ADI’S ORIGINS
“Anavarata” means “eternal” and describes the dance of Lord Shiva – without beginning or end. Anavarata Dance Institute was established in 1993 in Kwazulu-Natal by Rani Govender and her daughter, Anusia.
The Anavarata Dance Institute is a community-based, non-profit organization, Reg No.044--238-NPO.



RANI(22 August 1944- 30 July 2005)
Rani had dance since the age of 15 in a career spanning 44 years. In 1959, Rani and her sister Prema were amongst the first 3 South African girls to study Bharata Natyam in Madras, at the “Saraswathy Gnana Nilayam” under the tutelage of Srimathi K. Lalitha. They took lessons from Dr. Padma Subramanium, their neighbour and friend. They returned to S.A. in 1961 and gave spellbinding performances at every major center in the R.S.A. They taught this art-form at the “Nydoo Sister’s School of Dance” to the young and often underprivileged youth- many of whom are now well-known dancers in their own right. While in India, South African dancers were such a rarity that they were interviewed by the BBC on their experiences, and were invited to tea with Prime Minister Nehru.

They returned to India in 1965 to study Kathak under Guru Krishna Kumar, a member of the Mysore State Nataka Academy. They also used the opportunity to further their Bharata Natyam education. Their return to S. A. furthered their ability to propagate this style too. They became the inspirations to generations of classical dancers in R. S. A.


Rani And Prema with Guru Krishna Kumar (on the Left), 1965
They were invited to perform in the U.S.A., however, tragically their father passed away just before they could travel and they were unable to do so. They also participated in a Standard Bank Centenary Celebration Documentary, filmed in S.A.



ANUSIA
Anusia studied Bharata Natyam and Kathak under both her mother and aunt, since childhood and attended the same schools as her mother, in India. Ironically, Anusia’s first performance (at the age of 2) was the last performance of her mother, Rani, who continued to teach. This resulted in Anusia, literally, following in her mother’s famous footsteps. Both Rani and Anusia advanced their Kathak knowledge under Guru Rajender Gangani of Kathak Kendra, in New Delhi, the son of Guru Kundanlall Gangani of the Jaipur Gharana. She has also become the first South African exponent of Odissi. In addition, Anusia is an Honours graduate in Social Work and has also studied Early Childhood Education.


THEIR WORK
Together, Rani and Anusia lectured at Sastri College, and later Cato Manor Technical College’s Department of Human Movement and Communication, in KZN, for 9 years before launching Anavarata Dance Institute. They have, for most of their lives, researched the authentic Folk and Tribal dances of the length and breadth of India. This has led to the introduction of a large number of new folk and tribal dances, from the Indian sub-continent, into this country. To this end, they have had to travel to the rural areas to research the people, their lifestyles and their folk-art.


Anusia & Thandiwe Princess
They have been constantly committed to empowerment and the spirit of unity in diversity. In this endeavour, Thandiwe Princess Mzobe became their first non-Indian pro-bono student after expressing an interest in the Artform, in 1992. She studied Kathak, a North Indian Classical Dance style, for 8 years with them, since she was six years old. She was taken- all expenses paid on both of the Institute’s International tours, and was profiled in the “True Love” Magazine in 2000, as a young achiever. Her parents were the custodians of Cato Manor Technical College, and could otherwise not afford this kind of “luxury” for their daughter. Rani and Anusia, together with the staff of Cato Manor Technical College, and later the institute were constantly involved in fundraising efforts to ensure Princess’ success. Later, a few of her friends, as well as, her brother Leon joined the Institute.