How Bharatanatyam is transforming the lives of girls in villages near Vellore

‘Eriyae daivam enru…’ — a breezy song brought a group of enthusiastic little girls onto the stage. Dressed in colourful costumes, with delicate creepers woven into their hair as jewellery, they joined their teacher, Moogambigai Murugesan, to perform a Bharatanatyam piece. They danced with joy to the song that talked about preserving the Eri (pond in Tamil) as god — not just as a source of water, but as a nurturing habitat for fish, crabs and other creatures. The training was evident in a performance marked by vigour and confidence. For the first time, K. Velur, a small village 119 km from Chennai, played host to a classical dance presentation. For the residents, it was hard to believe that such an event could take place in their village — one that featured girls from nearby areas.

Moogambigai, who was raised in a family where boys are valued more than girls, had resigned herself to a stereotypical future — a government job after college, followed by marriage and children. She was not even aware that a dance form called Bharatanatyam existed. The thought that she might one day teach dance to children in villages had never crossed her mind. Nor had she imagined that dance could empower women until she met Sangeeta Isvaran, who had recognised the inherent power of the medium early in life.