WATCH Viral Video | 13-Year-Old Chinese Girl Makes History With First Bharatanatyam Arangetram In China

A 13-year-old Chinese girl made history by performing Bharatanatyam "Arangetram" in China, marking a significant milestone in the journey of the ancient Indian dance form as it gained popularity in the neighbouring country.

On Sunday, Lei Muzi's solo dance debut was witnessed by the celebrated Bharatanatyam dancer Leela Samson, Indian diplomats, and a large audience of Chinese fans.

Photo Credit: PTI

WATCH Viral Video | 13-Year-Old Chinese Girl Dancing Bharatanatyam

For the ardent Chinese admirers of Indian classical art and dance forms, who have dedicated their lives to learning and performing them for decades, her debut was seen as a historic moment and a milestone, being the first-ever "Arangetram" - Bharatanatyam's graduation ceremony - held in China, as reported by NDTV.

In South India, Arangetram, as it is called in Tamil, is the debut performance of Bharatanatyam students on stage before their teachers, experts, and an audience. Only after this ceremony are students permitted to perform independently or train aspiring dancers.

According to T. S. Vivekanand, the First Secretary of the Indian Embassy in charge of culture, this was the first Arangetram by a student who had been fully trained in China and had performed in China. He mentioned that the ceremony was conducted in a very traditional manner.

Lei's Arangetram was recognized as a landmark event in the history of Bharatanatyam in China, as noted by Jin Shan Shan, Lei's teacher and a Chinese Bharatanatyam dancer. Jin, who herself had her Arangetram in New Delhi in 1999, expressed pride in seeing one of her students complete the ceremony, as reported by NDTV.

The event, which was attended by a large crowd of fans who cheered throughout Lei's two-hour-long performance, featured classical numbers sung by musicians flown in from Chennai. Leela Samson, who was also present, observed Lei's performance with admiration.

Lei, also known as Dudu, has been trained for over 10 years at the Bharatanatyam school run by Jin, who was trained by the eminent Chinese dancer Zhang Jun. Lei expressed her deep love for Bharatanatyam, stating that she has been captivated by the dance form since she joined Jin's school in 2014, as per media reports.

For Lei, Bharatanatyam represents not only a beautiful art and dance form but also the embodiment of Indian culture, which fascinates her greatly. She described Bharatanatyam as a daily activity that she is truly passionate about, highlighting her interest in Indian culture.

Jin, who is widely recognized in both China and India and has held numerous performances, reflected on the bond she shares with Lei, who has been coming to her home every weekend for classes over the past decade. This close relationship has made them like family, reminiscent of how Jin's guru, Leela Samson, had taught her when she performed her own Arangetram. The Arangetram held on Sunday was described by Jin as a festival for them, celebrating the culmination of years of dedication and training.