DANCE.

My journey in Bharatanatyam began at the age of five at Kalalaya Nritya Academy, Mumbai, under Pt. Naresh Kumar Pillai, and continued in Bangalore under the guidance of Smt. Sreeranjini Umesh and Smt. Poornima Ashok. I have also trained in Indian classical music, and although I do sing (and ocassionally perform), Bharatanatyam is where my deepest love lies.

Since 2011, I have pursued advanced training under Karnataka Kalashree Guru Smt. Minal Prabhu at the Mudrika Foundation of Indian Performing Arts, Bangalore. She has been a major source of support and inspiration in my life, both as a dancer and otherwise. Under her mentorship, I have grown both as a solo performer and as part of the Mudrika Ensemble, performing and engaging with repertoire, ensemble work, and thematic productions.

Bharatanatyam, for me, is not merely performance but sādhana, a spiritual and intellectual practice rooted in music, bhāva, and discipline. This has guided my work on stage, including performances offered in support of charitable and community initiatives at festivals and venues such as Natyanjali at Kumbhakonam, Mysore Dussehra, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, and ISKCON Bangalore, as well as lecture-demonstrations at academic and cultural forums in India and abroad.

I completed my Arangetram in 2019 and continue to hone my craft. In 2021, I moved to the United States to pursue my PhD, continuing my dance practice alongside my academic journey. Since then, I have remained actively engaged in performance, collaboration, and creation, including the critically acclaimed production Avikathita. Across countries and callings, Bharatanatyam remains my nitya-sadhana, my lifelong pursuit.