Chinese Twins Perform Bharatanatyam Arangetram in Beijing
Chinese twins Jin Yanshu and Jin Yanai performed their Arangetram, a traditional Bharatanatyam graduation ceremony, in Beijing on Friday, captivating audiences with a graceful rendition of the ancient Indian classical dance form. The ceremony was presided over by Indian Ambassador Vikram Doraiswami and his wife Sangeetha Doraiswami.
Ambassador Doraiswami praised the twins' dedication, saying, "What is truly commendable is that we see two young Chinese dancers throwing themselves into classical Indian dance with full enthusiasm." He noted that the Arangetram, which literally means "ascending the stage," is a significant milestone in a dancer's journey. He added that Bharatanatyam has a long history in India and that great art can transcend national borders.
The 16-year-old high school students have studied the complex art form since the age of three under the guidance of Jin Shan Shan, a noted Chinese Bharatanatyam exponent and teacher. Shan runs the Sangeetham Indian Arts School in Beijing and trained at the renowned Kalakshetra dance school in Chennai. According to Shan, several hundred children from across China have learned the Indian art form at the school, which was established in 2006.
This performance marks the fourth Arangetram by a set of dancers in recent years. The twins have previously performed at various events, including before Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his 2015 visit to Tianjin for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, and in the dance drama 'Ramayana' staged in Beijing last year.
The event highlighted the cultural exchange between India and China, with Ambassador Doraiswami emphasizing that young Chinese people's passion for the dance form's postures, music, and rhythm represents the most authentic and deep cultural and people-to-people exchange.