New Jersey Teens Perform Dance to Benefit Children with Heart Disease

Ameesha Sampat, 18 and Neha Sampat,17 performed Bharat Natyam Dance Recital at Haridham, Indian Cultural Center in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey on September 8, 2006.

LAKE HIAWATHA, NJ (PRWEB) September 20, 2006 -- Ameesha Sampat, 18 and Neha Sampat,17 performed Bharat Natyam Dance Recital at Haridham, Indian Cultural Center in Lake Hiawatha, New Jersey on September 8, 2006.

Ameesha & Neha's recital included 9 Indian Classical dances. They dedicated their performance to the Hearts Across the Ocean - Kids Saving Kids, a New Jersey based, and non-for-profit organization (heartsacrosstheocean.com/mission.htm). 'Hearts' is dedicated to teaching young people how easy it is to make a difference in the world. Kids from around the US do various projects to raise funds to underwrite life-saving open heart surgeries for poor children in India. Hearts is entirely staffed by volunteers. Hearts Across the Ocean sponsors life saving, open-heart surgery for children in India. All operations are performed at the Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS)* in Kerala, India. Hearts Across the Ocean is based on the universal and humanistic principles of all the great religions and philosophies of the world: kindness, compassion, empathy and sharing. Mr. Mark Watson, the music teacher at The Pingry School is the Director of the 'Hearts' organization and can be contacted at 908 222-1889. Ameesha & Neha's performance raised more than $1,900 for saving children.

Bharat Natyam is believed to be the oldest of all forms of classical dances in India. It draws primarily from the ancient Indian texts of dance. The Natya Shastra from the 2nd century A.D. is the oldest available text on Hindu dramaturgy as composed by the sage Bharata. It states that Lord Brahma revealed to the sage, the art of Natya or drama. This ancient text is composed of 36 chapters and deals minutely on the theory of music, dance, theater, poetry and stages. It also furnishes details of costume, makeup and stage arrangements.

The derivation of the word "Bharata" to describe this system is most intriguing: many experts claim it to be a compilation of the first syllables of the three main elements of Bharata Natyam---BHA as in bhava or mood, RA as in raga or melody, and TA as in tala or rhythmic timing.

Ameesha & Neha, sisters living in Morristown New Jersey have trained in this discipline for last 8 years with their dance teacher, Guru Nirali Vakharia of Randolph. Ameesha graduated from The Pingry School this year and will be joining Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois while Neha will continue her studies as a senior at The Pingry School.

###