Saturday, April 13, 2013 from 6:00-10:00 p.m.
San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum invites you to our annual spring benefit event! This year we will be celebrating the rich cultural traditions of India. Attendees are encouraged to adorn India’s colorful style while sampling authentic Indian cuisine and enjoying live music and dance performances. Proceeds from the event will support the Museum’s mission to inspire children to learn about our world through exploration, imagination and experimentation with hands-on exhibits and programs focused on science, arts and world cultures.
The evening will include authentic Indian Cuisine provided by the highly acclaimed Annapurna restaurant located in the heart of Mira Mesa, as well as a hosted bar including beer, wine, and a signature cocktail.
Guest will also be dazzled by authentic Indian music, singing, and dance performances produced by PadmaSree Music. PadmaSree Music is a San Diego based group that promotes Indian music and talented local musicians. Their goal is to provide a platform for budding musicians to showcase their talent and generate an interest and awareness in Indian music.
This event is for guests 21 years and older with all proceeds benefiting San Diego Children’s Discovery Museum, bringing in critical dollars to maintain and expand the Museum’s programs and exhibits for children, families, and school groups.
Tickets are $95 pre-sale and $125 at the door. Ticket price includes authentic Indian cuisine and entertainment, beverages, and complimentary valet service.
Thank you to our current sponsors
Dalrada Financial, AMS Outsourcing, The Ranch at Bandy Canyon, Bellamy’s Restaurant, Dr. Bronner’s Soaps, Stone Brewing Co. Law Office of Puja A. Sachdev, Yoga and Meditation Center, Sony Computer Entertainment America and Bytes Inc.
Become a Sponsor
There are several different ways to help support this event and allow the proceeds to directly benefit the children and families that use our museum everyday! Click Here to download our sponsor packet.
For more information on becoming a sponsor or ticketing please contact:
Rebecca Greene, Rebeccag@sdcdm.org or (760) 233-7755 ext. 1003.
Meet the entertainment
PadmaSree Music Group
Indian cinema, with its characteristic film music, has not only spread all over Indian society, but also been on the forefront of the spread of India’s culture around the world.
Experience the sounds of Indian film songs featuring singers performing songs from a variety of Indian languages, presented by PadmaSree Music, a San Diego music group that promotes local music talent.
Bombay film industry, referred to as ‘Bollywood’ (the Hollywood of India), is the birthplace of Indian film industry. Indian film songs are well known for their popular song-and-dance sequences and mass appeal. It captures the essence of India’s culture that is encountered in weddings, festivals and other community events to marketplaces, bus/train journeys.
PadmaSree Music group was established in 2009 and has been providing a platform for budding musicians and local talent to perform at events and galas. It was founded by two music lovers: Padmaja Pottathil and Sreelata Santhosh.
Padmaja Pottathil trained in Carnatic music, one of two main sub-genres of Indian Classical music, continues to receive training under the guidance of Dr. C.M. Venkatachalam. Dr. C.M.Venkatachalam is a well known teacher of Carnatic Music in San Diego who has a PhD in Biomolecular Structures and has over 40 years of experience in teaching and research in University of Michigan, University of Alabama and Accelrys Inc. Padmaja’s interest in music and dance started at a very young age. She has won prizes in various music and dance competitions and has performed for All India Radio as a child artist. She has also received extensive training in Bharatanatyam, a classical dance form of India. Since moving to San Diego in 1993, she has been an active member of the community and has given music and dance performances at various cultural events. Her passion for music led her to co-establish PadmaSree Music with Sreelata Santhosh to share their love of music and promote new talents in the music world by providing them platforms to showcase their talents.
Sreelata Santhosh (Sree) started her foray into Hindustani classical music under the tutelage of Mrs. Roy Choudhury, a prominent All India Radio artist and a teacher of the famous Bishnupur Gharana style of Hindustani classical music, in the North Indian city of Dhanbad, Bihar at the age of 7. She later graduated with a 4 year music degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Maha Vidhyalaya Mandal and performed at numerous music events. Sree has performed at social events as a graduate student of Computer Engineering at Wright State University, Ohio, and continues to do so after moving to San Diego in 1997. Sree works for SCEA and co-established “PadmaSree Music” with Padmaja Pottathil to pass on her love of music to wider audiences and the younger generation.
They are accompanied by many other talented local artists trained in Carnatic music like Hema Krishnamurthy, Anjana Pottathil, Megha Sanjiv and artists like Jijoe K and Rajesh Kechal Rao.
Natya Rasa: Colors of Dance
Bharatanatyam is a classical dance form of South India. This traditional art form brings together expression,melody, and rhythm to enact stories from the Indian mythology. The compilation of dances within Natya Rasa will highlight the numerous manifestations of the Divine through graceful movements, elegant expressions, and exquisite footwork.
Presented by Aparna Sundaram, Rohini Herur, & Suman Nayak.
Mrs. Aparna Sundaram, artistic director of “Swapanthi dance academy”, is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer. Aparna learned dance from the famous dancer Mrs. Sowbhagya and Mrs. Vasundara Doraiswamy (India). Aparna performed her dance debut, Arangetram in 2003 under the guidance of Guru Smt. Indumathy Ganesh (Fremont, CA). She has performed extensively, and has earned the recognition and respect of dance critics for her exquisite execution of Bharatanatyam. Aparna has been recognized for her flawless rhythm, flowing grace, and powerful expressions with the title “Natya Tilakam.” She has also participated in many dance competitions, representing India at state and national levels, and earning the first place. She has received awards from prestigious Indian delegates. Aparna has also choreographed several folk and fusion dances. She is a regular performer at many cultural events and dance festivals within San Diego.
Mrs. Rohini Herur began her formal training in Bharathanatyam in the South Indian city of Bangalore, India at the age of 8 under the able guidance of Guru Mrs. Vandhya Srinath. Rohini became an integral part of numerous dance presentations of her dance school. She is also a recipient of the dance scholarship given by the Govt. of Karnataka, India. Since her move to San Diego in 2000, Rohini has performed at numerous venues around the city. Rohini has established “Laasya School of Dance” to pass her love and knowledge of dance on to the younger generation.
Mrs. Suman Nayak is an accomplished graduate of the Nritya Vidya Nilaya, a renowned school of Bharatanatyam started in 1937 by ‘Natyarani Shanthala’ Sri. U. S.Krishna Rao, in Mangalore, India. Suman completed 16 years of intensive training under the guidance of his son, ‘Natya Visharada’ Vidwan Sri. U. K. Praveen. After her arangetram in 1996, Suman completed her ‘Vidwath’ exam that earned her the title ‘Natya Vidushi’ and credentials to teach dance. Suman is currently receiving advanced training in Abhinaya (expressive dance) from Guru Smt. Ramya Harishankar in Irvine, CA. Suman has also studied Indian music from Smt. Usha Praveen. After moving to San Diego in 2001, Suman Nayak established the Natesha School of Bharatanatyam. Over the years, Suman has been training over 50 students in the Pandanallur tradition. Suman Nayak and her students perform regularly at various cultural and spiritual organizations in Southern California.
Musicians
Radhakrishnan Ramachandran started his music training on the violin and then went on to learn South Indian Classical Bamboo flute under Sri.Nataraja Iyer, senior most disciple of the Indian flute wizard T.R.Mahalingam (Mali).He also had the opportunity of getting guidance from the flute exponent Padmasri.Dr.N.Ramani , Mridangam vidwan Thanjavur Sri.Ramdasand the legend Pandit Ravishankar.He has performed several concerts in the USA and India, accompanied several musical presentations at various venues including Lincoln Center ,New York and as part of the Pandit Ravishankar ensemble at the Hollywood Bowl, Hollywood California.He works for a Wireless Products company and is a resident of the vibrant music community in San Diego.
Anil Narasimha has been learning Carnatic Music from Hemmige V. Srivatsan since the age of 4. He has given numerous vocal and slide guitar concerts in the United States and India. He is currently pursuing a PhD from the University of California, San Diego.
Naveen Basavanhally is a promising young mridangist. His gurus are Sri Ramachandran Suresh of NJ and Kalaimamani Sri Guruvayur Dorai of Chennai. He has accompanied various musicians such as: Flute Sri VK Raman, Flute Sri K. Bhaskaran, Smt. Alamelu Mani, and Sri AS Murali, to name a few. He has had the privilege of performing at prestigious venues such as Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and several leading sabhas during the Chennai December music season. Naveen recently joined UC San Diego as a graduate student.
