Welcome to
Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan
Dance School
© Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan
"As a young girl I have always been very enthusiastic about dancing, singing and reading. You could say they were my hobbies. Dancing has become my passion and, although I studied Civil Engineering, I have made it my job.
Singing has remained my hobby. I still do this almost every day. Also because it is inextricably linked to dance.
Reading has gone from a hobby to a necessity. The older you get, the more you realize that reading and absorbing knowledge is a necessity to enrich yourself mentally and socially as a person. Literature is a powerful weapon and stands the test of time. I can proudly say that as a dance school we have also been able to publish a book in 2022. The book KAL - Roots & Fruits covers the origin and history of Bharata Natyam, South Indian Classical dance and the road to and developments in Suriname . Of course, part of the book is also devoted to my milestones as a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer and the dance school.
With the arrival of the Internet and the digital world that it opens up, it is necessary to have well-founded and substantiated information available 'online'. The realization of this website is another milestone that the dance school can experience and makes information accessible all over the world."
More than four thousand years ago, in southern India, the art of Bharata Natyam dance originated. Once a sacred temple dance, it stemmed from the rituals and prayers of the temple servants, the servants of God, dedicated to the Supreme. In the 20th century, Bharata Natyam was first seen in Suriname. In November 1962, the Cultural Center Suriname(CCS) hosted a performance by the dancer Kumari Kamala. Supposedly, this is the very first Bharata Natyam performance in Suriname. In current times, Bharata Natyam can be seen as a graceful dance, where knowledge and devotion have entered the world of performing arts.
As a toddler, Namita Ajodhia is already interested in expression and movement. She never sits still and wants to take dance lessons at a very early age. Many Kathak classes and performances later, she sees for the first time a performance of another classical dance form, a Bharata Natyam performance. Mesmerized, she stares at the spectacle and her only thought is: this is what I want to do! With the motto that problems are there to be solved, Namita moves along her life's path dancing and develops from student to full-fledged dancer.
On Feb. 22, 1982, Namita Melantha Ajodhia was born
From the age of three to five, Namita was a student of Perkaash Makhan (who also used the name Shakshi Gopal from 1987), who teaches at Theater Thalia. She dances her Kathak and semi-classical Indian dance
When Namita is five years old she starts taking Kathak dance classes at Indian Cultural Center (ICC, also known as Swami Vivekananda Culture Center)
Trip to Manna, French Guiana, in connection with dance performance Directorate of Culture (led by James Ramlall)
Trip to Curacao for performance in play "Surpanaka ki chaal" (the play of Surpanaka), written and directed by Babu Mahatam Singh. Scene from the Ramayana, where the demon king Ravana disguises himself as a saint and asks for alms
Namita begins Bharata Natyam dance with Madhoerie Jagmohan (1999: junior degree in Bharata Natyam, 2000: senior degree in Bharata Natyam, 2001: Arangetram danced)
Completion of vwo and commencement of studies in Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Technological Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname (AdeKuS)
Crowned Miss Hindostani and then traveled to Tampa, United States of America, to participate in Miss India Worldwide (finished in the top 10)
Namita is doing her Arangetram and starting her own dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan in June. The name of the dance school comes from Namita's Guru Madhoerie Jagmohan
Selected after national autities to participate in the World Children's Festival, for six weeks 34 performances in fourteen cities in the Netherlands and Belgium
Trip to Trinidad for Youth Retreat Bramha Kumaris
A low point in Namita's life is the fire at her house in which almost everything was lost: all the dance school's costumes, all the props and a large part of Namita's notebooks and teaching materials. Yet Namita sees this event primarily as a fresh start. Grateful for all that is and the support the family has received.
In Suriname and in the Netherlands, as actor, dancer, choreographer, assistant director and assistant production "Land van Ame". Script and direction: Henk Tjon, production: Wilgo Baarn, project leader: Karin Refos, financed by the Dutch Embassy in Suriname. On November 30, 2006 Namita received her Bachelor of Science Civil Engineering degree from the Anton de Kom University of Suriname.
Coordinator of Suriname's participation in Miss India Worldwide Pageant (MIWW). The trip to New Jersey, United States of America took place in 2007;to Johannesburg and Durban, South Africa in 2008 and 2010; to Dubai in 2011. In 2012, Suriname hosted
Follow-up Bharata Natyam classes with Madhoerie Jagmohan
Reis naar New Jersey, Verenigde Staten van Amerika, in verband met Miss India Worldwide (SurIndia Glamour)
Working as a consultant. Before focusing on dance school, Namita worked in the construction and civil engineering industry in various positions, from project supervisor to manager and assistant project engineer on asphalt projects, among others
Trip to India (two months, from December 2007 to January 2008) for Trainers Training in Entrepreneurship and Promotions of Income Generating Activities
Trip to Trinidad in connection with "Unforgettable tour" (Bachchan family and other Bollywood artists). Travel to Barbados (via Trinidad) for dance performance commissioned by Indian Cultural Center (ICC) on the occasion of India Independence Day. Travel to the Netherlands and Johannesburg, South Africa, for Miss India Worldwide Pageant
Travel to Netherlands and India for performance led by Mahoerie Jagmohan and to shop for the dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan for the 2014 production, "Chakde! Light up your life"
On March 6, the wedding between Namita Ajodhia and Dharmesh Bhaggoe took place. Later that year followed the honeymoon to Miami and Orlando, United States of America (in May) and Aruba (in June)
Follow-up Bharata Natyam classes with colleagues and teachers in the Netherlands, India,Saint Martin, Peru and the United States of America
Became mother to Diya Aditi Bhaggoe on September 5, 2017
Started as assistant dance teacher School for Young Talent Suriname. From 2020 dance teacher. Trip to St. Vincent and the Grenadiness for performance dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan in connection with commemoration of Indian Immigration in St. Vincent and the Grenadiness
Became mother to Dhruv Raghav Bhaggoe on September 29, 2021
The dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan creates an environment where not only dance is taught, taught and created, but also the humanity of the age-old tradition is etched and students can experience its benefits. The dance school bids freedom to each student to choose about the ultimate: Doing the Arangetram, as the Bharata Natyam stage debut is called, or diligently engaging in an enjoyable hobby.
Start dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan with students as young as 6 years old
First dance school production: Purab & Pacham.
Selected after national autities to compete in World Children's Festival, 34 performances in 14 cities in the Netherlands and Belgium
Second dance school production with variation in choreography to a poem by Shrinivási: Purab & Pacham 2
Third dance school production: SurIndia Express
Fourth dance school production: Maya, strenght with different heartbeats.
The dance school opens its doors to students as young as 3 years old.
Edutainment projects with dance schools by Moira Morroy and by Dweight Warsodikromo commissioned and funded by the U.S. Embassy
Participation in two productions by and in collaboration with ArtLab.sr: Powa and Rainforest Festival
Performance in Barbados in collaboration with and on behalf of the Indian Cultural Center
Fifth dance school production:Global Fire
Sixth dance school production: Rangeela, colors of life
Seventh dance school production: Dancing feet, steps through our Bharata Natyam heritage. Collaboration with Guru Madhoerie Jagmohan, Kavita Ramphal, Sadhana Mohan and Maltie Nidhansingh in the context of 10 years of Arangetrams in Suriname on the initiative of Namita Ajodhia
Eighth dance school production: Tattwa, stories through dance
Performance in India led by Guru Madhoerie Jagmohan
Aerial silks artist Goura Prema extracted from India to train Namita Ajodhia for a performance during the ninth dance school production, Chakde! Light up your life. Following this, two weeks of aerial silks workshops for those interested
Vishaja Boedjawan does her Arangetram under the guidance of Namita Ajodhia and is the first to graduate from the dance school Namita Nritya Vidya Bhavan. She is the first of the third generation of Bharata Natyam dancers in Suriname.
Tenth dance school production: Dhadkan- Keeps you dancing
Eleventh dance school production: Diya, let us shine
Hindustani Nite: cultural event of the Indian Embassy with various groups, singers and dance schools. Namita Ajohia directed and choreographed the opening numbers in which only dancers who did their Arangetram in Suriname participated.That was the first time on such a scale: nine dancers.
The dance school is starting an innovative process to complement the Guru-Shishya tradition it has been following so far with curricula for different levels
Annual curriculum
Preparing for
dance school productions
International / regional
performances
Internal presentations and
performances
Video recordings
Annual curriculum
Preparing for
dance school productions
International / regional
performances
Internal presentations and
performances
Video recordings
International accredited tests
More learning,
accompanied by homework
Higher tempo (more
intensive lessons)
Dance choreography for
brides and/or family members
Copernicusstraat #179
+597 863-5303
nnvbdance@gmail.com