INVITED PERFORMERS
Kuchipudi
Dr. Yamini Saripalli is a disciple of the late hereditary Kuchipudi gurus, Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam and his son, Sri Vempati Ravi Shankar. Yamini trained for over two decades under her gurus and the esteemed faculty at the Kuchipudi Art Academy - Chennai. Yamini has performed with Dr. Vempati's troupe throughout the United States and India. As a solo artist, she has performed at various esteemed venues throughout the United States, India, Mexico, Canada and the United Kingdom in addition to performing in the Chennai Dance and Music Season for many years. Yamini is currently under the tutelage of hereditary Kuchipudi guru, Dr. Vedantam Venkata Naga Chalapathi Rao. In her commitment to passing on this glorious Kuchipudi dance tradition to future generations and sharing Kuchipudi with mainstream audiences, Yamini runs Kuchipudi Kala Nilayam, a Maryland based non-profit organization that practices, presents and promotes excellence in Kuchipudi through teaching classes, conducting lecture demonstrations / workshops and presenting performances in the USA and abroad. Yamini passionately and relentlessly pursues excellence and the highest of standards in her art form.
Sanjib Bhattacharya, recipient of President’s Awards from Dr. A.P.J Abdul Kalam in 2006 and Smt. Pratibha Patil in 2011 is an accomplished Manipuri Dance Exponent, Guru and well-known choreographer of India and abroad. He has received his training under the tutelage of Guru Bipin Singh, Padmashri Darshana Jhaveri, Kalavati Devi, Manjushree Chaki Sircar and Mamata Shankar. From 2006, he was Constantly invited by UCLA ABC,Cleveland Foundation ,Cleveland Museum of Arts,Duffy Liturgical and Many organizations.. From 2017 He is based in Cleveland sponsored by Rainey Institute as an established performer ,Teacher , Choreographer and Collaborator of great repute having extensively performed across India and abroad. He runs several dance academies and institutions in India and abroad while conducting Lecture Demonstrations and workshops regularly across the Globe. Extensively performed China,Japan,Mongolia,Bangkok,HongKong,Germany,Sweden,Australia,Scotland,England,Nepal,Spain,Srilanka,Indonesia.
He is also conducting workshops and teaching Dance therapy for Several senior living centre in East coast and west coast of USA.Founder director of Movements in Motion in California where he teaches Regularly online and inperson dance training in Manipuri and Contemporary dances.
Manipuri
Shilpanatanam
A dancer, choreographer, commentator, and academic, Maya Kulkarni is a highly respected and well-known figure in the Indian dance world. Hailed as the ‘Dancer’s dancer”, by the New York Times, Maya has performed extensively in the US and India. Her choreography comprises over 35 pieces in Shilpanatanam, a new dance vocabulary she has evolved in the past decade and a half.
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​Mesma Belsaré, a foremost Shilpanatanam artist, is also a choreographer, actor, and painter. Described by The NY Times as “a tour de force; a true act of transcendence and religious immersion“, Belsaré is a recipient of the Dance/USA 2023 National Fellowship. Her gurus and mentors include Sri Shankar Hombal and Padmashri Geeta Chandran (India), and, currently, Dr. Maya Kulkarni (New York).
PC: Mr. Hari Venkatesan
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: https://drjanakirangarajan.wixsite.com/dr-janaki-rangarajan
PERFORMERS OF
RVA TALENT SHOWCASE
Philippine Cultural Dance
Sayaw Diversity is a volunteer group of performers based in Richmond, Virginia
whose mission is to promote the Philippine culture through dance and other forms
of visual art. (Sayaw means dance) Established in 2017 by founder and artistic
director, Dhol Tuason, Sayaw Diversity’s work primarily focuses on capturing
different traditional Filipino identities through balancing ethnic, folk movements
with contemporary ones. With dancers coming from varied ethnic Filipino
backgrounds, its repertoire is noticeably richer, more colorful, and one of a kind.
Contemporary Dance
Title: Vinca
Choreographer: MJ Chahine
Cast: Nailah Barnes, Kayden Conover, Ella Garcia, Alannah O'Hern
Music: "Falling Colour" by Vanbur, and "Dex and Em" by Anne Nikitin, Jessica Jones, Tim Morrish
