CULTURE in Bicester took an oriental spin this weekend with a spectacular performance of Indian classical dancing, Bharatha Natyam, at the Bicester Methodist Church hall.

The whole evening was under the auspices of a Bicester-based Navyodhya Dance School run by its founder and principal teacher Shahila Gokulakrishna.

The repertoire consisted of pure classical dancing by her students ranging from age five onwards in their varying capacity, adorned and crowned further by Mrs Gokulakrishna herself and her ‘specially-invited senior artistes’ Athiswari Vadivale and Syamala Arumugam.

Shahila and the senior artists performed pieces individually and together in a finale of ‘pure devotion, ardent passion and commitment to the dance form, the particular school of dancing and their individual gurus’.

The performances by Mrs Gokulakrishna (as a teacher) and the senior artistes was to inspire the students that art and talent are endless and age is no bar.

The parents, families and friends who attended the performance went back with respect and adoration to the artists and organisers. This sentiment was echoed by the chief guest, Mayor of Bicester Sean Gaul smf guests of honour Canon John Yethirajulu Batthula and Mr and Mrs Fatimaharan.

The mayor spoke about the changing face of Bicester and the ‘exciting evolution’ of culture that the town would see as it continued to grow.