| Fundraiser for ‘Mahalakshmi Foundation’
Shelter for Abandoned Children in India.
Third Eye Dancers proudly present Bharathakala Natya Academy's 'Kalpavriksha – The Giving Tree' a thematic Naatya presentation choreographed by Smt. Subathra Sudarshan at the Roswell Cultural Arts Center on Sunday September 30th 2012. This event will be a charity fundraiser for 'Mahalakshmi Foundation,’ a shelter home for abandoned children in India
Third Eye Dancers is a Georgia not for profit organization (IRS 501 c 3) with the goal of increasing awareness about social issues affecting children, including education, environmental, abuse and those related to health. The organization strongly believes that communicating social issues through dance not only enhances reception but also entices children and young adults to get involved in the remediation of such pressing issues. Third Eye Dancers has contributed to various causes over the years including Rising Star Outreach (children affected by Leprosy), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Akshaya Trust (CNN Hero Narayanan Krishnan), Tamilnadu Kidney Research Foundation and for Bhutanese Refugees Children Education in Atlanta.
Bharathakala Natya Academy, founded by Smt Subathra Sudarshan, is premier Bharatanatyam academy (kalakshetra style) in Atlanta. Bharathakala engages students in imaginative dances while learning about the history of Bharatnatyam as well as the culture following the Kalakshetra style
About Mahalakshmi Foundation
Mahalakshmi Foundation is an organization established in the year 2000 that provides shelter for abandoned, destitute and orphaned children. This shelter is in Avadi, Chennai, India and is run by a couple - Mrs Kasturi Kulaindaivelu and Mr. Kulandaivelu dedicated to service to humanity.
This couple started the shelter with two abandoned children by housing them in their premises and funding with their own earnings. In due course of time, when the incoming of the destitute started increasing they had to go for public contributions. They had started this venture with friends who were willing to help them in such noble cause and gradually the list of donors increased. Today the organization is well recognized in the vicinity. This is a recognized orphanage under Social Welfare Department, Tamil Nadu, India
The mission of Mahalakshmi Foundation is to provide the residential care with love for the destitute children and also provide the following:
- Basic care, food, clothing and shelter.
- Value based education to the children and turn them into good citizens.
- Essential medical care.
- Personal skills development.
- Secure them from hazards like child labor, child trafficking and begging.
Currently this foundation homes 38 children from various ages 1 to 13 and are schooling them by sending them to the nearby government and semi-private schools. Local Donors are helping in taking care of the food expenses. Currently sponsors from U.S have taken responsibility for sponsoring 12 kids. Sponsors from Dubai are sponsoring 7 kids. Other kids are really in need of sponsorship.
There are a few kids with special abilities, given proper resources and education will surely reach great heights. For example a small girl Bhakia, who came in so weak and malnourished as a 2 yr old kid, has been treated medically with love and care and has turned out to be a healthy child with an extraordinary memory skill. She has memorized one thousand couplets from thirukural, (a Tamil literary classic that contains 1330 rhyming couplets written by Thiruvalluvar in 5th Century BC) and has appeared in local TV channels for her extraordinary ability.
In 2008, a new building has been built from the donations from the fund raisers which is helping to house these kids. Earlier they were all living in a small house with 2 rooms. The main objective of this fund-raiser is to add another floor in this building to provide more room for the kids and to provide a separate dormitory for girls.
Gold Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors:
Fundraiser for 'Bhutanese Refugees Children's Education'
In Partnership with SEWA & Art of Living
About the Fundraiser
Third Eye Dancers proudly present Bharathakala Natya Academy's 'Enchanted Snow White' a thematic Naatya presentation choreographed by Smt. Subathra Sudarshan at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center on Saturday October 29th 2011. This event will be a charity fundraiser for 'Bhutanese Refugees Children's Education' in Atlanta.
Third Eye Dancers is a Georgia not for profit organization (IRS 501 c 3) with the goal of increasing awareness about social issues affecting children, including education, environmental, abuse and those related to health. The organization strongly believes that communicating social issues through dance not only enhances reception but also entices children and young adults to get involved in the remediation of such pressing issues. Third Eye Dancers partnering with Bharathakala Natya Academy has contributed to various causes over the years including Rising Star Outreach (children affected by Leprosy), Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Akshaya Trust (CNN Hero Narayanan Krishnan) and Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation.
Bharathakala Natya Academy founded by Smt Subathra Sudarshan is premier Bharatanatyam academy (kalakshetra style) in Atlanta. Bharathakala engages students in imaginative dances while learning about the history of Bharatnatyam as well as the culture following the Kalakshetra style
Bhutanese Refugees - Background
The objective of this event is to increase awareness and raise money to support the children's education of Bhutanese refugees living in Atlanta. The population in Bhutan mainly consists of two communities: the Drukpas and the Lhotshampas. In 1985, conflict between these two communities resulted in a mass exodus of Lhotshampas to Nepal. Starting from then until 1994, more than 110,000 Lhotshampas took refuge in seven UN-administered camps in Nepal living in very poor conditions.
The United States eventually volunteered to resettle 60,000 of these refugees, with the remainder destined to go to other developed nations. In 2008, they began arriving in the United States in what the UN has described as one of the world's largest resettlement efforts ever. These refugees are given only a few months of support from the government and the resettlement agencies. After that, they are required to become self-sufficient. They also require support to help them make the transition to this new land. (Source: http://www.sewausa.org/bhutanese-refugee-empowerment-project).
SEWA and Art of Living foundation have been working with Bhutanese refugees over the years and help them transition to American culture. SEWA currently works with Bhutanese refugees in 35 states in US. Art of Living imparts valuable education for Bhutanese refugees to deal with stress management and help children to better integrate to the new life style.
Why help Bhutanese children?
- United States voluntarily resettled these refugees. They need help from local community
- Having lived in camp for over 18 years, they need help transition to the new life.
- These children need guidance, support and help to develop into responsible citizens
- Importantly, We want these children to be an asset to US and not a liability!
How can you help?
- Learn about the Bhutanese refugees and spread the word
- Sponsor Children Education (Donate through www.thirdeyedancers.org)
- Sponsor the Snow White Event
- Volunteer with SEWA / Art of Living and provide assistance to Bhutanese kids / family
Sponsorship Information
| Sponsorship Level | Amount | What do you get? |
|---|---|---|
| Platinum | $1000 |
|
| Gold | $500 |
|
| Silver | $250 |
|
| Bronze | $100 |
|
| Half Page | $75 |
|
| Quarter Page | $50 |
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For more information, email thirdeyedancers@gmail.com or call 404.663.8337
Artistic Director: Smt. Subathra Sudarsan
Venue: Gwinnett Center
Date: Sunday, August 29th, 2011
Fundraiser for : Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation (TANKER)
Written by Mahadev Desai
Third Eye Dancers, presented a spectacular Bharatnatyam,Kathak and Kuchipudi dance bonanza ,'Guru Samarpana',as a fundraiser for Tamilnad Kidney Research Foundation(TANKER Foundation),at the Gwinnett Performing Arts Center, on Sunday, August 28.
The show, a sold-out event which attracted over 650 patrons, was a feast for the senses featured highly talented,gifted,and proficient professional artists, some of whom are also founders and directors of prestigious dance academies in Atlanta; South Carolina; Washington D.C.;Chicago and California. They came together not only to support the humanitarian and deserving goal of TANKER Foundation but also to show submission,gratitude,love and respect for their respective Gurus.
After extending a warm welcome to all, Subathra Sudarshan, explained the mission of Third Eye Dancers of giving through dance. She said the goal was to increase awareness about social issues affecting children, through dance so that they with their parents can get involved in the remediation of such issues. Third Eye Dancers, in association with Bharathakala Natya Academy had organized fundraising events like Dayaa Nidhi in 2007 for Rising Star outreach, Prana in 2009 for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and for Akshaya Trust in 2010." Today's event as you know is for helping TANKER Foundation. Through the Guru Samarpana Dance, we wish to offer our heartfelt salutations to our respective Gurus". Subathra Sudarshan deserves accolades for bringing together the team of talented professional artists for the event.
The program was emceed with great flair by Krishna Kumar who with his wife Sivakami runs Bharata Kalarpana School of Indian Culture and Fine Arts in South Carolina. Krishna Kumar introduced each item with a brief but insightful history of the dance, episode, poem, Bhajan etc.accompanied with his facial and hand gestures. 17 year old Sutikshna Veeravali, who is a Bharatanatyam dancer and Carnatic music singer, set the ball rolling with graceful Nrittanjali.
Kumud Savla is Atlanta's well known and respected Kathak exponent who with her husband Sandeep Savla runs highly popular Nritya Natya Kala Bharati Dance Academy. Their Academy has also begun a Dance and Music Certification Program with Ghandharva Mahavidyalaya in Pune, India. Their daughter Samta is also being well groomed by them and is blossoming into a fine artist. Kumud, Samta and Academy students performed to an innovatively choreographed dance to Hindu's beloved devotional 'Hanuman Chalisa'.In the second half, Kumud and Samta portrayed the divine love and romantic teasing of Radha by Lord Krishna through an ovation-greeted dance to mohe chhedo naa.Both the Kathak dances were beautifully choreographed by Kumud Savla.
Krishna Kumar and Sivakami then performed a riveting Bharatanatyam dance, impressively choreographed by Subathra Sudarshan, to a song in praise of the art form, Aaadal Kalaiye from Tamil movie Sri Ragavendra.
Sasikala Penumarthi is Atlanta's iconic exponent of Padma Bhushan Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam's style of Kuchipudi dance. She founded the Academy of Kuchipudi Dance in 1997 and widely travelled Sasikala has over the years given many a virtuoso performances for many deserving causes. She gave a spellbinding performance to the popular Bengali song Bodhu Kon Alo from Tagore's play Chitrangda.
Bharathakala Natya Academy's artistic director Subathra Sudarshan, Artistic Director of Mrudani School Anuradha Murali;Kannan Rasiah from Yogaville,Virginia;;Aparna Seetharaman from California; and Artistic Director of Samyuktam Natya Academy, Preetha Sayeekrishnan performed an exuberant dance to a popular composition Yen Palli Kondeer Ayya by Arunachala Kavirayar.
Just before interval, Sutikshna's Bharatanatyam graceful dance to Meera bai's soul-stirring bhajan Hari Tum Haro was like a cherry on the cake and elicited resounding standing ovation from the rapt audience. The heart rending dance was choreographed by her mother and Guru Vanitha Veeravalli, who runs the Bharatam Academy of Dance Arts in Chicago. The dance interweaved three interesting episodes- Lord Krishna coming to help Draupadi at her disrobing by Dushasana; Hiranyakashipu and Prahlad and Gajendra Moksha where Lord Vishnu comes down to earth to save Gajendra (elephant) from the clutches of Makar (crocodile).
Dr.Subha Maruvada, a Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam dancer runs Pranava Natyam Kuchipudi School of Dance in Maryland. She regaled the audience with a Kuchipudi dance in praise of Sri Bhuvaneswari.Sasikala and her Academy students performed a vibrant dance to Jagadananda Karaka, a famous Pancaratna-keertana by poet Thyagaraja.
Subathra Sudarshan is the founder and Artistic director of Third Eye dancers and also runs the Bharathakala Natya Academy in Johns creek. She is a disciple of the Bharatanatyam legends, Padma Bhushan awardees Naatyacharyaas Shri V.P. Dhananjayan and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan. Subathra has travelled the world extensively and has choreographed several productions for charity. She performed her dance to Jaya Maruthi Kauthuvam, in praise of Lord Anjaneya. Subathra enthralled the audience with this episode from Ramayana, where Hanuman enters Ashoka Vana and delivers the ring from his master, Rama to Sita and later sets fire to Sri Lanka. Subathra blew away the audience with her superb choreographic talent and her prowess in delineating the episode through fluid abinaya and clean nritta.
In his brief address Dr.Manohar Nallathambi, an Atlanta-based surgeon said, "I welcome you all. TANKER Foundation founded by Dr.Georgie Abraham in June 1993 is based in Chennai; India. Kidney Failure is the third leading cause of death after cancer and heart disease. For the past 18 years TANKER has fought against kidney diseases by providing subsidized and free dialysis and financial support to the underprivileged. It maintains 3 dialysis units with 26 dialysis machines in Chennai and Madurai and is set to begin two more units in Tirunelveli and Coimbatore. Since November 2009, there is a dedicated dialysis unit for poor with HIV, the very first of its kind in India. On behalf of TANKER Foundation, I thank you all for your generous support. Every drop counts as the drops can turn into a big flood one day!"
The following dance performed by the students of Subathra Sudarshan describing the beauty of Lord Muruga to devotional piece Malai Varum Velai was also captivating. The concluding item Nrittangaharam-Behag was performed by the group 'Bharatasangamam' from all over the U.S.-Subathra and Preetha from Atlanta;Anuradha;Krishna Kumar and his wife Sivakami from South Carolina;Kannan Rasiah from Virginia; and Aparna from California. These artists danced with panache, mesmerizing the audience with their dancing prowess, rhythm, poise, synchronization and zest and ended the highly entertaining program with Mangalam.
In his Vote of Thanks, Sudarshan Srinivasan thanked the gathering for attending the event and for their generous support. "Joy of giving has no other match" he said. He thanked Dr.Manohar Nallathambi for his presence on behalf of TANKER Foundation; Krishna Kumar for emceeing the event; the Gwinnett team; and all the volunteers. He recognized all the professional artists for coming together to lend their support to the worthy humanitarian cause.. He concluded by requesting the audience to come and support Third Eye Dancer's upcoming event,' Enchanted Snowwhite'(a Bharatha Natya Academy Production)- a fundraiser to aid children education for 'Bhutanese Refugees 'living in Atlanta, at Gwinnett Center on Saturday October 29,2011.
Choreographer: Smt. Subathra Sudarsan
Venue: Lanier Technical College, Forsyth Campus
Date: Friday, December 3rd 2010
Fundraiser for : Akshaya Trust (www.akshayatrust.org)
Third Eye Dancers and Bharathakala Natya Academy felicitated real life hero, Mr. Krishnan of Akshaya Trust on Friday December 3rd, 2010 at the Forsyth Conference Center. Mr. Krishnan has been recently recognized by CNN as one of the top ten CNN Heroes of 2010.
Akshaya Trust is a non-profit organization based in Madurai, a city in Tamil Nadu. Akshaya Trust, with the herculean effort of one man has set out on a mission to feed the destitute and the poor. The Trust feeds more than 400 people, three meals a day. Akshaya is Sanskrit for "undecaying" or "imperishable," and the name was chosen "to signify [that] human compassion should never decay or perish. ..." Third Eye Dancers and Bharathakala Natya Academy chose to organize a fundraiser for Akshaya Trust to support Mr. Krishnan's commitment to 'helping the helpless'. The event was conducted on December 3rd 2010 at the Forsyth Conference Center. This event attracted more than 650 people who had come to support Mr. Krishnan and Third Eye Dancers.
The students of Bharathakala Natya Academy danced in "Shuklam Baradharam," a prayer to Lord Ganesh, followed by a prayer to Lord Vishnu. "Kathana Kuthuhalam" showed Lord Krishna dancing with Radha and the gopikas. A composition of Shankaracharya, "Ganesha Pancharatnam" depicted Lord Ganesha, blessing his devotees.
Other dances followed: "'Adharam Madhuram" on Krishna; A.R. Rahman's composition, "Nila Kaigiradhu/Khila Chandni" from the movie Indra; and "Krishna Nee Begane Baaro," a popular number from the group Colonial Cousins, had the dancers pleading to Krishna, Allah, Jesus and all other divine powers to return and deliver kids from misery and suffering. This last piece by Hariharan and Lewis was specially choreographed for this event.
Various Atlanta associations, including Greater Atlanta Tamil Sangam (GATS), Telugu Association of Metro Atlanta, IACA, Naya India and the Rotary Club of Emory/Druid Hills joined hands with Third Eye Dancers to felicitate Mr. Krishnan.
Akshaya Trust is a non profit organization based out of Madurai with sole purpose of feeding homeless and uncared people. Akshaya Trust feeds more than 400 people, three meals a day. Akshaya is Sanskrit for "undecaying" or "imperishable," and the name was chosen "to signify [that] human compassion should never decay or perish. ..."
Third Eye dancers decided to organize a fundraiser for Akshaya Trust having witnessed Mr. Krishnan's commitment to 'helping the helpless'. The event was conducted on May 29th 2010 at the New Dawn Theatre , Duluth partnering with Bharathakala Natya Academy.
The students of Bharathakala Natya Academy with their teacher Smt. Subathra Sudarsan put together a fantastic evening of classical and fusion dance pieces. The program was graced by the presence of Smt. Radhika Shurajit, an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer and the director of the popular show - Thaka-dhimi-tha of Jaya TV (Chennai, India). One of the highlights of the evening was "Nilaa Kaaigiradhu" – a number from the film Indira, originally choreographed by Radhika Shurajit. The dance was presented in honor of Guru Radhika Shurajit. Third Eye Dancer's Artistic Director Smt. Subathra Sudarsan went to Madurai, India and presented the funds to Akshaya Trust on July 22nd 2010. Further to this event, Mr.Krishnan of Akshaya Trust has been chosen as 'CNN Top Ten Heroes' of 2010. 
The mission of Rising Star Outreach is to help the Leprosy colonies become thriving, self-sufficient communities.
Dayaa Nidhi, a production by Bharathakala Natya Academy was held at the Pace Fine Arts Center and drew close 600 people for the show. This was the first fundraiser held by the Bharathakala and it was grand success.
The highlight of the event was the dance drama portraying a young woman's plight after being affected by leprosy. The dance highlighted the social stigma around 'Leprosy' and addressed some of the myths surrounding this disease. The students of Bharathakala and their Guru Smt. Subathra performed brilliantly and captivated the audience. The fundraiser from the project was used by Rising Star Outreach to build a library in the school which they have built for the children from leprosy colony.
Cystic fibrosis is a life-threatening genetic disease that causes mucus to build up and clog some of the organs in the body, particularly the lungs and pancreas. Approximately 30,000 children and adults in the United States have cystic fibrosis. An additional ten million more—or about one in every 31 Americans—are carriers of the defective CF gene, but do not have the disease. CF is most common in Caucasians, but it can affect all races.
We held a successful fund raiser on May 23rd 2009 at the Lovett School performing arts center. More than 500 people attended the event and we were successful not only in raising money but also spreading awareness about Cystic Fibrosis.
The Wheel of Time
Kalparvriksha
Enchanted Snowwhite
Guru Samarpana
An Evening with a True Hero
Anjali
Dayaa Nidhi
Prana