Revathy sings and dances!

When making a name in one discipline of fine arts is a challenge for many, Revathy Kumar is getting praise for both her dancing and singing skills.
Revathy, who was awarded the Yuva Kala Bharathi by Bharat Kalachar this season for her all round skills in Bharatanatyam, vocal and Nattuvangam, says that the reason she can straddle between all these art forms comfortably is because she has been learning all three from her childhood.
���I began learning Carnatic music and Bharatam at the age of five. So, practicing for both became a habit. Also, the teachers that I learned from (Sulochana Pattabhiraman, Vasantha Kumar and Shobana) encourage and motivated me to concentrate on both these skills. Unless you are motivated, you can���t succeed in these competitive fields,��� says Revathy.
The youngster credits Shobana, from whom she has been learning Bharatanatyam from the age of 14, with giving her opportunities to perform in public. ���When she realized that I could also do Nattuvangam, she encouraged me to take it up as well pointing out that people who knew both Bharatam and Nattuvangam are a rarity. Also, she made me a part of her stage performances which helped in me gaining exposure on performing in public forums,��� she says.
The youngster feels that the competition in the professional circuit is quite intense and an artist is required to put in their best efforts to make an impression. However, Revathy isn���t a full-time professional yet. She is working with an IT major but says that she devotes adequate time to learn both singing and dancing. ���Especially, as a dancer, it is important that you keep your body in good shape. So, I make it a point to keep going for classes and also for dance shows,��� she says.
She adds that concentrating on all three has been possible mainly because she thinks of them as art forms. ���Once you think of your performance in commercial terms, you will be under tremendous pressure and whatever effort you put into training will feel inadequate. But when you approach it with devotion and commitment, you���ll concentrate on enhancing your understanding of the art form,��� she explains.
Being a budding musician, Revathy considers her being slotted in the 12 O���clock concert at the Music Academy this year as a sign of her improvement. ���It is based on the slot in which you are allowed to perform that an artist can judge themselves and get to know how the audience receives them,��� she says. The Margazhi season, she says, is a celebration of arts when both audiences and artists look forward to watching performances of other musicians and dancers. ���It is all the time when youngsters get a chance to showcase their skills and make a mark,��� she says.