initial training in Bharatanatyam from her mother and Guru, Smt. Sujatha Venkatesh. Smt Sujatha Venkatesh is also the artistic director, and founder of OMKARA School of Indian Dance.
In 2004, Divya completed her arrangetram under Guru Smt Sujatha Venkatesh - with the guidance of (late) Guru Smt. Narmada of Bangalore.
In 2006, Divya enrolled at the Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan in London - as her studies had taken her to the United Kingdom. There, she continued her training in Bharatanatyam under the resident teacher Guru Sri Prakash Yedagudde.
Divya has achieved a 'Distinction' in the Bharatanatyam exams given by the Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan.
She has also had the privilege of having been able to work with internationally renowned artists such as Sri Sathya Narayana Raju of Bangalore.
Upon her visits to Geneva, Divya assists her mother in teaching whenever possible, and is an active participant in all OMKARA productions.
Divya has taken part in numerous shows. She has participated in many Bhavan (UK) performences along with fellow dance students, and has also presented several solo performances in Geneva, UK and Bangalore.
The aim of the school is to promote Indian Culture through dance. Omkara has hosted various classical styles in order to emphasize the differences between each dance style, and their individual qualities.
The students have benefited from the many visiting artists, through workshop interactions and performances.
Over the years, Omkara has invited and promoted many individual and group artists with the intention of not only propagating the style, but also providing the students a chance to interact with the performing artist; to learn not only about dance but also to acquire the qualities or tools one needs to be a performer.
The workshops organized have provided the students with a rich kaleidoscope of talent, culture and knowledge, from which they can pick and choose aspects to enrich their own lives and their dance repertoire. This has broadened their minds and helped them become aware of the harmony between body and soul.
Performances taking place in the Swiss auditoriums (be it by the students of Omkara, or by visiting artists from our home country) have not only enthralled the audience, but have also helped the poor back in India through many charity organizations such as Planète Enfants, Global Harmony Foundation etc.