About Sanskriti

Sanskriti a registered charitable trust is functioning as an academic institution for over 15 years now. The Guru and Director of Sanskriti, Vidushi Smt. Suchitra Alaknanda has been successful in imparting value added education of the form of classical dance and music to aspiring students. The main objective of the institution is to promote cultural ethics and values in the form of dance and music among young enthusiastic students thereby enabling them to expand further and establish themselves in these spectra.

Having started on a humble note with 3 students in 1998, Sanskriti has grown steadily, thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Guru and director, Smt. Suchitra, who has devoted a major portion of her life to passing on traditional music and dance forms to aspiring students.

The core philosophy of Sanskriti is to carry forward the values of ancient and pure forms of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Classical music as a parampara' (tradition) that has been initiated and propagated by the pioneers in the field. Also, the institution aims at preparing the young students to be the torch-bearers of the rich Indian classical forms and pass it on to the coming generations. In the course of training a lot of impetus is given to the importance of the history of these art forms and the deep cultural meanings they portray.

Sanskriti is popular for its authentic training methods which strongly impart, not only the cultural but also the spiritual ethics and values to the students.

Though Bharatanatya may seem just a physical form of dance, it involves an overall escalation of one's personality. This is promoted by conducting classes of Yoga, Nattuvanga (vocal rendition of tala) and also music classes.

Students are trained in the Mysore Nanjangud style of Bharatanatya mainly. In the advanced levels they are also given an insight into other traditions of the rich Karnataka Parampare.
Lot of impetus is given to the purity and authenticity of the tradition during the training sessions in the formative years.
Sanskriti believes in providing the much needed platform for the students to perform during their developing stages. This acts as an incentive to the students to work hard and set up goals. This will also boost their confidence and acts as stepping stones in the path to become matured performers.
The Annual Festival of music and dance, called Naada Nupura has been a very successful event in this direction, imparting the confidence to handle stage performances in solos, duets and groups to students. Also, noted guests who have carved a niche in this field are invited, so that the students can derive lot of inspiration and encouragement from them. This promotes exposure of young talents. It has been held at several locations like Suchitra Academy, H N Kalakshetra auditorium, JSS Auditorium and so on.
The students, under the able guidance of the Guru, Vidushi. Smt. SuchitraAlaknanda have been successful in expanding their horizon by starting with their performances in the annual day programmes of Sanskriti called Naada Nupura, to several other noteworthy organisations and institutions at several locations.
Also, several workshops are conducted where noted dancers and doyens in the field also teach students, thereby expanding their knowledge and experience by learning under them. Students have thus, had the privilege of learning, not only under the able Guru Smt. Suchitra but also under many other senior, accomplished teachers like Naatyacharya Bharatakalamani Sri C Radhakrishna, Smt. Shakuntala, Padma Chittampalli and so on. This has helped them get a flavour of several styles of Bharatanatya too.
Students have also obtained distinction and several have secured state-level ranks at the Junior and Senior level examinations conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board in consecutive years.
Also, educative excursions are regularly held in order to enlarge the awareness of students about the art form.
The students have given appreciated performances at several noted organisations and events, a few of them being.
Occasions organised by the Dept. of Kannada and Culture, Govt. Of Karnataka.
Chinmaya Mission
Rajeev Gandhi Open University
Art of Living Foundation
All India Conference on Ayurvedic Medicine
International Conference on Animation organised by MediaTech
Rotary Club, Bangalore
SuchitraKalaKendra
ISKCON
Sri Ramotsava, JayaramaSevaMandali.

And many more...

Also, students have given solo and duet performances at the prestigious Indian Institute of World Culture and solo performances at Yuva Saurabha, organised by Dept. of Kannada and Culture and have gained appreciation by thre general audience as well as noted critics.

Also, currently, an ensemble of senior dancers in the institution, have given laudable performances at many organisations and festivals and received appreciation as a team. They are prepared and trained to give performances as a group.

Carnatic Classical Music

Karnataka ShastreeyaSangeetha has been another prominent domain at Sanskriti. Young students with humble interest in the field are trained by the Guru constantly inspiring them into the spectrum. The training gives immense emphasis on the theoretical aspects like Bhava Grahana and Bhava Prakatane, and specially in Dasasahitya, the speciality of Bhakti Rasa. The students are prepared in a traditional way and are given a wide forum to expand their abilities and grow in the field.

Many students have also received distinction in the Junior and Senior level examinations conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board constantly. Like Dance, several Music workshops are conducted on various forms of music like Devaranama, BhavaGeethe, Janapada Geethe and so on. Sanskriti has organised special workshops for students from abroad to introduce them to Indian cultural art forms.

Also, the students have given many performances at several places spanning wide across the state and have been appreciated by Critics and Public alike.

Theatre

The other facet of SANSKRITI is the theatre group, which has staged more than 25 plays, including those of late T.P.Kailasam. This wing is spearheaded by the popular theatre, television and film artist Sri.Alaknanda, the strength behind Smt.Suchitra and SANSKRITI.

The natural artiste that he is, Sri.Alaknanda has been the guiding force and has involved in staging many Plays, very active in the amateur theatre activities, besides acting in the television serials, cinemas and documentaries.

He has performed in more than 150 stage plays in Kannada & English. He is also a very active member of the theatre group, VEDIKE, run by the popular thespian Late Sri.C.R.Simha.