PC: Prithvi Krishna
INVITED PERFORMERS
Odissi
Puspa Panda, a dance prodigy of Guru Smt. Meera Das, is one of the frontiers of the Art form to carry forward the baton of Odissi. Having started at an early age of 5, Puspa sharpened up her dance techniques with sheer passion for the dance form and that has brought in precision in her performance. After her Odissi Bachelor’s from Sri Sri University, Puspa went on to pursue a Master's at Utkal University Of Culture. A “Nritya Visharad '' and a Graded Artist of Doordarshan Kendra, She is also a senior scholarship holder from the Ministry Of Culture (Goverment Of India). Puspa has been the recipient of numerous distinguished accolades, both nationally and internationally, in recognition of her profound contributions to the art of Odissi.
Ariaki Dandawate is a Kathak artist, teacher and performer based in the Greater Boston and New York Metropolitan Areas. Ariaki has been training for the last 18 years under Guru Archana Joglekar in New Jersey, USA gaining equal command over the technical and expressive aspects of the art form. In 2023, she earned her Master’s degree in Kathak from the SAMVED Exam Board and has performed full-length Kathak solos at prestigious venues throughout India and the USA. Ariaki heads the Boston and Rhode Island branches of Archana Arts, and evaluates students across the country as an examiner of SAMVED exam board. In addition to Kathak, she has been studying Odissi under the renowned Guru Bijayini Satpathy.
Mohiniyattam
PC: Mr. Prithvi Krishna
Kathak
Sapna Govindan is a committed practitioner and performer with extensive training in the dance form of Mohiniyattam, a classical dance from Kerala, in southwestern india. Her initial training was in the Kerala Kalamandalam tradition of Mohiniyattam supported in part by a scholarship from the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, a center established to preserve and patronize music and dance. Sapna continues her advanced training in Mohiniyattam under Dr. Neena Prasad, a world renowned artiste, choreographer and educator in this genre. Her recent performances in the United States include venues such as the Mayo Street Arts in Portland, Maine, Symphony Space in New York and Geeva Arts Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. She has been described as a dancer “who seemed to have been marinating in the rhythms and juices of Kerala, the birthplace of Mohiniyattam, forever."
PC: Mr. Hari Venkatesan
MADHURAM
Conceptualization, Artistic Direction,
Choreography, Production logo design and Costume design
Dr. Janaki Rangarajan
Dr. Janaki Rangarajan is an accomplished performer who has performed across many national and international platforms to critical acclaim. She is known for her precision in Nritta, outstanding flexibility and graceful and convincing Abhinaya, which reflects a rare depth. She is also an accomplished dance choreographer and teacher. A recipient of many awards, Janaki received the "Kala Rathna" award from
Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in 2013, Yagnaraman Award of Excellence from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai) and MetroDC Dance award in 2012, and the Nadanamamani award from Kartik Fine Arts (Chennai) in 2011. Janaki has had the honor of performing at various prestigious venues including The Music Academy (Chennai), Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (Chennai), NCPA (Mumbai), ICCR-Azad
Bhavan (Delhi), Musee Guimet (Paris), Esplanade (Singapore), Jacob's Pillow (US) and multiple times at the Kennedy Center (US). Janaki has performed in the USA, Canada, India, UK, Australia, Argentina, France, Germany, Sweden, Holland, Latvia, Egypt, Chile, Brazil, Peru, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Africa. Janaki is an ICCR empaneled and a
Doordarshan graded artiste. Apart from being a performer/choreographer, she has also taught, mentored and guided scores of students across the globe. For more information: www.janakirangarajan.com
MADHURAM DANCERS
All Madhuram dancers are students of Dr. Janaki Rangarajan at her dance school, Nrityaniketan
Ananya Nair
Niranjana Harikrishnan
Divyasree Mahesh
Ritvika Palani
Sri Hasini Naicker
Raeya Kumar
Kamna Kalkunte
Srinija Kovvali
Roshni Yaradi
PC: Mr. Hari Venkatesan
MADHURAM MUSICIANS
VOCALISTS
All Madhuram vocalists are students of Maturya.
In addition, Mr. Ravi and Mrs. Chitra have done music composition for a couple of pieces in the production.
Maturya translates to great music in ancient Sanskrit. Chitra and Ravi Ravindran have been imparting Carnatic Vocal skills for more than a decade, and in 2015 decided to formalize the institution. With the support of wonderful local talent and a large group of supportive parents, Maturya has been able to regularly launch small, medium and large carnatic programs in the Richmond area. The school conducts vocal workshops and lessons. The school is also working on a banner that would provide a stage for continued performances by USA based carnatic performers
Chitra Ravindran is a Carnatic vocalist and teacher in the Greater Richmond area. She started her initial training under Smt. Brinda Thyagarajan, daughter and disciple of the legendary vocalist Sri Maharajapuram Santhanam. She continues to learn advanced concepts from Sri Ravi Ravindran. She is the founder of Maturya, the Richmond Virginia based organization for proliferation and promotion of Carnatic Music.
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Ravi Ravindran is a Carnatic vocalist and teacher in the Greater Richmond area. He had his initial tutelage under Sri Madurai Vaidyanathan. He took advanced lessons from Professor T R Subramanyam. His approach to music is inspired by the great masters of the past and the present. He specializes in the manodharma aspects of the artform, emphasizing creativity with rigid grammar. Ravi has also been a keen student of the percussion instruments of South India. He took initial lessons from Sri Tanjavur Murugabhoopathy, Satyagopal Tumuluri and now continues to learn from Sri. Vijay Ganesh.
Tanvi Ganti
Rishi Akula
Sanjana Anem
Vaidehi J Murthy
Sahana Nagarajan
PC: Mr. Hari Venkatesan
ACCOMPANISTS
Dr. Janaki Rangarajan
on
Nattuvangam
Dr Saritha Gomadam
on
Violin
Sri. Ravi Ravindran
on
Mridangam
Sri. Partha Aji
on
Flute
