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Speeches and Remarks 2013
 

OFFICIAL TEXT

(As Prepared for Delivery) 

January 3, 2013 

Remarks of U.S. Consul General Jennifer McIntyre at the Music Academy 

CHENNAI: Good evening.  I am greatly honored to inaugurate the Music Academy’s

7th Annual Dance Festival and I thank Mr. Murali and his team for inviting me. 

When I was appointed as the U.S. Consul General in Chennai, many of my friends and colleagues congratulated me for getting this assignment in the cultural capital of India.  At the time, I really did not know what this meant, but after enjoying last December’s music and dance season I was really looking forward to this time of year in Chennai again and the incredible array of fantastic performances and performers it brings.   

As the Consul General, I’m pleased to see how many Indian Americans the festival brings back to Chennai – as these people-to-people links are the anchor in our countries’ relationship.  I am honored to be able to congratulate Professor Sudharani Raghupathy on her prestigious Natya Kala Acharya award from this premier cultural institution.   

Dr. Raghupathy’s biography is a story not only of a foremost dancer, with an incredible 65 years of experience, but also of a leader and role model in engaging audiences internationally and in the academic realm to cultivate cultural awareness and interactions.  

Many students in the U.S. have had the special privilege of learning dance from her, personally.  

These education efforts by premier dancers like Dr. Raghupathy and the late Ms. Rukmini Devi – who supplied the profession with numerous dancers and musicians – have enabled cross cultural exchanges between both of our countries.  

I’m pleased that the performance tonight for this inauguration will be by the artists from Kalakshetra.   

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was deeply impressed by the dance performances at Kalakshetra during her visit to Chennai in July 2011.  So, without further ado, I look forward, along with all of you, to another wonderful Bharatanatyam performance by the artists of Kalakshetra.   

Thank you.