Sharanya

Behind every arangetram are countless hours like these.

Arya has been preparing for this moment for years, and in just a few days she takes the stage for her arangetram. This is a glimpse of the work that goes into it — the practice, the focus, the dedication that happens long before the performance.

So proud of all your hard work, Arya. We cannot wait to see you shine! ✨

A little throwback to performing at the Art All Night festival with Shraddha.

People often think Bharatanatyam is something you do as a kid and eventually grow out of. But some of the most meaningful dancing happens later, when you return to it as an adult, on your own terms, for yourself.

There is something powerful about still being on stage, still growing, still finding new things in this art form years into it. It is never too late to start, and never too late to come back.

If you are in the South Bay and have been thinking about beginning Bharatanatyam, or returning after time away, our fall adult classes in Santa Clara are open now. Link in bio.

I have always believed you cannot create art without living life first.

I spent some time in Europe recently and kept collecting little moments, colors, shapes, light, the way people move through a space. None of it is dance, exactly. But all of it feeds the work.

Choreography does not come from nowhere. It comes from paying attention, from noticing the world and letting it move through you until it becomes something you can share on stage.

Here are a few things that caught my eye and got my mind flowing.

Happy birthday to Devayani!

This is from her arangetram, a sanchari from the Sakiye varnam. She is telling her friend to stop teasing her, realizing with a quiet ache that she is all alone while even the animals around her are paired.

There is so much feeling in this moment, all carried through the face and the hands, no words needed. This kind of storytelling is one of my favorite parts of Bharatanatyam to teach.

Happy birthday, Devayani. So proud of the dancer and teacher you have become.

From the Lotus and Water Lily Festival, a Nalinakanthi Jatiswaram I choreographed, performed with Shraddha, Rupa, and Vidhya.

I picked this clip because of the transition and the way the four of us connect through it. A jatiswaram has no story or lyrics, just rhythm and movement, so what carries it is the energy between the dancers. When that clicks, you can feel it, and this was one of those moments.

Watching adults take on a piece like this is a reminder that Bharatanatyam is not something you age out of. If you are in the South Bay and thinking about returning to dance or starting fresh, our fall classes in Santa Clara are open now. Link in bio.

Mahashivaratri 2020. Arya, Amara, Shruthi, and Avani performing Mahadeva Kautuvam, part of a set that also included Chatusra Alarippu and Rasali Jatiswaram alongside Shraddha. ✨

This performance was in February 2020, just weeks before everything shut down. Looking back now, I am so grateful we got this one in. None of us knew what was coming, but this night still feels like a gift.