Game Changing New Treatments to Stop Chronic Pain and Heal Injuries team of orthopedic physicians on Cleveland’s east side have opened a new practice to deliver the most advanced adult stem-cell therapy available to patients. Regen Orthopedics, located in the Ahuja Medical Center, is the only practice offering regenerative therapies for orthopedic conditions, performed solely by orthopedic specialists. The practice was founded by renowned orthopedic surgeon, Reuben Gobezie, MD, one of the top 25 shoulder surgeons in the United States. “More and more patients are looking for ways to avoid ongoing steroid treatments and have begun asking for regenerative medicine,” Dr. Gobezie explained. “We are answering that need.” These non-surgical, biological therapies benefit patients’ suffering from chronic pain caused by osteoarthritis, tendonitis, muscle strains, sprains and nerve injuries. Outpatient treatments utilize a patient’s own platelets and adult stem cells and result in very little down time for the patient. “Our therapies are aimed toward patients who have failed conventional treatments, such as anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone injections, physical therapy, surgery and rest,” explained Trevor Bullock, DO, medical director. Osteoarthritis (of any joint), muscle strains, ligament sprains, various forms of tendinitis or tendinosis, plantar fasciitis and compression nerve injuries can be treated with regenerative orthopedics. For more information, visit www.regenorthopedics.com. Swathi Srinivasan presents Bharathanatya Arangetram Performance to Family and Friends by Dalia Zullig n Saturday, June 27, Swathi Srinivasan, a Beachwood High School junior, presented her Bharathanatya Arangetram performance to her family and friends at Cuyahoga Community College’s Metro Campus. Arangetram literally means “to ascend the stage” in Tamil, one of India’s many languages. An Arangetram is the student’s debut to the stage as a classical Indian dancer. Only a student’s guru can decide when a pupil is ready to take on this performance. Bharathanatyam is the most popular type of classical Indian dance. Miming stories from ancient mythology and our daily lives, this dance form not only gives dancers and the audience the power to reflect and relate to our own existence, but to also transcend it. The three syllables ‘Bha ra ta’ represent the three quintessential aspects of Bhava A O (expression), Raga (melody) and Tala (rhythm) of the dance form. Bharathanatyam dance involves many split characters that are portrayed by the dancer. Swathi took on many characters, portraying each by switching roles throughout her dance. The characters are then understood through the narrative of the song and expression, or abhinaya. “To play such intricate characters, I had to feel their emotions, watch scenes [from movies] and read books to understand them,” Swathi said. Part of the Bharathanatyam dance is the element of nrtta, or rhythmic dance movements. By keeping in beat with the music, the dancer helps the audience sympathize with the many characters that are being portrayed. Swathi, with the help of her guru, Sujatha Srinivasan, had been preparing for this night for the past ten years. Guru Sujatha has studied the art of Bharathanatyam under various eminent gurus in India, including Swamimalai Rajaratnam Pillai. Guru Sujatha is also the founder and director of Shri Kalaa Mandir, Center for Indian Classical Performing Arts, where Swathi trained. The performance began with a “prayer for success,” performed by five musicians prior to Swathi’s entering the stage. This prayer seeks the blessing of the Gods and Guru for the success of the program. The prayer was performed with a violin, flute, nattuvangam-bells, vocals and a mridangam – a piece of wood with drums on both ends of it, all of which were utilized throughout the duration of Swathi’s twoand-a- half-hour performance. Each hand movement and every head turn was precisely choreographed throughout Swathi's dances, which took years of mastering. She flawlessly performed each dance, portraying the complexity of each character and the emotions of each plot. As the program progressed, Swathi's footwork became more and more complex as the music got faster and faster. Following the program, Swathi proudly said, “This was exhilarating. I feel energized, relieved and proud, all at the same time.” Photos by Eric Skarl. Following the program, Swathi proudly said, “This was exhilarating. I feel energized, relieved and proud, all at the same time.” 46 Beachwood Buzz n August 2015