about ME

I am 16 years old, and have been training in the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam since 2006. My guru is Padma Rajagopal, the artistic director of Nupur Anjali Dance Academy in Cleveland, OH.  I have performed at an array of different programs and competitions, showcasing the pure art form along with fusion combinations and Bollywood styles of dance. Ever since I was a child, I have been actively involved in the arts through piano and voice lessons. I’ve been in the Shaker Band Program since 5th grade, and I adore all forms of music. Along with dance, I am also very involved in school life and my extra-curriculars. I am a member of my school district’s “Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee”, the National Spanish Honors Society, Model United Nations, and Science Olympiad club. I am a co-captain of Shaker Heights High Schools’ varsity tennis team and have won individual awards playing for the team. Annually, I volunteer at the Ekal Vidyalaya charity event; recently, I began volunteering with the Hillary Clinton campaign. I am very excited to spread my culture through my performance of this traditional dance form for my friends, family, well-wishers, and mentors. Although an Arangetram is typically just a dancer’s debut recital, I have also chosen to combine it with my International Baccalaureate Middle Year’s Program (IB MYP) Personal Project. I documented my journey as I prepared for my recital and reflected on Bharatanayam’s impact on me, its integration into my lifestyle, and how it has shaped my world view.