Sophia

MEERA

STORY OF A SELFLESS PERSONALITY

Sophia Salingaros has studied Bharatanatyam under Guru Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu for the past 17 years. Having completed her Arangetram in 2010, Sophia has been invited to perform at prestigious global venues - to name a few: Narada Gana Sabha under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts, Vipanchee Arts Festival, Seva Sadan, Navatman Drive East, IAAC Erasing Borders, Battery Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, World Government Summit Dubai, and multiple performances at the United Nations and across Europe. Additionally, Sophia has studied intensively under Kalaimamani Rama Vaidyanathan and has performed in her international tours of ‘Vivartana’.

Sophia is an ICCR Empaneled Artist, IndianRaga Fellow, and 2013 YoungArts Finalist. Known for her precise nritta and sensitive abhinaya, she is also a blossoming choreographer and often presents her own works as well as those of her guru’s. As a non-Indian dancer, she hopes to spread the message that art knows no cultural or religious boundaries.

Sophia is a graduate of Columbia University and is currently pursuing her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College

Sophia will be presenting her Bharathanatyam pieces focused on Meera Bai, a celebrated saint, well known for her extensive devotional poetry and songs dedicated to Krishna. Although she was born a princess, she was willing to live as a beggar, face regular persecution, and threats to her life, rather than renounce her devotion to Krishna.

Alarippu.  - The first item is an Alarippu, set to sankeerna chapu thalam. Alarippu is a well-known piece of the Bharatanatyam repertoire, which showcases isolated movements of the eyes, neck, shoulders, and arms in progressively dynamic movements and speeds. This alarippu has been reimagined to depict the musical instruments that accompany dancers: the mridangam, veena, flute, tanpura, voice, and the composer who brings them all together. For without music, what is dance? Choreography by the artist, under the guidance of her guru dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu.
Varnam  - , Sophia will present a varnam, the centerpiece item in a bharatanatyam recital. This item traces the nayika's journey from youthful innocence to mature understanding of her Lord Krishna. In the first sanchari, she says: every time I go to the river to fetch water, Krishna, that stealer of hearts, is there to bother me. Then, she realizes she is enamored with Krishna's beautiful form. She longs for one glimpse of him, but he is nowhere to be seen. She has heard so many rumors about his form: some say he is dark like the thunder clouds, others say bright like a sun, some say light as a feather, others hard as a rock. Finally, the monsoon rains begin to pour. She sees all the people and animals returning home to be together, yet she is alone. But, she realizes that Krishna is all around her, like the rain pouring down. Verses compiled from Meera bhajans by dr. sreedhara akkihebbalu, ragamalika, adi thala. Choreography by the artist under the guidance of her guru.