Vote of Thanks

Good evening everyone.

Thank you so much to every one for being here today. When we had first decided that we wanted to have my Arangetram, my family and I did not know what we had signed ourselves up for. Over the course this past few months we have come to the conclusion that planning an Arangetram is like planning a wedding just "without a groom".

The journey that has led me up to this day has been quite interesting and with more ups than downs. There a lot people here today that I would like to thank for making this event a huge success. Looking through each row and seeing all of you that have come out for this event, I can find at least one thing to thank each one of you for. Everyone has contributed in one way or another A lot of time and effort was put into making this event a success. So If I forget someone please forgive me.

First I  am going to start by thanking God and then my Grandma,

“MY NANI “who flew down from India just for my Arangetram.
 “SO THANK YOU NANI I LOVE YOU. “

Then I want to thank my Guru, Vani Aunty. For the past 5 years she has been an amazing dance teacher to me . I started dancing with Guru Kavita Kuppuswamy or "Kavita teacher "as we all fondly called her and continued with Dr. Barboza for a year. Kavita teacher gave me a strong foundation and Vani Aunty continued where she & Dr Barboza left off and made me into the dancer that I am today. Vani Aunty has done an awesome job of preparing me for today.So thank u Vani Aunty.

Next I would like to thank my mom, dad and little brother Arnav. This event put a lot of pressure and stress on all of us day and night my mom was the on the phone with someone or the other planning, coordinating, booking, hiring, editing ,anything, you name it, she was working on it. At night instead of sleeping, she would be up on the phone till 3-4 in the morning talking to people in India and coordinating with my dad who was in UK for work.I am grateful to my parents for their persistence without which I don’t think I would ever started dancing. Dancing has become a very big part of my life, so thank you mom dad & Arnav for being there for me.

Next I want to thank Mr. Rivera, the Norwalk high school band director for helping us acquire the auditorium. Without him this Arangetram would probably have been in my back yard. Also a big  thank you to Ms. Pettibone the High school choir director and her assistant Ricky for taking care of the technical, lighting and sound part of the show.

I want to thank Renu Aunty for doing my hair, make up & basically keeping me sane backstage. She has been here since 11am this morning. So thank u Renu Aunty. I want to thank Shreya for keeping my confidence going in between performances.

I want to thank my chachu, who has been on his feet since this morning taking care of all the behind the scenes stuff here at the venue. I want to thank my chachi for just showing up yesterday & ironing all 3 of my costumes ( that was a lot of work), then again this morning and sowing my costumes so they hold for my performances.

I want to thank chachu and chachi, Shamaji, Juhi Aunty, Janita Aunty, Anu Aunty, Sonali Aunty , Cindy, for schlepping me to and from my class in Trumbull whenever my parents couldn’t. Thank you to Anu Aunty for being an awesome MC, Thank you to Zee aunty for being basically our Event Consultant. Thank you to Sharon for being our photographer & my mom's support system even though they met just 2 weeks back. Thank you Shawn for being our videographer.

I want to thank Vivek for taking all the awesome amazing pictures that you  are seeing in the brochures and in the displays outside.

Thank you to all of my mom's friends & my friends for being a part of the decoration & welcome committee.

Thank you everyone for coming today and making this day one that I will remember & cherish forever.

Mahika