About Kala Sowmyam
Kala Sowmyam imparts the knowledge in Pandanallur Style of Bharatanatyam and Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, emphasising on the purity of the disciplines with the intention of promoting Indian arts and increasing community participation in multicultural Qatar.
Under the guidance of Guru Vidhushi Sowmya Govind Naidu, who is a disciple of Dr.Vasundhara Doraswamy, Kala Sowmyam has been imparting classical dance and yoga education in Qatar for the past eight years. The students have performed at various venues and cultural festivals across Qatar.
Sowmya aims to share the traditional values among the next generations whilst imparting positive traits to aid physical and personality development. Students here get professionally trained in Bharathnatyam, Yoga, and Natuvangam (cyllabals). Students can also take up certified examination which is affiliated to AKHILA BHARATIYA GANDHARVA MAHAVIDYALAYA. Apart from the nuances of the traditional art forms students get to learn folk dances from different parts India and Cinematic dances from India.
VIDHUSHI SOWMYA GOVIND NAIDU
SWAYAMA PRAKSHA NARTHAKI
VIDHUSHI SOWMYA GOVIND NAIDU is a multifaceted talented Bharatanatyam Artist, Choreographer, Instructor and Yoga Guru.
She is the Member of International Dance Council CID, UNESCO.
One of the Registered Bharatanatyam artist in conducting Dance examinations affiliated to Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya in QATAR.
PROFILE
A unique multifaceted talented
and danseuse par excellence is what Sowmya is all about. She is born to a cultural affluent family with parents G.K. Sampath Kumar and Vijayalakshmi. Blessed with a doting husband Govind Naidu and an Art-loving family. Sowmya is now based in Qatar, pursuing her passion to greater heights. Sowmya got initiated into the aesthetic field at the age of six under the guidance of Guru Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, a well-known Bharathnatyam Dancer from Mysore. Sowmya underwent many years of intensive training in dance and basic yoga. She shot to limelight by winning many accolades, prizes, awards and scholarships by various organizations across the world. She was selected by ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) and IRCEN (Indian International Rural Cultural Centre) representing India in Cultural Exchange Program and performed in different parts of China (Beijing Xian Province, Shangai, Hong Kong and Harbin). She has also performed in various prestigious stages in Qatar, including solo performance for Qatar-India Year of Culture-2019 through Embassy of India to Qatar. A Doordarshan artist, she is a recipient of the Central Government Scholarship, - awarded by the Union Ministry of Culture during the year 2003-2005 for Dance and 2006-2008 for Nattuvangam (cymbals).
She is the Member of International Dance Council CID, UNESCO.
She is the Registered artist in conducting Dance examinations affiliated to Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya.
Some of the performances in prestigious festivalsand stages include - Hampi Utsav- Karnataka, Khajuraho Dance Festival - Madhya Pradesh, Pattadakal Dance Festival (Chalukya Utsav) - Karnataka, Natarajothsava National Dance Festival - Karnataka, Pallavothsava National Dance Festival - Karnataka, Dasara Mahothsava – Karnataka, Karavali Utsav - Karnataka, Halebeedu Utsav – Karnataka, Sai Nrithyostava 74-Karnataka, Sarasanatyamala- Chennai ;Tamil Nadu, Nruthyabanu-Karnataka, Natyanjali- Chidambaram ; Tamil Nadu, Nadaneerajanam- Thirupathi, ICCR Evening Program- Karnataka and many more.
She has been as an examiner for Dance in Karnataka Education Board for Junior, Senior and Vidhwat grade Examinations and also for Cannoor (Kerala)- Lasya Dance School. She has also been invited as judge for several State Dance and Music Competitions. She has teaching experience in the same field for more than 2 decades. Her solo performance is a visual delight in various National and International dance festivals.
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Sowmya has also been practicing Ashtanga Yoga since the age of 12 under the guidance of Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy who is the disciple of Dr. Pattabhi Jois the torchbearer of Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa. Sowmya has been practicing and teaching Yoga for more than 15 years now. She follows her Guru in interpreting Yogic movements and postures into Bharatanatyam.
Academically Sowmya is a gold medalist in Financial Management and a rank holder in Master of Business Administration. Painting and singing is her hobby. Presently she is contributing her services in the field of dance and yoga as the Artistic Director of KALA SOWMYAM in Association with SKILLS DEVELOPMENT CENTRE-QATAR and in INDIA.
About Guru
Dr.Vasundhara Doraswamy
Director of VPAC Mysore is a Danseuse par excellence, versatile choreographer of repute and a venerated guru of Bharatanatyam, hails from the princely city of Mysore and has turned very much a phenomenon in the Indian Classical dance scenario over the past five decades and more of her career.
Vasundhara is one of the pioneer disciples of renowned Shri Pattabhi Jois from Mysore in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, and has earned a Phd for her research and thesis on the correlation between Yoga and Bharatanatyam. She is the youngest recipient of the ‘Karnataka Kala Tilak’ the prestigious award from the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy and has a post-graduate degree in Folklore and is a consummate exponent of the martial arts of ‘Tang-ta’ and ‘Kalarippayattu’ which vouches highlighting her multidisciplinary achievements. Vasundhara Doraswamy received the prestigious Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the President of India Droupadi Murmu in New Delhi on Feb. 23.
Vasundhara is a visiting Guest Professor at Alabama University in the US where she spends 4 summer months every year. She was conferred the Honorary Citizen of Louisville and a Lifetime Achievement Award this summer by the Mayor of Louisville, USA.
For more information please visit: www.vasundharadoraswamy.com
A Dedicated Artist
an Eminent Performer
an Accomplished Dancer
and A Committed Guru
is all about Sowmya.
Press Tributes
THE HINDU
Enlightening Demonstration- A Noteworthy feature of her leg movements was the softness of the foot movements, especially, the feather-touch stamping throughout the performance.
INDIAN EXPRESS
An Instance of Faultless Bharathanatyam - That Sowmya is a well-trained dancer was evident from her delineation of Varnam is Karaharapriya. Though the Varnam is Ramayana in a capsule form, the interpretation covers almost all the major episodes.
FEMINA, BOMBAY
Inspiring Recital By Sowmya- Unlike most Bharathanatyam dancers, she fills the stage with lightning movements. This adds a welcome new dimension to Bharathanatyam. Another interesting feature is the high, light leap and the low leg stretch movements. In her ‘Ashtapadi’ she made an indelible impact with her strange assertion of independence .
STAR OF MYSORE, GEMINI
Memorable Performance by young Sowmya- The most significant presentation in Bharathanatyam is Padavarnam, in which the artiste is in full imaginative flight and has ample scope to show her artistry. Sowmya’s dance marked by precision and speed in the virtuoso grandeur of rhythm. Ms. Sowmya showed her command over the various dance forms with swift footwork.
SAMACHAR
Captivating recital by Sowmya- Sowmya, gifted with an attractive personality and expressive eyes, treaded her guru’s style and captured the audience with sublime abhinaya and striking nritta, while presenting Sri Rama Varnam.
THE HINDU, G.S.PAUL
Full of verse and creativity- G.S.Sowmya proved her worth in the padavarnam in Dhanyasi. The sancharis she presented were evocative of her creative instincts .
HINDU FRIDAY REVIEW
Endearing delicacy- The young artist is proficient in both areas of nritha and nrithya, animated in the former and impressive in the later. The extent of stretch while describing the vinyasas and the degree of acuty in assuming bhangis are a measure of her expertise in yogic postures. In “Adidano Shankara aadidano”, versatility, agility and quick reflexes rendered the pure dance sections attractive. In areas warranting abhinaya, the artiste unfolded herself, delving into the depths of refined expressions (Navarasas) .
THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, DR. SURYA PRASAD
Pure and expressive-With music contributing much to the aesthetics of the programme, Sowmya Govind Naidu of Qatar combined pure and expressive dance in a notable manner. The very opening with a rare Mela prapthi followed by Shiva shloka captivated the audience. It was poorvarangavidhi rendered to the accompaniment of instrumental music.
The dancer covered the stage in geometrical patterns and stole the show. Likewise in the next Swaranjali too, she translated the intricate swaras and jathis into a superlative dance language.
The famous Bhagyada Lakshmi baaramma (focused on Abhinaya) showcased the theatric talent of Sowmya. The concluding Valachi tillana was packed with the technical skills of the dancer and the piece of text on Goddess Adi Shakthi was beautifully portrayed.
When Expressions
Replace the lyrics of
the songs, We realise the
true beauty of
Dance
Yoga
Om Vande Gurunam Charanaravinde Sandarshita Svatma Sukava Bodhe Nih Sreyase Jangalikayamane Samsara Halahala Mohashantyai
Abahu Purushakaram Shankhacakrsi Dharinam Sahasra Sirasam Svetam Pranamami Patanjalim Om
In Sanskrit, yoga means ‘to unite’ and the study of Yoga describes a way to live a healthy life. In yoga, the mind is disciplined through meditation and the body is aligned and strengthened through the Asanas.
Ashtanga Yoga means 8 limbs and its first known use is in the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali where it describes an 8-part method of practice.
The fundamental practices of the Ashtanga Yoga system are:
Tristana method – Posture (asana), regulated ‘free’ breathing, and gazing points (driśti). When we are able to combine these three elements, this creates a deeply relaxed state of concentration.
Vinyasa – synchronised breath and movement progressing through fixed sequences of postures
Bandha – the use of internal muscle engagements and energetic holds
At Kala Sowmyam, anyone can benefit from this dynamic system of yoga. As with any yoga practice, it is important not to rush and to move in a way that feels comfortable in your own body