A 13-year-old Chinese girl, Lei Muzi, has made history by becoming the first student to perform a Bharatanatyam Arangetram in China. This marks a significant milestone in the growing popularity of the ancient Indian dance form in the neighboring country. Lei’s solo debut took place earlier this week before an esteemed audience, including renowned Bharatanatyam exponent Leela Samson, Indian diplomats, and several Chinese admirers of the art, according to reports by PTI.
The event was notable as it was the first-ever Arangetram—a traditional Bharatanatyam graduation ceremony—performed by a student who was fully trained and performed in China. Arangetram is a pivotal moment in a Bharatanatyam dancer’s journey, representing their inaugural solo performance before an audience that includes their teachers, dance experts, and guests. Only after completing this rite of passage is a student considered ready to perform independently or take on students of their own.
TS Vivekanand, the First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in charge of culture, highlighted the significance of the event, stating that Lei’s Arangetram is the first of its kind by a Chinese student trained by a Chinese teacher in China. This, he noted, is a landmark moment in the history of Bharatanatyam’s inheritance and expansion outside of India.
Lei Muzi, who is affectionately known as Dudu, has been studying Bharatanatyam for over a decade under the guidance of her mentor, Jin Shan Shan, at Jin’s dance school. Jin herself was the first Chinese dancer to complete an Arangetram in Bharatanatyam, which she did in 1999 in New Delhi. Jin expressed her pride in Lei’s achievement, emphasizing the historical importance of this event for the Bharatanatyam community in China.
The performance, which lasted two hours, saw Lei dance to several classical compositions, accompanied by a group of musicians flown in from Chennai. The event drew a large and enthusiastic audience, who applauded Lei throughout her performance. Lei’s dedication to the art form is evident in her journey, which began in 2014, and she is set to perform in Chennai later this month, further solidifying her place in the world of Bharatanatyam.
