An Eelam Tamil dance group who won first place at the World of Dance Switzerland Championships last year, will now be heading to the World Championships in LA.
The dancers, all Swiss-born Eelam Tamils, included: Samjutha Sadanandarajan (27 years old), Rashmiyaa Navanesan (26 years old), Archana Sachchithananthamoorthy (26 years old), Shamya Vallipuram (26 years old), Rethuga Jeevakanthan (30 years old), Mithuja Amirthalingam (32 years old), and, Janusha Amirthalingam (28 years old). The dancers are all in diverse occupations ranging from school teachers to speech therapists and legal/ financial experts. All 7 hold more than 2 decades of dance experience behind them.
The dance, incorporating both Bharatanatyam and Kuthu that made them champions in Switzerland, is titled 'Echoes of Roots'.
When the team were asked to explain the meaning behind the title and the choreography, they told the Tamil Guardian that "dance is deeply woven into our culture".
"Through Bharatanatyam and Kuthu, we not only embraced the art of movement but also learned our language, Tamil, along with our traditions, religion and heritage. Dance was more than just a part of our lives - it allowed us to fully embody and embrace our culture."
"As second-generation immigrants, we had the unique privilege of living between two cultures, an experience that enriched us in many ways," they continued. "Yet, our Tamil identity remains at the core of who we are. We carry our culture in our hearts with pride and honour our roots, ensuring they will never fade."
"Our dance embodies who we are. Through its name, we want to convey that we, along with future generations, are the 'Echoes of Roots', ensuring that our heritage will never fade away."
The team spoke on how rehearsals were quite challenging as they all had to juggle their work, family and friends alongside intensive practicing, but that ultimately this was all well worth it.
"It was an incredible feeling to represent our Tamil culture on such a big stage. We felt proud to share our roots and show the world who we are through dance. Winning first place was a dream come true. It was a moment we had worked towards for so many years, and it felt amazing to see our long-time dream become a reality. It wasn't just a win for us, but for our Tamil community and the traditions we proudly represent."
The team also commented on how thankful for all the love and support they received and that this is a win for all of us.
"Never forget your roots and heritage, and be proud of who you are. Here's to many more victories ahead, and may we keep spreading positivity and unity through our art!"
Now that the team are champions in Switzerland, they will continue on to compete in the World Championships of World of Dance hosted in Los Angeles, USA.
This is expected to take place in July 2025.
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Photographs by Ajith Vallipuram and Aghishenth