When Ramya Tallapragada, a senior at High School North, and Mandakini Venkatramini, a senior at High School South, came up with a plan to present “The Art of Storytelling,” an Indian classical dance to benefit the American Red Cross’ Measles Initiative, they did not foresee encounters with the West Windsor-Plainsboro Board of Education. ##M:[more]##
They planned the event for Saturday, September 22, at Grover Middle School, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Since most of the committee members are members of the High School North’s Red Cross Club, they were planning to perform under their sponsorship. But the club was not permitted to sponsor the event due to it being on Yom Kippur, a Jewish high holy day.
“However, the West Windsor Human Relations Council has expressed a keen interest in the event that we have organized, as it has the potential to draw in a diverse audience,” Tallapragada says.
Tallapragada, an officer in North’s Red Cross Club, will be performing with Venkatramini. She has been dancing Bharathanatyam for eight years with the Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance. Although both dancers completed their Arangetram, solo dance debuts similar to a graduation ritual from a course in Bharathanatyam, they have both continued their dance studies. The dances are choreographed by Ramya Ramnarayan, the director of the dance school.
Tallapragada entered the WW-P district when she was in kindergarten and when Tallapragada learned about Red Cross in her freshman year she decided to sign up for it. “It is great to be a part of an organization like Red Cross because of the service it renders to so many,” she says. “I am so glad that I can use my other passion, dance, to make a difference.”
Tallapragada is also involved in the Tutoring Society, a volunteer club, the National Honors Society, and the French Honors Society. She also participates in the various dance shows throughout New Jersey with the Nrithyanjali Institute and at the annual March of Dimes cultural show.
Tallapragada has chosen the Red Cross to channel her community service efforts and to fulfill her passion to work for the well-being of the children across the world. She feels the Red Cross, being a global organization, does the most to help the under privileged children of this world. The Measles Initiative buys measles vaccines for impoverished people in third world countries at a cost of approximately $1, a small cost to save a life.
“We are very thankful that the Human Relations Council is eager to support us,” says Tallapragada. “The money is still going towards the Red Cross’ Measles Initiative, a program which has as its objective to eradicate measles from the whole world.” — Lynn Miller
The Art of Storytelling, West Windsor Human Relations Council, Grover Middle School, Village Road, West Windsor, 609-933-1696. Ramya Tallapragada and Mandakini Venkatramani present Bharata Natyam, an Indian classical dance, accompanied by a live orchestra. Benefit for Red Cross Measles Initiative. Co-sponsored by the Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance. $5. Saturday, September 22, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.
