Panelists
Bina Menon
Bina Menon is a disciple of Kalaimamani, Kalamandalam, Natanam, Gopalakrisnan, Chennai. She founded Kalashri School of Arts in 1992 in NJ, NY and PA, Tristate area. She has trained over 3500 students and has done 100 Arangetrams in Bharathanatyam Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam. She has several First place and Best Costume awards at national and international competitions. She has represented NJ,NY,PA to competitions and has brought America First place and Best costume awards.
Sudha Devulapalli
Sudha Devulapalli, founder and Artistic Director of the Kalanjali School of Dance in New Jersey is a distinguished performer, teacher trained in kathak and Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak she trained under the guidance of Smt. Sumathy Kaushal, Dr. K. Uma Ramarao, and Padmashree Adyar K. Lakshman. She holds diplomas in both Kathak and Bharatanatyam. Since establishing Kalanjali in May 1997, Guru Sudhaji has nurtured more than 500 graduates, with over 95 Arangetrams and 100 diploma recipients via affiliation with the SAMVED Conservatory. Her choreographic portfolio includes captivating dance dramas such as Padmavathi Kalyanam, Sita Swayamvaram, Jayadeva’s Dasavataram, Meera Ke Giridhar, Shyam Sudha Ras, Ramayana, and Trinetra. Her school’s motto, “Dance with a purpose,” inspires community engagement and unwavering artistic support for art. Kalanjali has earned numerous accolades, including awards from FIA, TFAS, and a State of New Jersey proclamation recognizing its cultural contributions. Her collaboration with Gabriel Chajnik, Artistic Director of Axelrod Entertainment to choreograph Indo American fusion Jungle Book earned her widespread acclaim. In 2025, Sudhaji was honored with the Sangeetha Sambhrama Award during the Nirantharam Festival in Bangalore. Her student performed at esteemed venues including Carnegie Hall in New York City, showcasing their excellence on one of the world’s most celebrated stages.
Nirupamaa Chandrasekaran
Nirupamaa Chandrasekaran received her initial Bharatanatyam training in Kolkata under Guru Smt. Rajalakshmi Venkateshwar, a disciple of Padmashree Dandayutha Pani Pillai. Trained in the Tanjavur style with emphasis on clarity, precision, and abhinaya, she also studied Navarasa under Kalamandalam Shri V.R. Venkitt and Smt. Preeta Venkitt. Recognized early for her artistry, she received The Telegraph’s Shaw Education Foundation Best All-Round Student Award for excellence in academics, music, and dance. She earned a seven-year diploma from Bharata Natya Kalalaya, Kolkata, and later completed her Masters in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal, alongside a diploma from Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts. For her depth in both nritta and abhinaya, she was conferred the honorary title “Nritya Shiksha Choodamani” by her Guru. She is also proficient in Carnatic music and nattuvangam. With her Guru’s blessings, Nirupamaa founded the Sriyam Institute of Indian Dance, Music & Culture, first in Kolkata (2006) and later in New Jersey, where it has grown into a vibrant center of learning with multiple productions and Arangetrams. She is also Co-Founder of Nartaki LLC, a spirited dance ensemble presenting innovative choreographies on diverse concepts. A sought-after MC and Research Scholar at VWU, Nirupamaa continues to balance performance, teaching, and scholarship, nurturing the next generation while sharing her passion for Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music with the wider community.
Gomathi Manoj
Gomathi Manoj is an Indian Classical dancer, choreographer, and educator, trained in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam, and Kuchipudi under revered Gurus. She holds a Master’s degree in Performing Arts from Tamil University, and has over three decades of experience, with performances spanning across India, the US, Singapore, Bahrain, and Greece. As Artistic Director of Soundarya Natya Kalalaya in New Jersey, she has been passionately training students for over a decade. A senior disciple of Guru Padmini Radhakrishnan (Mumbai), Gomathi’s recent accolades include the 2023 Individual Artist Fellowship from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) & Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation, recognition as Master Artist (NJSCA Folk Apprenticeship Grant 2021–22), and the Spandana Foundation Service Award (2023). She represented the USA at the 51st World Dance Congress, CID-UNESCO, Athens (2018), and regularly performs at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana festival. Through performances, workshops, and lecture-demonstrations, Gomathi is committed to preserving and sharing the rich heritage of Indian classical arts with audiences worldwide.
Ramya Shankaran
Ramya Shankaran is a Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam artist, choreographer, teacher, and yoga practitioner whose journey in the arts began at the tender age of four. Over the years, her passion for dance has grown into a lifelong pursuit of excellence, discipline, and devotion. She received her early training under the eminent Gurus of the Kalaikaveri School of Fine Arts and further refined her artistry under the guidance of stalwarts such as Professor C.V. Chandrasekar and Kalamandalam Guru Kumari Menon. Each of her mentors has contributed to shaping her dance into a unique expression that combines precision, grace, and profound spiritual depth. Ramya holds a Master’s degree in Bharatanatyam along with diplomas in Mohiniyattam and Yoga, reflecting her holistic approach to art and life. Currently she is venturing beyond under the guidance of Thiru. Renjith babu and Smt. Vijna vasudevan for Bharatanatyam and with Dr. Neena prasad for Mohiniyattam. Beyond performance, Ramya is deeply committed to nurturing the next generation of dancers. As the founder and director of Adhyaathma LLC, she guides young students in their artistic journey, ensuring that the rich traditions of Indian classical dance continue to thrive. Her contributions have been recognized with honors such as Natya Shree Mala, Nrithya Vilasini, and the Bharat Gaurav Samman. For Ramya, dance is not just performance, but a way of life — a sacred journey of expression, devotion, and legacy.
Pavitra Jeyakanth
Pavitra Jeyakanth, disciple of Guru Smt. Sridevi Srinivas is a seasoned Bharathanatyam artist with over two decades of diverse dance experience, seamlessly blending tradition and Innovation. Her celebrated performances include appearances at the American Tap Dance Festival, Nritya Darpan hosted by the Indian Consulate General, the Erasing Borders Festival at Alvin Ailey Theater, Bombay Natyanjali, the International Margazhi Utsavam and New York Fashion Week, and her journey was recently spotlighted on the Times Square Billboard. She has served as a guest panelist at Columbia and Barnard University and her artistry has been featured in PBS, NBC, Doordarshan Kendra, Times of India, India Today, and The Guardian. Pavitra has also been a professional company dancer with renowned esembles such as Exodus Artistry and Aatma Performing Arts, and is currently part of Project Convergence. She is the founder and creative director of Prana Arts.
Suba Parmar
Suba Parmar, based in New Jersey, (originally from Chennai, India) is the most sought-after choreographer, artistic director, teacher and dancer. She has studied the vintage Pandanallur / Tanjore style of Bharatanatyam (Classical dance of South India) known for its repertory grace and tradition at its finest. She is the direct disciple of Kalaimamani Guru Indra Rajan and Pandanallur Srinivasa Pillai, both acclaimed doyens of this respected tradition. As a result of her commitment to this fine art, Suba is recognized as a pioneer in the arts community. Her creations reflect a wide range of artistic expressions ranging from traditional works to inter-cultural collaborations with artists of diverse cultures. With a legacy spanning over five decades, and over 750 performances internationally, Guru Suba has received numerous awards and honors from prestigious institutions in the US and India. Her brain child “Shubanjali”, a premier non-profit performing arts institute, is celebrating its 32nd year – a testament of love and dedication to Bharatanatyam in the US.
Jayalakshmi Radhakrishnan
Jayalakshmi Radhakrishnan is very approachable and friendly yet balances out to be strict at the right time with ease. Founder & Artistic director of Naatiya Samarpanam, is a disciple of Kalaimamani. Late Mr. Kameshwaran and Late Mrs. Saroja Kameshwaran since her early age of 5. She also had her training under Guru Mahalakshmi and Narendra. She has performed innumerous performances under the tutelage of her Gurus and alongside of them. One important lesson she always mentions that was learnt from her gurus was the “importance of warm up & stretches + a strong commitment and love towards the art”. Our Guru emotes outstanding facial expressions (Navarasa) that makes her an enthralling sight to watch. She is backed by 25+ years of experience and holds a master’s degree in Bharatanatyam from Kalai Kaviri College of Fine arts. She was awarded “Natya Kala Choodamani” in 2016 by Gana Mukundhapriya trust. Our Guru’s versatility and grace is always inspiring. She is a very intuitive Choreographer (as you could see today for yourself and there is more to come) and has composed many challenging and unique items of Margam. Smt. Jayalaksmi believes that one should never stop learning. She learns Carnatic Vocal and Nattuvangam from her Guru Swamimalai Suresh Sir who is amongst us today. She also continues to get mentorship from gurus like Radhika Shurjit, Ramya Ramnaryanan & Gayathri Krishnaveni Lakshmana.jpeg) |
| Sridevi Srinivas Sridevi Srinivas, founder and artistic director of Sri Art Academy, is a distinguished bharatanatyam artist trained in the Pandanallur style under Kalaimamani Smt. Krishnakumari Narendran. She holds a Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Stella Maris College, Chennai, where she completed her thesis dissertation on the Cosmic Dancer. She has been recognized by Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai as a State-level Bharatanatyam artist and is the recipient of the Talent Promotion Award from the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram. Over the years, she has performed at renowned venues such as the Natyanjali festivals at Chidambaram and Perur, Polachi Tamil Sangam, Madurai Tamil Sangam, and the World Poets Conference. She also acted in the film Purandaradasar. Under the tutelage of her Guru, she has performed as a lead in numerous dance productions and has also collaborated with violin maestro Padma Shri Kunnakudi Vaidhyianathan for several of his compositions and ballets, many of which were specially composed and choreographed for her. Connoisseurs of art celebrate her for the precision of her karanas and the emotive depth of her bhavas. Sridevi also pursues her passion for painting in the realism style, and has produced works in multiple mediums including oil, charcoal and graphite. She continues to explore creativity across disciplines while mentoring the next generation of Bharatanatyam dancers. .jpg) Dr. Smruthi Jayasundar Dr. Smruthi Jayasundar is a senior disciple of the living Bharatanatyam legend Padmashri Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy. She is the founder & artistic director of Smritya Silambam Dance Academy, propagating the Tanjore style of Bharatanatyam in the New York / New Jersey area. Hailing from a family that has a deep appreciation for arts, she is the great-grand daughter of the illustrious musicologist, Padma Bhushan Prof. P. Sambamoorthy. Her journey in dance began under the tutelage of renowned Gurus Padma Bhushan (Late) Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan and Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan. A passionate dancer, performer, choreographer and teacher, Smruthi has numerous solo and group performances to her credit across several leading venues in India and USA. Her performances have received critical acclaim and been reviewed in Indian national dailies by eminent dance critics. She has featured in numerous thematic productions alongside her Guru Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, such as “Silapadhikaram”, “Mammudha”, “Spatika”to name a few and was also an integral part of Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy’s DVD documentation archives. In praise of her talent, she has been felicitated with special mentions and was awarded the title “Kalashree” in recognition of her passion towards Bharatanatyam by Padma Bhushan (Late) Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan. She is also a recipient of a Mayoral Citation for being a “Jersey City Cultural Asset” and contributing to Jersey City’s cultural landscape. She is a scientist by training with a PhD in stem cells and developmental biology from the University of Cambridge, UK and a recipient of The Gates Cambridge Scholarships from The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the same. Smruthi continues to spread her joy for Bharatanatyam in the US and India both through her own performances and by teaching the next generation. |