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PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN A HYBRID SCHOOL SETTING by Edd Clayton Bond A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION May 2012 Copyright 2012 Edd Clayton Bond
Object Description
|Program elements for special needs students in a hybrid school setting
|Bond, Edd Clayton
|Author email
|Doctor of Education
|Document type
|Degree program
|Education (Leadership)
|Rossier School of Education
|Date defended/completed
|Date submitted
|Date approved
|Restricted until
|Date published
|Advisor (committee chair)
|Hentschke, Guilbert C.
|Advisor (committee member)
Dwyer, David C.
Crew, Rudolph
|Public charter schools have become a bigger and bigger part of the public school landscape. Online education has also grown exponentially over the past decade. In recent years a new instructional model has emerged within the charter school community. This model is known as blended or hybrid instruction. Blended instruction involves some combination of online and face-to-face instruction. ❧ Public hybrid charter schools must allow access to all students including special education students. They are subject to the same regulations and laws as all public agencies with regard to students with disabilities. Hybrid schools also have to look at technology access issues that may be associated with students with disabilities. ❧ This study examined perceptions of how special education students are served at public charter hybrid and online schools. It asked about and compared and contrasted perceptions of satisfaction levels among various stakeholders affiliated with hybrid and online schools. Those stakeholders included special education students, parents, and staff. The study also analyzed program elements for special education students at hybrid and online charter schools. Data was gathered through online surveys, interviews, and observations at online and hybrid schools chosen from an Innosight Institute database and other sources. The Innosight Institute is a research organization dedicated to organizational improvements in education and health care. Stakeholder data was collected from five schools. Interviews and observations were collected at two of those schools. ❧ The surveys found that the vast majority of stakeholders, both general and special education, were satisfied with the overall program and preferred the online or hybrid instructional model to a traditional school. This was an expected outcome since these are schools of choice and students wouldn't attend them if they didn't perceive an advantage with the instructional model there. ❧ The two schools selected for case study yielded a great deal of information about several program options. The schools utilized five different instructional program models. Each of the models was analyzed in five key areas associated with high student achievement. The areas of analysis were the existence of differentiated instruction, the presence of highly qualified, experienced teachers, the presence of a system of constant monitoring and accountability, providing students with opportunities to demonstrate learning in various ways, and opportunities for students to interact with peers and staff. ❧ The goal of this study was to paint a picture of perceptions of the current state of special education services within the hybrid and online schools that form the study sample. Ideally, the data collected and the conclusions drawn can be used by similar schools to develop or improve their special education service delivery. The study also attempted to determine if there were explanations for the low enrollment rate of special education students in the public charter schools studied. It also attempted to identify program elements to explain why the subjects of this study seemed to be relatively satisfied with their education.
|special education; charter; hybrid; blended
|Part of collection
|University of Southern California dissertations and theses
|Publisher (of the original version)
|University of Southern California
|Place of publication (of the original version)
|Los Angeles, California
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|University of Southern California. Libraries
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|University of Southern California
|Bond, Edd Clayton
|Physical access
|The author retains rights to his/her dissertation, thesis or other graduate work according to U.S. copyright law. Electronic access is being provided by the USC Libraries in agreement with the author, as the original true and official version of the work, but does not grant the reader permission to use the work if the desired use is covered by copyright. It is the author, as rights holder, who must provide use permission if such use is covered by copyright. The original signature page accompanying the original submission of the work to the USC Libraries is retained by the USC Libraries and a copy of it may be obtained by authorized requesters contacting the repository e-mail address given.
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|University of Southern California Digital Library
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|USC Digital Library, University of Southern California, University Park Campus MC 7002, 106 University Village, Los Angeles, California 90089-7002, USA
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|PROGRAM ELEMENTS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS STUDENTS IN A HYBRID SCHOOL SETTING by Edd Clayton Bond A Dissertation Presented to the FACULTY OF THE USC ROSSIER SCHOOL OF EDUCATION UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF EDUCATION May 2012 Copyright 2012 Edd Clayton Bond


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The kitties are up!!
Tauren Cat image
I am pleasantly surprised, and quite happy with this new form. The face looks much more like that of a lion, and isn't trying to rip off the panthers of the night elves.
Other changes I noticed include:
- Nose-ring; a tauren thing, not really a feature I'd want for my female tauren but something that is certainly distinguishing.
- Horn style: they aren't as long and twisted as before
- Colors: fur, warpaint, eyes, and horn color vary between models
- Paws: 4 claws per paw
- Mouths: they very clearly have closed mouths in these "not roaring" screenshots ;p
- Druid Symbol: it's there on the shoulder and clearly visible!
- Chin Fur: like with the night elf bear,the tauren kitty has lost the "Wolverine" cut and gained a more appropriate/natural tuft of chin fur in addition to a smoother mane.
- Decorations: the wristbands on the forelegs, and the few "hairbands" pulling away locks of the mane to separate the druid from the wild lions who would rather gnaw on the leather of such things than use them for decoration :)
Well done, Blizz designers! /applaud
I think I will be happy with the skin colors chosen for my moocow. She's that misty pale tannish-gray, which I am guessing will mean the white bear and white cat. If I end up with one or both of the sandy-tan feral fur colors, I won't be sad either, because I like them, too :)
Now we just have to wait and see what strange colors they've come up with for the night elf kitties! I'm still not pleased with the blue/brown night elf bear combination, but I will be stubborn and not recolor Kae's pretty dark-blue hair. She will no longer have a mange-face in bear form, so no matter what strange paints they roll her new bear form in, it *should* be an improvement just based on the model! ;)
NE Cats image
Again, I applaud Blizzard's model team. They took a nice model and upgraded it to more detail, without loosing the beauty and sleekness inherent in the original cat design. THANK YOU for not adding sideburns, either ;) I love the addition of the face markings, and the color selections look great! Though... I imagine some guys may be upset about playing a "pink cat!"

subset: commoncrawl


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Harvard is the most diverse school in the country in terms of ethnicity, socioeconomics and geography. Our students are from big cities, small country towns and everywhere in between. The common denominator is they are high character kids who respect everyone at Harvard.
Just recently Harvard was the only non-historically black school to be ranked in the top five in the nation for African American students by Black Enterprise Magazine. Out of 482 colelges and University ranked, Harvard is the only Ivy League or northeast region school listed in the top five; checking in at fourth, behind Florida A&M, Howard Unievrsity and North Carolina A&T and in front of Hampton University. Culled from the release is the following paragraph:
Walter Massey, Morehouse president, said several factors make the schools listed in the top 50 stand out. "One, they are schools that make the students feel comfortable. They create an environment where they feel they can be themselves," Massey explained. "Secondly, they are schools that, again, have established over the years that their graudates are competitive in whatever field they go into."


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Option for veterans: Acupuncture can treat pain and PTSD
Area Vietnam veteran John Reid suffered from back pain caused by injuries he received while serving with the 82nd Airborne.
Like other military veterans, the Bedford man, 62, who also suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, found relief from acupuncture, an ancient practice from China.
Silver and gold acupuncture needles that date as far back as 4,000 years have been found, said Michael Cregger, who treated Reid.
Cregger, who also incorporates massage, nutrition and Chinese herbal medicine into services, is a licensed acupuncturist and owner of Lifeworks Health Center in Altoona.
The needles used in acupuncture are called filiforms and are as thin as a strand of hair.
"The filiform or hair-fine needle moves the electrical current in the body that's responsible for muscle activity and organ function," Cregger said. "The body's entire function is based on this electrical current we call chi, and where the chi isn't moving, there's pain and when it's congested or deficient, there'll be sickness or fatigue."
Acupuncture therapy has shown effectiveness in treating the symptoms of a wide range of conditions, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website.
Medical centers such as the VA Western New York Healthcare System conducts the therapy along with "more conventional modern medicine," according to the website.
And acupuncture is offered at the War Related Illness and Injury Study Center in Washington, D.C.
The acupuncture program is in "high demand," and a priority for individual sessions is for "combat veterans who have illnesses or injuries as a result of service in Operations Iraqi Freedom and/or Enduring Freedom," the website said.
Dr. Heather Ferlitch has given acupuncture to more than 100 military veterans at her practice and as part of the acupuncture team at Canandaigua Veterans Affairs Hospital in Canandaigua, N.Y., she wrote in an email.
Ferlitch, who owns Fusion Chiropractic & Acupuncture at the Natural Connection Wellness Center in Huntingdon, is a chiropractor with a master's degree in acupuncture, which she also studied at the Zhejiang Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine in HangZhou, China.
"Working with veterans within the Veterans Hospital is a true system of integrative care," she wrote. "For example, many of them see their physician who then provides them with a referral for acupuncture for pain relief. This is especially common when veterans are looking to decrease or eliminate their pain medication or if their pain medication is no longer working. The majority of veterans come to me seeking pain relief."
The most common conditions she treats especially among veterans is lower-back and neck pain
"PTSD is another common condition that I treat with acupuncture, especially when it comes in the form of anxiety, depression, stress, irritability, insomnia, lack of energy and/or nightmares," she wrote.
Having multiple areas of pain is typical with PTSD, and then keeping muscles tense can cause problems such as sleeplessness and anxiety, Cregger said.
In Chinese medicine, it is believed that pain can stir up the memories of it's origin, Ferlitch wrote.
"When they are pain free, most of them are able to go back to living a normal life without PTSD as their pain is no longer an active reminder of the past," she wrote. "Often after just a few acupuncture treatments, those with PTSD will notice symptoms like irritability, foggy memory, insomnia, pain, and fatigue are dissipating by bringing balance within the body. Acupuncture is very safe, does not have any side effects and is virtually painless."
Lifeworks is offering a discounted rate to veterans: $10 off a $65 hour-long session and $5 off a $40 half-hour session, Cregger said.
The number of veterans in the area who need services and their willingness to turn to alternative medicine is why Cregger wanted to offer veterans a discount, he said.
Keeping patients isn't Cregger's goal.
"I have a few regulars, but we like to get problems solved for people so they don't have to continue going to treatment," he said. "That's very important."
Reid, who said he also experienced a spiritual awakening through acupuncture, said he initially had more pain when he started treatment because of the blockage of chi opening up.
The treatments eventually "loosened up the blocked areas and allowed me to regain my flexibility in my back," he said.
"Acupuncture has to be accepted with an open mind to be the best use," Reid said. "If you go with a closed mind, sure it's going to have beneficial effects, but your negativity will cause your body to fight what the [acupuncturist is] trying to help you with. So just be positive and open minded and you'll have the best effects."
Cregger has treated plenty of naysayers who got better, but an open mind does yield the best results, he said.
"It's a lot more relaxing than people realize," he said.
Mirror Staff Writer Amanda Gabeletto is at 949-7030.


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Mulching your landscape not only helps retain moisture and provide insulation for your plants, it also helps define areas of the garden.
You may be wondering, why write an article about mulching? Everyone knows how to mulch, right? You buy mulch and place it around your plants. True, it's not rocket science, but I have seen enough bad mulching jobs that it does merit more attention.
For years horticulturalists and arborists have provided information on how, when and why to mulch, and yet I still see "volcano" piles around trees. By no means is mulching a requirement for good gardening, nor is it used worldwide. Very few places in Europe actually mulch, and I have seen some spectacular gardens there. However, in this country it is a staple in almost every landscape.
Many commercial plantings use the red-dyed wood chips. These are tested just like other bagged mulches. Producers must have an MSDS (Material Safety and Data Sheet) to accompany the dye to ensure it is safe for animals and plants. This really makes the landscape pop, but it's a little too much for me.
Getting the Right Materials
Everyone always asks me what type of mulch to use. Personally, I prefer quality triple-shredded hardwood bark. You may prefer something different. Many commercial sites prefer red-dyed wood chips. I do not care for this look, but landscapers tell me it is economical, long lasting and easy to get.
You can buy mulch just about anywhere, but certainly look for a reputable source. The Mulch and Soil Council (MSC) is a trade organization that has the largest volunteer certification program of its kind in the United States. Home Depot and Lowes require that their bagged products are certified. The Department of Horticultural Science at NCSU is home of the Horticultural Substrates Laboratory, where testing is done. Dr. Bill Fonteno and his staff have been testing mulches for over five years in cooperation with the MSC. They verify that labels are accurate, ensure weight and volume is correct and test for heavy metals. With over 2 million bags certified, it is easy to find something good for your yard.
Even though pine straw is light and airy, this mulch is piled too high on the trunk, forming the mulch "volcano." • Currently the MSC can only certify bagged products, but is working towards the certification of bulk mixes. • Here in the Vatican Garden in Rome, like much of Europe, you do not see any mulch around the trees or in planting beds. It does not seem to keep plants from growing!
Anytime is fine to apply mulch, but most landscapers apply it in the spring or fall every year. Make sure if you apply new mulch every year that the depth never exceeds 3 to 4 inches on woody plants and 1 to 2 inches on perennials or annuals. You can often just fluff up last year's mulch to make it look good, or even apply a thin layer to the old mulch to "spruce" it up.
You need enough mulch to help prevent weeds, moderate soil temperatures, hold in moisture, prevent erosion and of course, to look good. A proper application of mulch in the fall can help minimize heaving of newly planted perennials.
Remember mulch is a tool, and if used properly can be a part of developing a sustainable, water-wise landscape.
A version of this article appeared in Carolina Gardener Volume 23 Number 7.
Photography courtesy of Shannon Pable, Barbara Fair, and Gerald Klingaman.


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PHOENIX (Friday, September 07, 2012) -- Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne has reached a settlement with The Mortgage Law Group a/k/a Macey Aleman & Searns, a Chicago-based law firm that the State accused, in a consumer fraud lawsuit, of participating in a deceptive scheme designed to collect advance fees from consumers looking for assistance in obtaining mortgage loan modifications. In nearly all cases, it is illegal for businesses to charge consumers upfront fees for loan modifications.
"Lawyers should be especially careful to avoid misrepresentations to consumers and to follow laws regulating mortgage loan modifications," said Horne. "In this case, Mortgage Law Group targeted an especially vulnerable group of consumers – borrowers facing possible foreclosure."
The State alleged that, along with co-defendant, Scottsdale, Arizona- based Underwater Property Solutions, The Mortgage Law Group ("TMLG") marketed mortgage modification services to consumers as legal services that they represented would be performed by TMLG's attorneys, including local "partners" in the states where TMLG's clients resided. The State alleged that Underwater Property Solutions' non-lawyer employees did nearly all of the substantive work for consumers who paid "retainer fees" to TMLG. The State also alleged that Underwater Property Solutions, acting on behalf of TMLG, misrepresented:
- that TMLG could stop foreclosures;
- that consumers were guaranteed a modification if they hired TMLG, and;
- that consumers would save hundreds of dollars a month with their modifications, when the representations were nothing more than speculation and often proved to be false.
The settlement permanently prohibits TMLG from engaging in any consumer debt or loan modification activities in Arizona or on behalf of Arizona consumers and requires TMLG to pay $39,280 in restitution and $60,000 in attorney's fees. In entering into the settlement with the State, TMLG did not admit that it violated the law nor did the court make findings that it did so. A consent judgment with co-defendant Underwater Property Solutions was approved in May, 2012.
Assistant Attorney General Cherie Howe handled this case for the Consumer Protection and Advocacy Section.
If you feel you have been a victim of consumer fraud, please contact the Arizona Attorney General's Office Consumer Information & Complaints Unit at (602) 542-5763 / (520) 628-6504 / (800) 352-8431. You may also file a consumer complaint online at: www.azag.gov/consumer/complaintform.html.


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Obamacare Meets 'Breaking Bad' on 'Saturday Night Live'
With the government facing a possible shutdown as Republican lawmakers seek to defund Obamacare, and "Breaking Bad" heading for a definite shutdown after its series finale tonight, the season premiere of "Saturday Night Live" managed to have some fun with both. The host was SNL alumna Tina Fey and the musical guest was Arcade Fire, and several of the sketches put the spotlight on SNL's new class of cast members, an incredibly un-diverse bunch who didn't seem all that funny so far–making you wonder how hard the show searched to find them. Come on SNL–it's hard to make fun of America when your cast doesn't look much like America. There were some funny moments on the show, however, and a couple guest appearances from Aaron Paul of "Breaking Bad." Here are the best bits.


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You may not need a corer to create a hole in the center of cupcakes for filling them (Cuisipro Corer and Decorating Set, $20) or silicone cups with little feet to give them more kid appeal (Wilton Silly Feet Silicone Baking Cups, $9.99 for 4) but you'll probably find a cupcake carrier very handy. That's why, just in time for the new school year and another round of parties, sales, and pot lucks, we did a thorough review of all twelve on the marketplace. We filled them with homemade goodies, carried them through the halls and up and down steps, bumped them into walls, washed them, and stashed them away, all to see which are easiest to pack, transport, clean, and store, and most importantly will keep your cupcakes intact until they reach their destination.
Our top choice: The Good Cook line. The Bake, Take & Serve(pictured) has a 12-cup nonstick pan that doubles as the base for the carrier and a plastic lid that locks into place. You also get a three-tier stand to display your sweets; when not in use, it disassembles to fit flush beneath the handle on the lid . If you're toting 24 cupcakes, you'll want the Bake N Take which in addition to the baking pan has a plastic layer to hold another dozen. This one doesn't include the display stand. Both are $20.
Do keep in mind, that even when you're using one of these top-rated cupcake carriers instead of a shirt box lined with aluminum foil, you'll still have to carry it carefully to avoid frosting fiascoes.
For tips on creating dazzling cupcakes, watch our test kitchen in action below.
Trying to reduce stress in your life? See my blog post on Pretty Baking Cups: The Easiest Way to Make Fancy Cupcakes.
And I'd love to hear what you think will (or should) replace cupcakes as the sweet du jour.


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Ballet For Youth (Ages 7+)
Saturday, August 31 2019 @ 10:00 am
Diane Christiansen teaches ballet every Saturday, for ages 3 ½ to 6 (9 am), 7 and up (10 am) in the LCCC Dance Studio. She also offers an adult ballet class on Tuesdays at 2 pm. The fee is $36/month with a discount for siblings. For details, contact Diane at 507-514-7984.
This is either not a ticketed event or tickets have not yet been announced.
For more information, please see the event description, email us at [email protected], or call (541) 994-9994


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Anyone not paying attention to the latest iPhone news might be taken for a ride that will end with a PC
virus, if they believe an email going around referring to the new iPhone.
U.S. & World
Mashable is reporting a fake Apple email has been sent out by some hackers announcing thenew "iPhone 5S."
The phone doesn't look very realistic and the email contains gramatical errors. And everyone knows Apple never announces anything before-hand.
The email says to follow a link to "order now" which is probably a lure to install malware, reports Sophos, a security firm.
If you see this email, promptly delete it, and don't click anything.


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High altitude pork roast
I'm at 10,000 feet for the next few days. The setting is spectacular, with golden dawn sunlight draped over the fiery autumn bushes and still un-capped peaks rising sharply from the back yard. The view inspired me yesterday …. to make a pork roast with white beans and garlic. Because, that's what one does when one is left speechless by nature's beauty, no?
Only, that pork roast was way dryer than I expected, and the beans took forever. Everything was hard–chewy meat and crunchy beans.
They say water boils here at 193 so boiled foods take longer. This, I get. I can just boil the beans all day–eventually they'll get done.
But the pork roast is another conundrum. If I cook the meat to a temperature I'm used to at lower altitudes (say, 140 for a pork roast), too much water has evaporated, and the proteins have become too tough. But if I cook it to 130, it's still too rare for my taste.
The USDA says to cook meat for 25% more time. The "Flume," a local publication in Park County, says to cook meat for 25% less time.
Every other resource I've found suggests braising meat instead of roasting it, and they all say to serve it with lots of sauce. But this seems like a stop-gap cop-out band-aid sort of solution. I want roasted pork, not braised pork. Surely, there's a way?
There is a sign tacked to the wall in the house I'm visiting that says "High Altitude May Cause Objects to Appear Crooked." That may be the best explanation I get…


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Sunday, 2 December 2012
Laura Mercier Illuminating Eye Colour: Gilded Bronze
I am not into high shimmer/metallic finishes such as these, but upon swatching I didn't have any doubt in my mind that at least one needed to come home with me.
The pigmentation is phenomenal, I actually try to apply this lightly such is the intensity.The shadows are embossed with a quilted pattern, it applies extremely smooth and blends well. The shade I bought, Gilded Bronze (£20), applies a lot cooler than it looks in the pan and though its called bronze, I would describe this as a taupe.
As the natural light it so bad here at the moment, I have taken a photo in natural light and with a flash as below:
I think its a beautiful shade and I am very tempted to go back for more.
I bought this from John Lewis
16 comments:
I'm so surprised at the swatch -- it doesn't look like the pan at all!ReplyDelete
This is definitely on my wish list, along with Gilded Platinum. Looks beautiful on you!ReplyDelete
This is gorgeous!! The swatch looks a little different from the pan but still beautiful. I wouldn't want to mess up the pattern though. lol. xReplyDelete
Oh wow..ReplyDelete
I am surprised that it looks darker that what I expected. The thing that caught my attention is the pattern of the eyeshadow, so pretty!
xx MerylReplies
Hi Meryl,Delete
The pattern is really pretty, it seems to have held up so far as well even though I have worn this shade quite a lot now :)x
That's good to hear!Delete
I am so sad everytime I see my eyeshadow/blush with pretty patterns start to fade :(
I know what you mean, I felt sad when the elephant embossed design on the Chantecaille palette went away :(Delete
Replica, I just went out yesterday and bought 3 of these. I skipped The rose gold shade. I'm kinda shell shocked. I'm having a omg what have I done moment, but gosh these are so pretty!ReplyDelete
LOL Jacqueline, well sometimes we just have to have a splurge, and they are so pretty, how were you to resist ;)ReplyDelete
This looks so great on you! :) I picked up Gilded Moonlight and Gilded Platinum. After seeing how beautiful this one looks, I think I might "need" it too! xxReplyDelete
Thank you makeup magpie :) I think you might "need" it as well, I'm going to borrow platinum off my mum but think I might end up buying it myself and also the gold one, I don't often really rave about a LM product but these are very impressive :) xxReplyDelete
I couldn't resist the call of these and ordered some from Nordstrom. They are on a truck now and I can't wait. Beautiful swatches, you make me excited.ReplyDelete
I'm glad you are looking forward to them Marcia, I have on the platinum today and though its lighter than the bronze its still very pretty, slightly golden toned I would say so I am not too sure about their shade names :)ReplyDelete


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Kampgrounds of America Inc. (KOA) CEO Jim Rogers helps put the RV park and campground sector on center stage next week by going undercover at four KOA parks in California and Arizona during the Jan. 11 episode of CBS TV's "Undercover Boss," the 4-year-old Emmy Award-winning series in which business executives leave the comfort of their corner offices for undercover missions within their own companies.
Rogers, the gregarious head of the world's largest campground chain, assumes his alter-ego and stars as Tim Bickford, an unemployed accountant from San Francisco in the popular series filmed over 10 days in 2012. Rogers assumes the role of a contestant touring those four campgrounds, allegedly for the launch of a pilot TV show.
He was assigned as a "front line" employee at each of the parks.
"My front line assignments on 'Undercover Boss' affirmed the importance of creating KOA systems that maximize the time that campground staff members can spend with guests," Rogers told Woodall's Campground Management. "I learned that the great people we have on the front lines can always use more time to better know and serve our guests. Our campground owners and their staffs are the real heroes of KOA. Being undercover gave me an unobstructed view of where our business gets done."
In the episode, "I'm more like Forest Gump than Jim Rogers," says the affable CEO, describing his disguise that includes a dyed mustache, shirt buttoned at the top and white socks. Rogers shaved most of his hearty beard for the show.
Rogers spends part of each summer working at KOA campgrounds, so taking on the variety of tasks given him – ripping out a tree with a backhoe, paving and doing routine maintenance – came easily to him.
His biggest challenge was when he was asked to ride the zip line at one of the parks. "I've always been afraid of heights, so this was difficult," he said. "I had to put it into my head that Jim is afraid of heights but Tim isn't. At the end of the day, I am glad I did it. It was a surprise and a thrill. I have ridden many zip lines since."
And despite his celebrity status among the Billings, Mont.-based franchise network's personnel – KOA operates nearly 500 franchise and company-owned parks — no one ultimately recognized Rogers. In fact, when he reveals his true identity at the climax of the episode, his colleagues were "flabbergasted," he reports.
"The CBS crew complimented me on my acting and said I was one of the few bosses who pulled off a character completely," he said.
Though he had not yet seen the edited version, Rogers said the show provides good PR not just for KOA, but also for the campground and RV business, thanks in part to a Class C motorhome used liberally by the film crew throughout the taping.
"'Undercover Boss' is great entertainment, but it also does a great service by taking the general public behind the scenes of popular companies," Rogers said. "Every episode is a case study in business management."
In particular, Rogers said he got a first-hand look at the cabin and lodging business at the four KOAs and came away with a better understanding of how to fine-tune the ever-growing "covered shelter" business at RV parks.
"One thing that is true for the entire campground sector, not just KOA, is housekeeping. We are moving as aggressively as we can into deluxe cabins but with that comes a housekeeping requirement," he explained. "There are ways to do that well. We have spent a year finding the right suppliers, but we have work to be more consistent in the delivery of standards.
"I spent 18 years in the casino business," Rogers added. "I know it can be done. There is a process that is required. We have to deliver on this new service, and I know many owners are saying, 'We're not going to do it.' In our case, we have a certain standard we have to live up to. We have a ways to get there."
"It's a great opportunity, a great story, a great show. I hope it does really well for the sector and outdoor hospitality and for KOA," he said.


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Remembering Fiddle Govindaraja Pillai
Gangadhar Pradhan Samman Award
Sruti's senior contributors Leela Venkataraman and Dr. Sunil Kothari were honoured with the Guru Gangadhar Samman by the Orissa Dance Academy in February 2017 during the Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav in Odisha.
Harikatha Choodamani awards
Upanyasa, Vaideeka and Harikatha Choodamani awards were confered on Dr.NY.Sivaramakrishna Ghanapatigal, Dr.M.V.Ananthapadmanabhachariar and Smt.Girija Ramaswamy respectively by YCPA & SKGS Trust in the Holy Presence of Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal and Pujyasri Sankara Vijayendra Saraswathi Swamigal during the 83rd Jayanthi Celebration of Pujyasri Jayendra Saraswathi Swamigal
A double celebration for Guru Kalyani Sharma
Mumbai based eminent Carnatic musician, Sangita Kala Acharya, Kalyani Sharma, was recently felicitated by her disciples and others, to mark two milestones in her life—her 80th birthday and 60 years of musical journey. The event 'Guru Vandanam' organised by her disciples in Mumbai, was inaugurated by four leading ladies in Carnatic music—Bhagavathi Mani, Alamelu Mani, Radha Namboodiri from Mumbai and R. Subbalakshmi from Thiruvananthapuram. It was a mixed fare comprising felicitation by her disciples, eminent musicians and reputed sangeeta sabhas, followed by a riveting documentary on her life, and group performances by her vocal, veena and violin disciples, titled Sangeeta Samarpanam.
Click here to read more http://srutimag.blogspot.in/2017/09/a-double-celebration-for-guru-kalyani.html
Vainika Mudhra Award for R.S. Jayalakshmi at Veenotsav 2017
During the inauguration, the Vainika Mudhra Award comprising a shawl, citation, medal and purse, was presented to vidushi R.S. Jayalakshmi—musician, teacher, and musicologist—by Dr. Pappu Venugopala Rao. The award is given out of the endowment created by Chitravina N. Narasimhan in the name of his father Gottuvadyam Narayana Iyengar and Bapu Rajalakshmi Sundaram.
Varsity affiliation for Haridhos Giri School of Music
NALCO Awards
Guru Dhruba Charan Biswal and Shyamamani Devi were honoured with the NALCO Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2017 in the field of dance and music respectively. The NALCO Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Pratibha Samman 2017 was presented to Lingaraj Pradhan (Bhubaneswar) and Namrata Mehta (Mumbai) for Odissi, Jyotsna Jagannathan (Bangalore) for Bharatanatyam and Jateen Kumar Sahoo (Mumbai) for Odissi music. The annual awards were presented by distinguished guests on 10 September 2017, the concluding day of the 23rd OMC Guru Kelu Charan Mohapatra Award Festival organised by Srjan
Prof. Indira Parthasarathy honoured
JustUs Repertory, founded by Gowri Ramnarayan, celebrated ten years in theatre, by organising Just Fest--a two-day, two-play
festival on 24 and 25 June at the Alliance Francaise in Chennai. Gowri's two plays showcased on the occasion were her first play—Dark Horse (2005) and her latest play titled When Things Fall Apart (2017). Eminent playwright and author Prof. Indira Parthasarathy and theatre personality Na. Muthuswamy (inset) were honoured as part of the celebrations.
Book Release - Ustad Amir Khan
A book titled Ustad Amir Khan: Pioneer of Indore Gharana, an English translation by Meena Banerjee (scholar and critic), was released by musicologist Vijay Kichlu and noted theatre critic Samik Bandopadhyay, on 28 April at the auditorium of Bharatiya Bhasa Parishad, Kolkata. The original book in Hindi is Sangeet ke Dedeepyaman Soorya: Ustad Amir Khan by Hindustani vocalist Tejpal Singh (senior among the Singh Bandhu).
Abhai Awards
Yamini Krishnamurthy and Indira Rajan were conferred the Natya Kalanidhi awards for 2016 and 2017 by Association of Bharatanatyam Artists of India, by Chitra Visweswaran, President-ABHAI on its annual day on 1 May at the TamilNadu Eyal Isai Nataka Manram, Chennai. A number of awards were presented to artists.
Saraswathi Awards 2017
The Saraswathi Award 2017, was conferred on senior Carnatic musician Aruna Sairam on 2 September at the C.P. Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation, Chennai. The award, for lifetime service in music, was presented by Prabha Sridevan and felicitations were offered
by Chitra Visweswaran (awardee 2016). Nanditha Krishna, President of the Foundation, also spoke on the occasion. Carnatic music concerts were held on 1 and 2 September.
Kala Sadhanalaya - Award
Darshana Jhaveri, veteran Manipuri dancer and guru, was honoured by chief guest Pappu Venugopala Rao during `Bhaavaarpanam'—Kala Sadhanalaya's day-long dance festival—organised at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Hall, Chennai, on
20 August 2017. The annual event is conducted by Bharatanatyam dancer Revathi Ramachandran in memory of her guru Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer.
Charubala Mohan Trust honours senior artists
Click here to read more http://srutimag.blogspot.in/2017/10/charubala-mohan-trust-honours-senior.html
Melbourne Trinity Festival
The Melbourne Trinity Festival is one of the largest celebrations of the Trinity outside India. Every year, around May, an enthusiastic group of Carnatic music rasikas meticulously plans the grand event which showcases an ever-increasing number of enthusiastic young performers and veteran musicians. Visiting artists from India are featured in the prime time slots which makes the festival an inclusive and holistic experience.
Click here to read more http://srutimag.blogspot.in/2017/10/the-melbourne-trinity-festival-2017.html
Sai Arts 100th Nrityotsav
Sai Arts International celebrated the 100th edition of Sai Nrityotsav on 1 September 2017 at JSS Auditorium in Bengaluru. The festival series organised by Sai Venkatesh and wife Suparna Venkatesh was inaugurated by Helen Acharya. Veteran arts writer and
critic Sunil Kothari was felicitated on the occasion. It was followed by performances by eminent artists, an organisers' meet and exhibition of dance books and artefacts.
Indira Sivasailam Endowment Medal
Lalgudi G.J.R. Krishnan and Lalgudi Vijayalakshmi, were conferred with the eighth Indira Sivasailam Endowment Medal and citation at the Music Academy on 22 September 2017. The award was presented by the Indira Sivasailam Endowment Foundation established by Mallika Srinivasan, Chairman and CEO, Tractors and Farm Equipment Limited, in memory of her mother Indira Sivasailam, along with the Music Academy.
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Margazhi Festival
Bramha Gana Sabha Season Inauguration
Samudhra Award
Mudhra celebrated the 15th anniversary of Samudhra magazine and 250 weeks of Paalam Free Webcast on 19 November 2017 at the Infosys Hall on Bazulla Road in Chennai. Sudharani Raghupathy, veteran Bharatanatyam dancer-guru inaugurated the function and Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, chief patron presided over the proceedings. The highlight was the conferring of the title ofGnana Samudhra on Rama Kausalya, for her outstanding contribution as a musician and musicologist, and presenting the Lifetime Achievement Award to Yoga, for his contribution as a photographer in the arts field. The much sought after Music Planner cum Directory 2018 was also released on the occasion.
click here to read more http://srutimag.blogspot.in/2017/12/fifteenth-anniversary-of-samudhra.html
Charubala Mohan Trust honours Ravikiran
The title Chitravina Nada Jnana Mani was conferred on vidwan N. Ravikiran by violin maestro Sangita Kalanidhi M. Chandrasekharan, on behalf of Charubala Mohan Trust on 19 November 2017 in Chennai. Narasimhan, President of Asthika Samajan, Thiruvanmiyur presided over the function. It was followed by a grand chitraveena concert by Sangita Kalanidhi designate N.Ravikiran.
V. Govindasamy Naicker Centenary Celebrations
The birth centenary of violin vidwan V. Govindasamy Naicker was celebrated at P.S. School, Mylapore, Chennai on 18 November 2017. The chief guest Sangita Kalanidhi A.K.C. Natarajan recalled his long association with the violin maestro, and spoke about the gurukula system and the music of yesteryear. Srimushnam Rajarao and Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram also offered their felicitations.. A vocal concert by the talented great-granddaughters of Govindasamy Naicker--Srutipriya and Neehaara--was widely appreciated.
Bharatanatyam guru honoured
14 February 2018, ahead of the London Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting to be held in April.
Visakha Music Academy conferred its title Sangeeta Kala Sagara
Visakha Music Academy conferred its title Sangeeta Kala Sagara on Trichur V. Ramachandran, during its 48th annual festival of music, on 26 November 2017 in Visakhapatnam.
Mudhra celebrated the 15th anniversary of Samudhra magazine
Sita Kalyanamu—a Bhagavata Mela natakam book released
The book Sita Kalyanamu—a Bhagavata Mela natakam edited by N. Srinivasan and Dr. N.V. Deviprasad (1st and 2nd from L) was released on 22 December 2017 in Chennai. The first copy was handed over by Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti to V. Ramnarayan (4th and 5th). Madabhooshi Sampath Kumar and Revathy Ramachandran felicitated Melattur Mali (extreme R) and his team. This was followed by the staging of Rukmini Kalyanamu by members of the Melattur Bhagavata Mela Natya Vidya Sangam.
Purnakumbham Album online launch
Purnakumbham, a musical album comprising 30 original compositions of 'Ghatam' Dr. S. Karthick, was released on 23 November 2017 at the R.R. Sabha Hall in Chennai. It marked Ghatam Karthick's completion of 30 years as a musician. His guru, vidwan T.H. Vinayakram, launched the album online and also released three CDs titled Kumbham, Kalasam and Kataksham. Karthick's teachers Prof. Va.Ve.Su, Dr. S. Ramaratnam and vidwan T.H. Subashchandran, blessed him and also received the logo as a mark of the online launch. The release function was followed by Sudha Raja's Sargam Choir singing a few songs from the album, and Bharatanatyam dancers Shweta Prachande and Sudharma Vaithiyanathan dancing to a few songs from Purnakumbham.
Tamil Isai Perarignar on vidwan T.M. Krishna.
The Tamil Isai Sangam has been doing yeoman service in pann research from 1949. This season the pann research conference took place on 24 December 2017, and the panns Narayani and Velavali were discussed. Dr. M.A. Bhageerathi presented a paper on pann Velavali which is the present day raga Gaurimanohari. Mylai Sadgurunada Oduvar presented the kattalais for the pann Nattapadai. Also seen in the picture are Dr. Sirkazhi Sivachidambaram, Dr. Thangarasu, Justice P. R. Gokulakrishnan and T.K.S. Kalaivanan. The Tamil Isai Sangam conferred the title Tamil Isai Perarignar on vidwan T.M. Krishna.
Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher Indira Kadambi receiving award
Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher Indira Kadambi receiving the Vidhya Tapasvi award instituted by Tapas Cultural Foundation, Chennai, from Dr. R. Nagaswamy and N.S. Jayalakshmi on 18 February 2018.
Carnatic musician T.V. Ramprasadh receiving the award
Carnatic musician T.V. Ramprasadh receiving the Dasa Kala Rathna award instituted by Purandhara Daasar Trust, Chennai, from the Bombay Sisters on 10 March 2018.
Lecdem by T.R. Govindarajan
T.R. Govindarajan presenting the Parlandu Award
Ranjani - Gayatri Honoured
Revathi Ramachandran is the new Director of Kalakshetra
Revathi Ramachandran has officially taken charge as Director of Kalakshetra on 20 April 2018. It is a welcome move as the post was vacant for almost eight months.
Revathi Ramachandran, Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer and teacher, is a direct disciple of Guru Mangudi Durairaja Iyer.
An A Grade artist of Doordarshan, Revathi has performed in prestigious organizations in Chennai and different parts of India. She has travelled widely to many countries including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Italy for group presentations and workshops.
As recipient of a fellowship from the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Revathi has done research on the traditional art of Bhagavata Mela. She has assisted famous scholars like T.S. Parthasarathy, Dr. Arudra and Dr. R. Nagaswamy in their lectures, by demonstrating Suddha Nrittam and Tiru Tala Jati. Revathi has coordinated the production of a CD-ROM titled 'Bharathanatyam' apart from choreographing and directing teleserials like 'Deiveega Tirumanangal', 'Kodhai Paadiya Paavai' and 'Gnaana Parambarai'. She had the opportunity of performing in the Hindi teleserial 'Noopur' presented by dancer-actor Hemamalini.
Over the years, Revathi has been exploring the richness of classical dance guided by various gurus, including Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam. Her understanding of the art has been further enriched by her training in nattuvangam with Guru Bhagavatulu Seetarama Sarma, veena from Kalpagam Swaminathan and Kuchipudi from Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam.
She is the recipient of several awards including the Nadana Maamani, Yuva Kala Bharathi, Isai Kalai Chelvar, Natya Kala Sikhamani and the Arsha Kala Bhushanam Award.
Every year Revathi diligently pays homage to her Guru Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer by organising a festival in his memory.
Pudukottai Krishnamurthy is no more
"A Great loss to the Music Fraternity,"
said veena vidwan Ananthanarayanan in a Facebook post today. He added:Maha vidwan veena maestro Pudukkottai R.Krishnamurthy passed away today.
My sashtanga namaskarams.
"Please don't miss this great video "
Another veena artiste Ramnath Iyer said:
"Very sad news. A great vainika who combined tradition and modernity in his playing. He had developed special fingering techniques that made his concert very engaging and exciting for the audience. May his soul reach the Almighty."
Prof S. Rajeswari was honoured by Sahana Fine Arts
S. Rajeswari, retired Principal of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College, was
honoured by Sahana Fine Arts in Mogappair. The title of Isai Chudaroli was conferred
on the Carnatic musician by Natya Kalanidhis Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan on 7
January 2018. The Dhananjayans paid rich tribute to the awardee and described
her as an all-rounder—a concert singer, excellent teacher, musicologist, and
composer who has the special qualification of singing with aplomb and
conducting a Bharatanatyam performance. They also recalled how connoisseurs would
throng to watch Kamala—the doyen of Bharatanatyam—and listen to S. Rajeswari 's
excellent vocal accompaniment. A good crowd attended the event and the Carnatic
vocal concert by S. Rajeswari who was accompanied by Usha Rajagopalan (violin)
and Tanjavur Subramaniam (mridangam). This is the ninth year that Sahana Fine
Arts is conducting a music and dance festival. Next year being the tenth, the
convenor, violinist Arun Karthik, announced that a ten-day art festival would
be held to mark the occasion, which was welcomed with applause by the audience.
Thyagarathna—Kapilai Kadalil Sangamithal—a novel
Thyagarathna—Kapilai Kadalil Sangamithal—a novel based on the life of Bengaluru Nagarathnamma, written by Kalyani Venkataraman, was released on 5 January at Tiruvaiyaru, at saint Tyagaraja's shrine. Bhageerathi, wife of the late Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan and member of the Nagarathnamma Committee, released the book. Published by Nijaguna Foundation, Kollegal, and priced at Rs. 350, it is a translation in Tamil of the Kannada book titled Kapilé HaridaLu Kadaligé written by Prof. Maleyuru Guruswamy of Mysore.
Shri Purandaradaasar Trust honoured Carnatic musicians
Shri Purandaradaasar Trust honoured Carnatic musicians T.V. Ramprasadh, Carva C.A. Rajasekar, and R. Ramesh with the Dasa Kala Rathna awards, organiser S. Rajaraman with the A.R. Kannan Memorial award, mridangist Sengottai A. Rajamani with the R.N. Ganesan Memorial award, vocalist Amritha Murali with the G.N.B. Memorial award and young musicians R.D. Adharsh and M. Anandhulal, on 10 March in Chennai. The Bombay Sisters presented the awards and presided over the sixth anniversary celebrations of the Samajam.
Indira Kadambi received the Vidhya Tapasvi award
Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher Indira Kadambi received the Vidhya Tapasvi award instituted by Tapas Cultural Foundation, Chennai, from Dr. R. Nagaswamy and N.S. Jayalakshmi on 18 February 2018.
22nd edition of the Sangit Kala Kendra Awards function
At the 22nd edition of the Sangit Kala Kendra Awards function, C. Vidyasagar Rao, Governor of Maharashtra, presented the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar 2017 to Prabha Atre, veteran Hindustani vocalist. The Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars were presented to Anol Chatterjee and Sawani Shende Sataye.
Lalitharam's brilliant presentation on GNB's music
Lalitharam, author and Carnatic music conservationist, made a brilliant presentation (featuring a listening session) on G.N. Balasubramaniam's music on 1 May 2018—GNB's death anniversary— on the occasion of the release of Prince of Music, by V. Ramnarayan, an English translation of Lalitharam's GNB biography Isai Ulaga Ilavarasar. The hall was packed at Raga Sudha, Mylapore, the venue of the event. G.N. Balakrishnan (GNB's brother), received the first copy of the book. Another close relative, T.V. Gopalakrishnan, GNB's disciple Sangita Kalanidhi Trichur V. Ramachandran and Mathangi, granddaughter of another disciple, the late T.R. Balasubramaniam, also received copies.
T.Balasaraswati's 100th birthday
As part of the celebration of T. Balasaraswati's 100th birthday, the Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts (Nandini Ramani, Managing Trustee), honoured veteran dance critic and scholar, V.A.K. Ranga Rao on 13 May at Ragasudha Hall, Mylapore in Chennai. Cleveland V.V. Sundaram, organiser and arts administrator, presided over the function. Revathi Ramachandran (Director - Kalakshetra Foundation), and Roja Kannan (President ABHAI), felicitated the awardee. It was followed by a special concert of padams and javalis rendered by S. Sowmya.
Carnatic music tradition of Sri Lanka
Renowned documentary film maker Amshan Kumar gave a talk entitled 'Carnatic Music Tradition of Sri Lanka' followed by the screening of his documentary on tavil vidwan Yazhpanam Thedchanamoorthy on 5 May 2018 at Arkay Convention Centre under the auspices of Tamil Heritage Trust. The Trust offers monthly programmes celebrating the Tamil heritage besides conducting regular tours and site visits of historical and archaelogical interest.
Ganesa Natyalaya honours the Dhananjayans
Natyacharyas Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan were honoured with the title and award Shreshta Kalaa Pracharak by Saroja Vaidyanathan's Ganesha Natyalaya, New Delhi on 9 April 2018. The award function was held in the Delhi Tamizh Sangam auditorium, R.K. Puram, and the award was presented by Governor of Goa Mridula Sinha.
Guru C.V. Chandrasekhar receives Utsav Nritya Ratna title
The title of Utsav Nritya Ratna was conferred on Bharatanatyam guru Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar by chief guest Deborah David, Vice Consul General, U.S. Consulate, Chennai, on the occasion of the International Dance Day celebrations organised by Utsav on 29 April 2018 organised at the Nalli Gana Vihar of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha. Utsav Music was founded in 1999 by Churchill Pandian to take classical arts to the people and to draw in the younger generation. The award function was followed by an interesting presentation of Bharatanatyam (Priyadarsini Govind), Kuchipudi (Bhavana Reddy), and Kathak (Sanjukta Sinha).
Tyagaraja Aradhana in Paris
The Paris Tyagaraja Aradhana was organised by Carnatic Conservatory of Paris (founded by Bhavana Pradyumna)
at the S.R.C.M Centre on 20 May 2018. The aradhana began with the lighting of the lamp and singing of Pillari
Geetegalu and the kriti Guruleka yatuvanti. The group rendition of the Pancharatna kritis was led by Padma Malini
Raghunandan, Bhavana Pradyumna and Srividya Badri Narayan with Venkata Krishnan on the mridangam. The
musical structure and meaning of the kritis were explained in French. CCP students also sang kritis of Tyagaraja and
Purandaradasa. As the event also focussed on 'Guru-sishya', the Carnatic Conservatory of Paris honoured gurus
Malavika and Padma Malini Raghunandan.
Tyagaraja Aradhana in The Netherlands
Tyagaraja Aradhana was conducted at Sri Arunachaleswara Temple in Beverwijk, an hour's drive from Amsterdam.
The three-hour programme had over 40 participants and around 400 spectators. Singers, instrumentalists and the
audience had a unique experience on the occasion. The Madras Chorus that organised the event, is an association of
musicians, singers and music lovers of Delft, educational hub of The Netherlands.
SKGS Chithirai Nataka Vizha Awards
At the 26th Chithirai Nataka Vizha organised by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai, chief guest mridanga
maestro Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman conferred the title 'Nataka Choodamani' on S.B. Khanthan, and presented
the 'Poornam New Theatres' Rolling Trophy for the best drama troupe to Vivek Shankar's Prayatna and the 'Iyakunar
Sigaram K.Balachander Award for Excellence in Theatre' to S.N. Parvathi. Also in the picture are Vivek Shankar, Crazy
Mohan, Kathadi Ramamurthy, Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti (President, SKGS, Saashwathi Prabhu and R. Venkateswaran,
Joint Secretary, SKGS).
ABHAI Awards 2018
On the occasion of its 30th anniversary, Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI), honoured
several senior artists on 1 May at Vani Mahal in Chennai. A group dance choreographed by Binesh Mahadevan
was presented by 30 dancers to signify ABHAI's 30th anniversary.
The prestigious Natya Kalanidhi awards were presented to veteran dance gurus Sudharani Raghupathy and Padma
Subrahmanyam (in absentia). Senior Bharatanatyam dancers and teachers Jayanthi Subramaniam and J. Suryanarayana
Murthy received the Nritya Perunjothi and Narthaka Nipuna awards respectively. The Gandharva Nipuna award was
presented to veena vidwan Mudicondan S.N. Ramesh. The awards were given away by chief guest Sangita Kalanidhi
Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman.
The award ceremony was followed by a group presentation in Bharatanatyam of a varnam learnt during the summer
workshop conducted by senior dancer-guru Sathyanarayana Raju in 2017.
World Music Day in the Twin Cities
Trinity and Nandhikeshwara festivals in Melbourne
Felicitations to Mannargudi Easwaran
Disciples, family members and admirers of mridanga vidwan Mannargudi Easwaran gathered in large numbers on 11 August 2018 at the Narada Gana Sabha auditorium, Chennai to celebrate his sixty years of service to music. The congregation underscored the affection and regard his peers, disciples and family members have for this vidwan who has embellished the concerts of many senior and junior musicians. The evening commenced with the screening of a documentary on Easwaran, curated by his senior disciple Mudhra Bhaskar.
The documentary had many clippings from various concerts played over decades and included comments from his family members. The videos of the mridangam classes including senior and junior disciples revealed Easwaran's dedication, sincerity and discipline in his teaching.
Nalli Kuppuswami Chetti, Cleveland V.V. Sundaram, Guruvayur Dorai, Karaikudi Mani, Nagai Muralidharan, Sanjay Subrahmanyan and Rajasubramaniam (elder brother of Easwaran) felicitated Easwaran. Nalli released the brochure on Mannargudi Easwaran and presented the first copy to his guru mridanga vidwan Guruvayur Dorai.
Mannargudi Easwaran thanked all the dignitaries, music vidwans, his peers, family members, music students and rasikas for making the event a memorable one. Neharika Umasankar sang the invocation, and Radha Bhaskar, senior musician and writer, compered the proceedings in a professional manner.
The function was followed by the concert of Sanjay Subrahmanyan who was accompanied by S. Varadarajan (violin), Neyveli Venkatesh (mridangam) and S. Venkatramanan (khanjira). Although the concert started late after the felicitation function, it was wholesome music for the rasikas.
Lalit Arpan Festival of Dance and Music
The 17th edition of the Lalit Arpan Festival conducted in Delhi on 27 and 28 September 2018 was a rasika's delight. It was well organized under the guidance of guru Shovana Narayan, Jyotsna Suri and Harish Narula. The festival commenced with the conferring of the Lalit Arpan Samman on stalwarts like Guru Birju Maharaj (Lifetime Samman), Iqbal Ahmed Khan and Alka Raghuvanshi.
The festival started on a high note with the energetic Kathak performance of young Mrinalini, a student of guru Shovana Narayan since the age of six. Mrinalini's pleasant disposition and confidence as a dancer reflected the hours of practice that led to her commendable presentation. In between the performance, Mrinalini mentioned that she had grown up watching all the previous editions of the Lalit Arpan festival, and was ecstatic to be
finally performing in it.
Next was a Kuchipudi performance by Shallu Jindal, a disciple of Raja and Radha Reddy. Through her graceful movements, professional footwork and abhinaya, Shallu depicted famous stories from Lord Krishna's childhood. Her intricate movements and balance on the brass plate, which seemed effortless, won her several rounds of applause from the audience. She also danced to a Meera bhajan (Sanson ki mala pe simruun main pee ka naam), enunciating the bhakti and rakti between two souls.
On day two of the festival, audiences were treated to Ragini Madan's riveting Kathak performance. Another student of Shovana Narayan, Ragini's style is a blend of the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas. Ragini, who has been performing in the UK for more than a decade, performed in India after a gap of 12 years. Her passion for and excellence in Kathak were evident in her sweeping movements and dizzying circles. Ragini also went on to enact the sacrifice of Yasodhara, Gautama Buddha's wife, penned by Maithili Sharan Gupt. She powerfully emoted Yasodhara's plight and distress through her darting eye movements and beautiful expressions.
The second performance of the day was by Kristina Dolonina of Lithuania, also a student of Shovana Narayan, who danced at the Lalit Arpan Festival in 2007. The relentless speed of her turns and spins was impressive, and it was heartening to see a foreigner performing an Indian dance form so exquisitely. With a Masters in Hindi from the Jawaharlal Nehru University, she addressed the audience in flawless Hindi. Her abhinaya
piece was an interweaving of two poems by two women in two countries—India's Mahadevi Varma and a Lithuanian poet—similar in their feelings about pain, suffering and divinity. Kristina is actively involved in promoting Kathak in her country.
A fitting finale of the two-day festival was a soulful music soiree by sitar-sarod brothers Lakshay and Ayush Mohan, who said that it was special for them to be performing in Delhi, their own city. Playing an interactive jugalbandi in raga Durga with harmonious understanding, their chemistry was perfect. Towards the end of the show, their strings strummed at lightning speed, reaching a crescendo. It enthralled the audience which broke out in resounding applause.
Overall, the Lalit Arpan Festival set high standards in both dance and music.
(Freelance writer)
Special Lifetime Achievement award
Ghatam maestro T.H. 'Vikku' Vinayakram was presented the Special Lifetime Achievement award by the Music Academy, Chennai on 10 October 2018. The evening opened with a special percussion performance, Guru Laya Samarpanam, by Vinayakram with his prime disciples. Chief guest Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and special guest of honour, Sangita Kalanidhi Prof. T.N. Krishnan presented the citation and medal to Vikku Vinayakram. He is the third artist to receive the special lifetime achievement award from the Music Academy after dancer Kamala Narayan and Lalgudi G. Jayaraman.
Visakha Music Academy Award
Visakha Music Academy, Visakhapatnam presented the Mangalampalli Balamuralikrishna Endowment Award to Mandapaka Sarada on 7 July 2018. It was followed by her vocal concert featuring compositions of 20th century vaggeyakaras. The Academy presented the M.S. Subbulakshmi Endowment Award to vocalist Amritha Murali on 22 September 2018. The felicitation function was followed by Amritha's vocal recital. S.V. Rangarajan (president), M.S. Srinivas (secretary), and other members were also present.
KGS Confers Choodamani Awards
The Sangeeta Choodamani and Acharya Choodamani titles were conferred on Kadri Gopalnath (saxophone) and Suguna Varadachari (musician-guru) respectively, by G.K. Vasan, president of the Tamil Manila Congress, during the inaugural function of the 63rd Gokulashtami Sangeetha Utsavam on 1 September at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai. Sangita Kalanidhi T.V. Gopalakrishnan and Prof. Mysore V. Subramanya felicitated the awardees. Office bearers of YCPA Sri Krishna Gana Sabha Trust were also present.
Journal on Laya in Carnatic Music
Indian Musicological Society, in association with the Music Forum, released a special journal Laya in Carnatic Music, on 21 October 2018 in Chennai. The first copy of the journal was presented by Sangita Kalanidhi Umayalpuram K. Sivaraman to Sangita Kalanidhi Sudha Ragunathan. Dr S. Sunder, Convener, Music Forum, Chennai Chapter; Ganeshkumar, Chairman, Music Forum; Snehal Muzoomdar, president of the Indian Musicological Society; and K.N. Ramaswamy, Director, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan; offered their felicitations. Articles on laya, written by eleven eminent authors, have been compiled and edited by senior mridangist Mannarkoil J. Balaji (2nd from R).
Duddu Radhika's Releases Audio Album
Sri Kartikeya Gana Sabha organised a Carnatic music jam session titled Nada Yogam on the occasion of World Music Day on 21 June 2018 in Hyderabad. The two-hour session was anchored by musician D. Raghavachari (elder of the Hyderabad Brothers). He and Gudipoodi Srihari, senior journalist, released the thematic audio album of musician Duddu Radhika, titled Kovur Pancharatnas of Sadguru Tyagaraja. Radhika is also the founderpresident and managing trustee of Sri Kartikeya Gana Sabha.
Ghantasala Puraskar for Legends
Veteran dancers and gurus—C.V. Chandrasekhar, Leela Samson, Vyjayantimala Bali, Saroja Vaidyanathan, Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan, and Sobha Naidu—were honoured with the Kala Pradashini - Ghantasala Puraskar on the occasion of the 96th birth anniversary of Gana Gandharva Ghantasala, on 5 October at the Narada Gana Sabha hall in Chennai. The dance legends paid tribute to the musical genius of Ghantasala by performing to some of his songs. The awards were presented by the chief guests V.L. Indira Dutt, Managing Director, The KCP Limited, and G. Viswanathan, founder and Chancellor , VIT University, Vellore. The programme was organised by Parvathi and her husband Ravi Ghantasala, who run Kala Pradarshini.
Mega show by Saradhi
Music students of Saradhi Academy of Art and Culture presented 36 nottuswarams of Muthuswami Dikshitar in a programme titled Guruguham, on 7 September at the Sathguru Gnanananda Hall in Chennai. It was a mega show involving around 60 students of music (vocal, veena, violin, flute, keyboard and guitar). On that day, Saradhi also handed over its contribution to the Kerala Chief Minister's flood relief fund, to the special officer Anu P. Chako.
Sumitra Charat Ram award
Sri Shanmukhananda M.S. Subbulakshmi Sangeetha Pracharya award
Radha Namboodiri, disciple of Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, veteran musician and guru, receiving the Sri Shanmukhananda M.S. Subbulakshmi Sangeetha Pracharya award from the Sabha's Chairman V. Shankar, on 16 September 2018 in Mumbai. Her disciples presented a concert highlighting the Semmangudi bani.
MDR Book release
Prabasi Bharatiya Samman in dual domains
French national of Indian origin, Malini Ranganathan, an internationally acclaimed Kathak exponent was conferred the prestigious Prabasi Bharatiya Samman Award by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on 23 Jan 2019 in Varanasi, for her extraordinary contribution in academics and arts.
From studying textile designing in Mumbai to donning the cap of a professor of humanities and educational science in France, Malini has kept her passion of dance and music steady and vibrant. Trained both in the Lucknow and Jaipur gharana in kathak from Damayanti Joshi and Roshan Kumari, she learnt Odissi from Mahadev Raut and imbibed the nuances of nattuvangam from her mother.
Fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil, Malini has convened and curated events like the International Yoga Day Celebrations (2018) and Namaste France (2016) in Nantes, France. She has marked her name in prestigious festivals like, France in India (Mumbai), 'L'année de l'Inde en France' (Paris), 'India Year' (New York) to name a few. In 1996, she served as the artistic director of the festival d'été, for Nantes City Council.
Malini continues to teach dance and often presents papers in international conferences on topics of her interest.
Jagyaseni Chatterjee
Blending tradition and technology
A scene from Antariksha Sanchar
Antariksha Sanchar—a transmedia dance opera, staged recently in Delhi and Mumbai, brought together Bharatanatyam and an upcoming adventure video game named Antariksha Sanchar: Transmissions in Space. A collaboration between artist Avinash Kumar (Thiruda) and Bharatanatyam dancer Jayalakshmi Eshwar, Antariksha Sanchar was based on a fictitious story about Srinivasa Ramanujan's dream that leads him to build a vimana (interplanetary vehicle) to travel to the cosmos.
Presented by Red Bull Music, the project with hyperglobal progressive ideas, had its inception in an hour-long performance of Jayalakshmi on Indian mythology—depicting birds, flights and vimanas way back in 2010 and a videogame inspired by the cultural richness of south India that Thiruda has been working on for six years now. An eclectic fusion of Carnatic music, Indian classical dance and video games, the protagonist of the story is Srinivasa Ramanujan, who expounded some of the world's most important mathematical ideas. Jayalakshmi Eshwar played Sita, Ramanujan's mother and S. Sushmita played Ramanujan.
The music was set by Hyderabad-based Murthovic, a DJ and electronic music producer from Red Bull Music with two decades of experience in the field. The rest of the music ensemble consisted of Raghuram Hari (mridangam), Shri (vocals), Abhijit Gurjale (violin), Hitesh Kumar (drums) and Yanni (piano).
Divided into five segments, act one began with an elegant salute to Lord Ganesa who resides in the wish-fulfilling Kalpavriksha; this was accompanied by animated visuals and psychedelic tunes denoting Ramanujan's mind.
A man from the future enters an old palace where he finds an ancient book. The scene shifts to 1913 to the beautiful temple town of Madurai where people are celebrating the annual Navagraha festival hailing the nine planets of the solar system. A troupe of five dancers perform in apt synchronisation against the backdrop of digitised images of Madurai's landscape—its trees, water bodies, fields, city landmarks and temples highlighting the city's colours, carvings and paintings. The images are interspersed with dialogue, dance, visuals, music and expressions that carry the story forward. A saint appears in Ramanujan's dream and tells him that he is to embark on a cosmic voyage in a vimana. His mission would be to align the nine cosmic planets.
In The Myth (act two) Sita tells her son stories of space travel mentioned in ancient Indian texts like the Vaimanika Sastra, a Sanskrit text on aerospace technology that describes vimanas as advanced aerodynamic flying vehicles. She also narrates Lord Hanuman's supernatural flying abilities.
Act three provides the audience a visual treat of the flight dance. Sita tells her son about a mystical place called the Vimana temple which abounds in sculptures. The dancers depict the sculptures through movements and poses, such as the fluttering of feathers and the peacock vimana.
In act four, The Contraption—Ramanujan's magical vehicle is created with the help of the two engines of fire and water—philosophically the two elements that help to balance body, mind and soul. The dancers perform the Suryanamaskara—to depict fire as a source of energy to initialise the vimana. Water, which equates calmness and reflection, is used as a metaphor for peaceful meditative cooling through unwavering focus and centering. The harmony of fire and water leads to the creation of the vimana. A trance-like dance sequence for an EDM in fast tempo is accompanied by kaleidoscopic images in the background. The use of the corresponding red and blue lights accompanied by rhythmic dance movements and foot-tapping musical beats in this sequence is spectacular.
The final act, called The Pilgrimage, shows the vehicle taking off into outer space—through the sky embellished with millions of stars and fabled creatures, such as dinosaurs, aliens, gods and goddesses—and finally landing back on earth. The enthusiastic dance ensemble comprising the entire troupe and the use of vibrant colours had the audience applauding Ramanujan's victory.
Antariksha Sanchar, which plans to
tour south India this year, is a family entertainer—an amalgam of history,
science, mythology, fantasy, dance, music, art and theatre. An original idea,
it has made a unique attempt to communicate stories of the past to the next
generation through technology. It is also a tribute to the city of Madurai—its
history and heritage; legends and landscape. It endeavours to convey the
message that each individual has to discover his or her own 'vimana' to find
satisfaction and a sense of fulfilment in life.
(The author is a freelance writer)
Celebrating armed forces week
Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai celebrated Armed Forces Week (1-7 December) by inviting Lt Gen R.K. Swamy as the chief guest at a concert on 5 December 2018. R.K.Swamy spoke briefly on the significance of the armed forces and why it is important for citizens to recognise their selfless service.
In a refreshing deviation from the usual line of carnatic music concerts, the evening saw an excellent presentation of patriotic songs by Devi Neithiyar and group (disciples of T.V. Gopalakrishnan) rendering select numbers in various Indian languages and genres. What was even more interesting was a power point presentation that explained the meaning of the songs. Her voice had an incredible range and felicity and won the hearts of the audience. Devi, with her team of accompanists and choir members succeeded considerably in bringing out the spirit of the compositions.
At the end, a member of the audience indeed shared his personal appreciation by excitedly remarking, "We are here enjoying our freedom because of the army that safeguards us and protects us from hostile environs."
The dignitaries sat through the entire recital much to the enthusiasm of the artists and a discerning audience.
Jai Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan for the laudable initiative!
S Sivaramakrishnan
Gift of a lifetime
Parivadini – a trust for promotion of music and arts presented new instruments (three nagaswarams and a tavil) to four young teenagers, genuinely in need of assistance, at a function organised by Lalitha Ram in Chennai.
B. Balaganesh (16) and E. Chandrasekar (18) disciples of nagaswara Prakash Ilayaraja (the former is also a student at the Government music school in Vizhuppuram and G. Velmoorthy (17) learning under Chinnamanoor Vijaykarthikeyan were the three to receive Nagaswaram along with all its accessories. V. Gobeeswaram (9) the youngest of the four received a tavil to pursue his lessons under Thirurameswaram B. Radhakrishnan.
The little boy was the cynosure of all eyes. The students received the instruments from Yazhpanam Balamurugan, Sri Kalyanasundaram and Sri Prakash Ilayaraja, stalwarts in their field.
What is interesting to note is that their interest in these particular traditional instruments which do not fall under mainstream kutcheri repertoire. Practiced by traditional families in temples. These instruments are more confined to an agrarian rural set up. It is rare to find someone keen to take these instruments as a profession.
The financial background of these boys restricted them to purchase an instrument for regular practice at home. Spotting their keen learning quest, this timely assistance towards deserving aspirants is definitely a well thought action to help them continue their pursuits.
Truly gifts of a life time!
S Sivaramakrishnan
Attendance awards 2018
Attendance annual awards 2018, the brainchild of Ashish Khokar, was hosted and held in collaboration with Nadam (Director, Kathak artists Murali Krishna and Nandini Mehta) during the festival organised 23-25 November at ADA Rangamandira, Bengaluru. The awards for 2018 were presented by Chiranjiv Singh, former Ambassador to UNESCO, Additional Chief Secretary and chairman of the award's jury. The Maya Rao Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to veteran Odissi and Bharatanatyam exponent, guru and arts activist Sonal Mansingh; Mohan Khokar Dance Academics Award to veteran writer and musicologist B.M. Sundaram;Rukmini Devi Significant Contribution to Bharatanatyam Award to senior dancer-guru Sucheta Chapekar; Uday Shankar Choreography Award to senior dancer and choreographer Daksha Sheth; and Ram Gopal Best Male Dancer Award to Bharatanatyam dancer Parshwanath Upadhye.
Sreshta Sangita Seva Lahiri award
Jayalakshmi Balakrishnan, who runs Naada Inbam (Raga Sudha), received the Sreshta Sangita Seva Lahiri award instituted by Indira Ranganathan Trust from Spencer R. Venugopal in recognition of her yeoman service to promoting music, on the occasion of Women's Day, 1 March 2019 in Chennai. It was followed by a concert of vidushi Suguna Varadachari.
Sangeeta Vedanta Dhurina Award
The violin duo Ganesh- Kumaresh, was conferred the title Sangeeta Vedanta Dhurina, instituted by Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, from Yadugiri Yathiraja Narayana Ramanuja Jeeyar, at the Bangalore Gayana Samaja auditorium in Bengaluru. The award comprises one lakh rupees for each artist along with silver medals and citations.
The Shivaargya - Sivaratri festival
The Shivaargya - Sivaratri festival was organised at Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi on 3 March 2019 . It was a day-long celebration (10 am to 6 pm) comprising performances by young male classical dancers, and the honouring of male classical dance gurus and scholars of Delhi. Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan also received the Best of India Records Certificate from adjudicator Binu Joseph for organising classical dance performances continuously for eight hours.
Veena Seshanna Memorial National Award
The Amaravathi Lifetime Achievement Award 2018
The Amaravathi Lifetime Achievement Award 2018 was presented to veteran Bharatanatyam exponent and guru Chitra Visweswaran during the Amaravathi Nrityotsav organized by Nataraj Music and Dance Academy, Visakhapatnam.
Uniting communities through music and dance
Global Achievement Award for Radhika Shurajit
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman
Senior Kathak exponent and teacher, Malini Ranganathan, French national of Indian origin, was conferred the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind on 23 January 2019 in Varanasi, for her "extraordinary contribution in academics and arts". The Samman is the highest honour conferred on the occasion of the Bharatiya Pravasi Divas, on members of the Indian diaspora for their contribution in diverse fields. Fluent in English, Hindi, Urdu and Tamil, Malini who has trained both in the Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas of Kathak, has performed in several prestigious festivals and has also convened and curated several events in France.
A celebration of nature as teacher
Nature, the great Teacher, a dance musical on the story of Lord Dattatreya, was conceived and produced by Narmatha Ravichandra to mark the completion of 25 years in Australia as a musician (vocalist and violinist), dancer and choreographer (Bharatanatyam). She is successfully running the Sruthi Laya Kendra and the Bharatha Choodamani arts schools in Australia which can boast of hundreds of students.
The production was based on the key learnings derived from the 24 aspects of nature—acknowledged as his gurus—by Dattatreya in the Bhagavad Gita. In his final teaching to his friend Uddhava, Lord Krishna narrates the story of Dattatreya. As the story goes, while Dattatreya was wandering happily in the forest, he met King Yadu who asked him the secret of his happiness and the name of his guru. Dattatreya told him that the atman alone was his guru, and yet, he had learned wisdom from 24 individuals, who he considered his gurus.
This story was presented with over 30 dancers and was complemented with interactive digital displays on the backdrop. Flautist and composer, B.V. Balasai, created an interesting amalgam of Indian music with Western instrumentalists and the entire production was choreographed to only instrumental music without lyrics. D.A. Srinivas devised the rhythmic patterns and konnakol.
The secular theme, the seamless choreography combined with lively music, won the hearts of the audience. Narmatha and Ravi Ravichandra, who took on the responsibilities of artistic director and production director respectively for Nature, the great Teacher, are known for their yeoman service in the promotion and enrichment of Indian classical arts in Melbourne, Australia.
Honouring her guru Krishna Kumari Narendran
Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, Artistic Director and Managing Trustee of Kala Pradarshini, celebrated 40 years in dance by honouring her guru Krishna Kumari Narendran on 20 January 2019 as part of the Kala Pradarshini Natya Festival. She also honoured several dancers, musicians and allied artists who were associated with her in her 40-year dance journey. The awards were conferred in the presence of veteran dancer-scholar Padma Subrahmanyam.
Remembering MDR
This year too, 'MDR Day' was organised by Krishnamurthi under the banner of Kedaram, at Tripunithura in Kerala. Chief guest, Palghat T.R. Rajamani, spoke about the Brahma layam innate in M.D. Ramanathan's music. A 'Rasikas Forum' on MDR's music was moderated by musicians P. Subramaniam and Sreevalsan J. Menon.
The first copy of Varadadaasyam—a book containing 20 compositions of M.D. Ramanathan —notated by Tripunithura-based musician Santhala Raju, was presented to veteran vidwan P.R. Kumara Kerala Varma. The evening concert featured the Mysore Brothers (violin) with K.V. Prasad (mridangam).
Raam Manikandan gets Bal Shakti Puraskar
President Ram Nath Kovind presented the Bal Shakti Puraskar 2019 awards earlier this year. Twenty-six awardees were chosen from amongst 900 applications in the field of innovation, social service, scholastic, sports, art & culture and bravery. Selected in the category of art & culture – classical music – was Chennai based Raam Manikandan. Twelve-year-old Raam, is studying in class 8 in Padma Seshadri Bala Bhavan, Siruseri, Chennai. He learns Carnatic music from Prof. P.P. Ramakrishnan (Retired. Principal of the Chembai Memorial Music College, Palghat, Kerala), and mridangam from Mysore Sai Shiv of Guru Karaikudi Mani School. Raam has also completed the electronic keyboard final (8th) grade exam conducted by Trinity College, London, and is one of the youngest in India to have secured it with distinction. Among his other accomplishments, Raam has also received the Kalai Ilamani Award (Young Artist award) from the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Trutpraj Atul Pandya from Maharashtra and Vinayaka M from Karnataka are the other two children who have been awarded the Bal Shakti Puraskar under this category.
Statue of M.S. Subbulakshmi unveiled
A statue of the late M.S. Subbulakshmi was unveiled by the Jeeyar of the Yathiraja Mutt, Melukote, at Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira, Bengaluru recently, in the presence of Lakshmi Umesh, Corporator of BBMP and G.V. Krishna Prasad, Hon. Secretary of Sri Rama Lalitha Kala Mandira.?
Guru HR Keshavmurthy Centenary
Taking music to school children
(News & Notes)
Music Forum, in association with The Music Academy, organised a mega workshop titled 'Yuva Rasika', for school students, at The Music Academy, Madras, on 31 August 2019. Now an annual feature, Yuva Rasika has become a sought after event for school students. Twenty schools from across the city, and as far as from Vellore and Sholingur, participated.
To Read more click the link : http://srutimag.blogspot.com/2019/10/news-notes.html
Vilayat Khan memorial festival in Shimla
To read more click the link : http://srutimag.blogspot.com/2019/10/vilayat-khan-memorial-festival-in.html
Guru Purnima Utsav in Mumbai
Book with compositions of the Tanjai lineage
A book titled "Tanjai Naalwarin Bharata Sangeeta Varnamalika", edited by K.P.S. Chinnaiah (son of the late K.P. Sivanandam) and published by R.R. Sabha and Rukmini Arts Academy, was released on 5 October 2019 at the R.R. Sabha in Chennai. Veteran Bharatanatyam exponent and torchbearer of the Tanjavur bani, Vyjayantimala Bali, released the book and presented the first copies to A.R. Santhanakrishnan (President, R.R. Sabha), Aruna Ranganathan (Trustee, Rukmini Art and Music Trust), Bharatanatyam dancer Nartaki Nataraj, Rama Kousalya (musicologist and retired Principal of Tiruvaiyaru Govt. Music College), and S. Janaki (Editor-in-Chief, Sruti magazine). Music and dance concerts and a lecture were also organised on the occasion.
Special edition on Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar
Lalitha Kala Tarangini's special edition on Maharaja Jayachamarajendra Wodeyar was released by Carnatic musician Bombay Jayashri in Mysore to mark the composer-king's centenary.
Dr. V. Raghavan's book released
The book titled Studies in Abhinavagupta's Works by Dr. V. Raghavan was released by Prof. S. Kannan (Chief Professor, IIT Madras) in the presence of R. Kalidas and Nandini Ramani of Dr. V. Raghavan Centre for Performing Arts, Chennai. It was followed by a lecture by scholar Dr. G. Sankaranarayanan, on 'The Number of Rasas of Dr. V. Raghavan based on Abhinavagupta's Rasa Theory'. The Raghavan Centre conducted Pitru Vandanam at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Mini Hall on 22 August 2019 to celebrate Dr. Raghavan's 111th birth anniversary.
Raga Identification Competition 2019
C. Ramakrishnan, an avid rasika of Carnatic music, won the Raga Identification Competition 2019, organised by The Music Academy in association with TAG Corporation and Ramu Endowments. Held on 20 October 2019 at The Music Academy, C. Ramakrishnan answered a record 38 out of 40 questions! He was also awarded a cash prize of Rs. 5000. Hearty congratulations to our correspondent C. Ramakrishnan on this splendid win!
Hyderabad Brothers D. Seshachary and |D. Raghavachary were conferred the Sangeeta Kala Saagara award by Visakha Music Academy, Visakhapatnam, on 25 November 2019.
The Veena Seshanna Memorial National Award for 2019 was presented to vidushi A. Kanyakumari, and the Swaramurthy V.N. Rao Memorial Award to vidushi Neela Ramgopal, at Dharmasthala on 23 October 2019. A two-day music festival 'Veeneya Bedagu', featuring 30 musicians, was organised jointly by Sri Manjunatha Temple and Swaramurthy V.N. Rao Memorial Trust. Seen in the picture : (L to R) A. Kanyakumari, Neela Ramgopal, Hemavathy Heggade, Dr. Veerendra Heggade, Prof. Mysore V. Subramanya.
The Aditya Vikram Birla Kalashikhar Puraskar was presented to renowned tabla maestro, Ustad Zakir Hussain at the 24th edition of the Sangit Kala Kendra awards function held in Mumbai. Two young instrumentalists, Ragini Shankar (violin) and Abir Hossain (sarod) were awarded the Aditya Vikram Birla Kalakiran Puraskars. Eminent violinist N. Rajam was the chief guest on the occasion and presented the awards. The awards have been instituted by the Birla family in memory of Sangit Kala Kendra's visionary Founder, Aditya Vikram Birla. Fazal Qureshi received the award on behalf of his brother Zakir Hussain.
The veteran dancer and Member of the Rajya Sabha, Sonal Mansingh was conferred the Sumitra Charat Ram Lifetime Achievement Award 2019. The award was given by the Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, renowned organisation for art and culture in New Delhi.
The management of Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra instituted the Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2010, which is given annually to an eminent personality in Indian classical music or dance. The first recipient of the award was Pandit Birju Maharaj. This year Sonal Mansingh received this award from Birju Maharaj in the presence of Shobha Deepak Singh, Director of the Kendra.
The award ceremony was
followed by a dance presentation by Dr. Sonal Mansingh.
Renowned vainika Jayanthi Kumaresh was conferred the Sangeet Shikar Samman by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New Delhi in recognition of her distinguished services to Indian classical music, especially the Saraswati Veena. Chief guest, Vice Chairman of NITI Ayog,Rajiv Kumar presented the award to Jayanthi Kumaresh. The award instituted in 2010 has been bestowed on eminent artists in the last nine years. The award includes a purse of rupees one lakh, a citation and a shawl. Some of the earlier awardees are Hariprasad Chaurasia, Girija Devi, M. Balamuralikrishna, Yamini Krishnamurti, T.N.Krishnan, and Jasraj to name a few. Jayanthi is the youngest recipient of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Annual Award.
As a torchbearer for the
'national instrument' of India, Jayanthi Kumaresh is an articulate musician who
is unafraid of breaking new ground with her music. Not confining the subtle
veena to the Carnatic music stage, she has taken it to new and diverse
audiences through cross-genre collaborations.
Devoted to her father's legacy
Geetha Bennett (1950-2018)


text:
Yellowstone's ashes buried the world. Space was the only refuge. Our ancestors, those lucky few who escaped, left behind everything and everyone.
Through hard work and ingenuity, the survivors made barren Mars their home. But the domes that kept out the cold also kept us in. For eighty generations we were trapped.
After centuries of waiting and yearning, the ashes settled and Earth finally began to resemble the blue world of yore. We returned to reclaim it and with it, our humanity.
Today, more than 2000 years after Yellowstone, YOU have arrived on Earth. Your goal is to MINE THINGS. What riches and wonders your efforts will yield only time will tell.


text:
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text:
Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency
Welcome to the Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency Website, recently enhanced to serve you better!
The Hawaii State Child Support Enforcement Agency is a division within the Department of the Attorney General. The Agency works in partnership with the Federal Office of Child Support Enforcement and other State and local agencies. The primary goal of this Agency is to ensure that our Keiki (children) have the ongoing financial support of both parents, by providing a system for payments and disbursements of court-ordered child support. It is our sincere desire that this website will provide you with the information and the tools you need to ensure that court-ordered child support payments are made and received in a timely manner. Here at this website, you will find answers to the most frequently asked questions about child support, as well as instructions and the various forms you may need to have the Child Support Enforcement Agency initiate the services you desire. As supported by our Mission and Vision Statements, the Hawaii Child Support Enforcement Agency is committed to our Keiki, and to providing excellence in customer care. Please let us know how we are doing, and how we can further improve upon this website.
Mission Statement
To promote the well-being of children and the self-sufficiency of families through the timely and accurate delivery of Child Support Services, while providing excellence in customer care.
Vision Statement
We envision that all Keiki can rely on their parents for financial and medical support enhanced by the agency's excellent Child Support Services and customer care.
Hawaii Administrative Rules §5-31 (Relating to the Child Support Enforcement Agency)