Shruti Laya celebrated Annamacharya Day on Dec.6, 2008 with a grand program with over 115 scheduled participants, from over twenty teachers. With a mixture of instrumental and vocal Carnatic music, Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and folk dance styles, the program extended well past the scheduled four hours. The packed hall, with several hundred people watching raptly, testified to the success of the program. In the words of one audience member “Standing-Room only crowd” would have been an apt description for today’s performance, if only there was standing room! I moved from the spot that I was standing for a few seconds and found myself without a place to stand.

The program was started off with a minute of silence for the recent tragedy in Bombay, followed by a prayer by Sriram Garikapati. Smt.Sharada Chityala gave a brief introduction to Annamacharya and his works. Sri.Sreenadh Jonnavithula welcomed the audience to the program, and recalled the successes of the first year of Shruti Laya.

The program was divided into a music session, followed by a dance session, and rounded off with another music session. Mere words cannot adequately describe the liveliness, enthusiasm and keen participation of the young artists, nor show the quality of their work. The pictures, audio and video clips below may give a small taste of the function to those who could not attend.

This program was made possible by the generosity of sponsors Kanchi Kamakoti Seva Foundation, and State Bank of India, and of course, Rasikas in the area who support Shruti Laya so enthusiastically by attending the programs and joining in as members.