ABOUT THE ARTIST

Smt. Saripalle Manjula is a Carnatic Vocal and Veena virtuoso currently residing in Sunnyvale CA. 

 

She started training in carnatic music  - vocal and veena at the tender age of 5. She was initiated into music by her parents Smt. Vedula Jzanamba and Sri Vedula Chiranjeevi Garu and then started learning formally under the tutelage of Guru Vidwan Adiraju Narasimham Garu disciple of Vidwan Peri Rama Sastry Garu of the famed Vizianagaram Sangeeta Kalasala.

 

She continued her training for the next 15 years and continued after marriage under the encouragement of her husband Sri. Saripalle Amarakanteswara Rao garu, she  had  her music training under the  guidance of Vidushi. Smt. Nagaratnam garu. 

After successfully completing her training under her Gurus, she started performing and gained popularity in her inimitable gayaki style recitals and concerts throughout India and earned several accolades. 

 

Smt. Manjula has several compositions to her credit and has released CDs dedicating her work to her spiritual Guru.

 

In addition to her classical style of rendering, she has collaborated with musicians of other genres e.g Hindustani classical to compose music with Sitar, Violin and Flute.

 

She has worked with world musicians to innovate and adapt the traditional Ragas set to different laya and tala to suit the Japanese Taiko drums choreographed for fusion with Kuchipudi dance form.

 

She has formed and trained a band of women musicians to generate interest and awareness through simple and popular tunes. She has been part of the Nattuvangam team to help young dancers step into the world of performances and discover themselves. She has composed music to the Bhagavatam verses for stage performances of our spiritual heritage.

 

Currently she teaches students all over the world of various skill levels. Music is her passion and her goal is to promote and teach Indian classical music to all.

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ABOUT THE ARTIST

Smt. Saradhambal Ramasubbu, retired bank manager, Indian Overseas Bank, Bangalore, India has been an avid learner of Carnatic music for the past “50 years”.  She was also trained under Sangeet Natak Academy awardee Shri. Madurai TN Seshagopalan for a brief period of time until she moved to Chennai.

 

Multifaceted Saradhambhal Ramasubbu also plays Saraswathi Veena, and now she has involved herself in learning and practicing  Thirupugazh, Shivananda Lahari, Soundarya Lahari and so on.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Vandita Parikh recipient of the President’s Award from Smt. Prratibha Patil in 2011, for her contribution in folk art and culture , Established Nruthyashakti dance school in the US, in 2000 and today it has grown into 4 branches with 100 plus students. Nruthya Shakti Dance Academy was established to promote the awareness of the abysmal folk cultures of India and produce quality performances highlighting the beauty, depth and vastness of this beautiful folk form of art. Through NSDA  aimed to pursue and popularize folk art and theatre in a country where this form of art did not have good visibility.

 

Vandita initiated the curriculum based teaching of folk arts here in Dallas, and created an exam pattern, where in students exhibited both the theory and performance aspects of folk art forms.Nsda has proudly accomplished more than 800 shows from its inception .Thus ,making it to being one of the most premier schools for folk and folk art instruction.

Since 2016, Nruthyashakti has joined hands with Dallas ISD to educate and propagate collaborative efforts to introduce Indian culture to the students through Multicultural programs like story telling, folk puppet theatre and dance performances

Dance back to the temples and Nritya seva - Dance for service are two Nsda platforms where students connect temples with  dance and shashtra learning and Nsda students volunteer more than 50 hours every year towards local charities.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

SHRI  PRAKASH RAO, 

Initially trained in mridangam from Sri K. Sudarshanacharyulu (Hyderabad). Subsequently became one of the senior most disciples of Sangitha Kalanidhi Vellore Ramabhadran. Performed over 2500 concerts in a career spanning 40+ years. Accompanied senior artists such as Lalgudi Jayaraman, L Subramanian, Neyveli Santhanagopalan, Chitraveena Ravikiran, T N Seshagopalan.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Dr. BHAVANI PRAKASH

“Sakalakalavalli” Dr. Bhavani Prakash is physician and a multi-talented Carnatic musician, master of veena, vocal and flute. She is an “A” grade artist of All India Radio and Doordarshan. Her teachers include Dr. N. Ramani and Smt. Suguna Varadachari. Dr. Bhavani has given over 1700 concerts. Many of her students are now performing musicians.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

VID. ANANTHAPADMANABHA RAYAR

Ananth is a vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and cybersecurity engineer from New Jersey. He began learning music very young from his mother Dr. Bhavani Prakash and mridangam from his father Sri Prakash Rao. Ananth has received advanced training from senior gurus and won several awards, and regularly performs as a vocalist and mridangist.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

VID. SKANDAPRASAD RAO,

Skanda Rao is a vocalist and flautist trained by his mother, currently taking advanced flute lessons from Shashank Subramanyan. He regularly performs in solo concerts and in dance programs across the country. Skanda recently completed his bachelor’s degree in physics at Rutgers University and is working as an experimental researcher.

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ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Born in Mangalore a city in Karnataka, Sujaii Krishnamoorthy started learning music at the age of 8 and went FCon to pursue a career in music.
Soon after her marriage in 1992, she moved to Chennai, where she trained in vocal music for 11 years under the tutelage of Nadabrahma Vidwan Shri T P Vaidyanathan and Mrs. Indira Vaidyanathan.

She received her Bachelor and Master of music honors from the University of Madras. She also got trained under Kalaimamani Srimushnam V. Raja Rao and Smt. Padma Chandilyan for a brief period of time.

She performed in SUN TV and also at various Sabhas during the December musical fest in Chennai. She was honored with the title " Gana Saraswathi" by the TAMBRAS Association,. Tamil Nadu in 2006. She has released 2 audio CDs Shri Sadguru charanam & Dasanubhava . She has presented more than two dozens episodes on Healing Ragas in the show Swara Raga Sangeetham on vikku TV.
She has developed an app Raga Miracle which focuses on the noble cause of self healing through classical music and mudras.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Kum. T. Vagadheeshwari, a sanskrit graduate pursuing MA Sanskrit besides learning German is a budding (carnatic) violin artiste. She has been learning Violin from the age of 8 under the tutelage of her father and guru Melakaveri sri.K.Thiagarajan. she gave a violin solo performance on  11th September, 2015 under the Talent Revealing Opportunity Programme(TROP) of VDS Arts Academy,
She has performed live in Doordarshan podhigai's "neralaiyil isaiyalai" on 15.02.2021 as an accompanying artist.  Also, she has accompanied in the unjal seva for lord Balaji in tirumala Sri balaji temple TTD and as well as in padmavathi thayar temple at tiruchanur. She has been accompanying various young artistes in the TROP of VDS Arts Academy, “Sunday Kutcheri in the Park” conducted by Sundaram Finance, “Sannidhiyil Sangeetham-GIRI Music Festival, kapaleeswar temple- Mylapore and  Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam – Chennai

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

P. Sharad is a passionate Mridangist both for performing and teaching.

He learnt Mridangam initially from Vidushi Thanjavur Padma rom the age of 7 , fine tuned by Kalakkadu Srinivasan.

Right from young age his laurels began with Best performing artist conferred by Indian Fine Arts followed by recognition from VDS Arts academy. Music Academy Spirit of Youth programs.Nadha Neerajanam at Tirupati Awarded title of 'Laya Bhaskara' by Vaigal Gnanskandan Trust. Accompanied the Akshayam Choir group in World Choir Games at Cincinnati US in 2012. won bronze medal.

He is an accomplished percussionist who has performed in various sabhas temples etc.

Sharad 's service to music continues by balancing profession and passion through his
NADHALAYA ACADEMY teaching children college students IT professionals and other aspirants and performing in concerts online offline .

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Anupama Srivastava, disciple of Padmashri Guru Shovana Narayan, is the Founder and Artistic Director of InSyncKathak Dance School. She uses the North Indian Classical Kathak Dance form as a creative medium to promote physical, mental, social, cultural, interpersonal and spiritual enrichment. 

Anupama’s choreographic works have been presented at dance festivals and concerts in the US and Canada. Anupama has also produced collaborative work with musicians and dancers of different genres. Anupama is an energetic and enthusiastic Guru, and provides Kathak education and training to about 80 students. A keen educator of this classical Indian dance form, Anupama holds lecture-demonstrations and workshops regularly for InSyncKathak students and also at UC Santa Cruz. In 2015, she organized a nine-city “Guru Shovana Narayan USA Tour” across Texas, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and California, and won critical acclaim for this effort.

Master Artist Anupama Srivastava with Apprentice Dr. Anjali Sahay, received a 2021-22 Apprenticeship in Folk and Traditional Arts from the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts.

Anupama holds a BS in E&C Engineering from BIT Sindri, India and an MS in Electrical Engineering from San Jose State University. After an eighteen year career as a Hardware Engineer in Silicon Valley, she made her passion for dancing her full time career, and splits her time between family, dance, writing, hiking, and yoga.

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

 SHALINI LAKSHMAN

Shalini is a senior disciple of the legendary Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancers, Guru Smt. M. Vasantalakshmi Narasimhachari and (Late) Guru Sri. M.V. Narasimhachari.  She has been dancing and performing for over 25 years and has a flair for the allied arts of Bharatanatyam and Classical Music.

Shalini has a Masters in Bharatanatyam from the Kalai Kaveri University. Currently residing and performing in Dubai, she has received critical acclaim for her shows in countries such as Mexico, Cuba, USA and the UAE. She has been actively involved in organizing programmes outside of India involving both local talent and also bringing artistes from India.

Her dancing is marked by precise Nritta and nuanced Abhinaya. In her attempts at exploring and experimenting with alternative modes of dance expression, Shalini has freelanced and collaborated with several leading contemporary artists and English theatre directors. 

Shalini is also a certified Yoga teacher in the Vineiyoga form. 

A firm believer in the power of Arts to transform lives, Shalini wishes to pursue dance and linkages to Yoga in its purest form.

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ANJANA KETTY

Anjana Ketty is a Bharathanatyam performer, teacher and a choreographer. Anjana was  initially trained in Tanjore style of Bharathanatyam under Guru Smt Chandrakala Jaganathan  (a disciple of Guru Sri Dhandayuthapani pillai). She persued her advanced training in dance,  Nattuvangam and choreography under the guidance of the maestro couple Kalaimamani  Guru Sri M V Narasimhachari and Smt Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari.  

Anjana has more than 20 years of experience in solo, group and thematic performances in  India, Bahrain, Singapore and UAE at various sabhas, competitions, temple festivals, dance  festivals and corporate shows. She is a recipient of “Sri T S Parthasarathy” award of The  Music Academy, Chennai. She also holds a number of Government scholarships for  performances and Nattuvangam to her credit.  

A postgraduate in fine arts, Anjana has also competed formal courses in Nattuvangam. She  is currently a member of Imperial Society for Teachers of Dancing (ISTD), UK and institute  which reviews and certifies students for their Bharathanatyam expertise as per international  standards. She can proudly say that her students have been consistently taking exams and  clearing with merits and distinctions.  

Currently she is teaching in Malhaar Centre for performing arts, JLT as a part time faculty.  

Anjana’s students have performed in numerous programs around the world – UAE, USA,  Singapore, Bahrain, India to name a few. Anjana resides in the Dubai, UAE from where she  passionately passes on the timeless art to the aspiring students all around the world  through both face to face and online sessions. 

ABOUT THE ARTISTS

Dr. Vinata Vedam-Mai was initiated into Bharatanatyam, an ancient classical dance form by her mother, Guru Vasanta Vedam at the age of 7. Vinata has trained in Bharatanatyam for over 20 years. Vasanta Vedam was a faculty member of Kalakshetra, Chennai, a premier arts institution which was founded by the renowned Rukmini Devi Arundale. Vinata is also trained in Classical Indian vocal music. Vinata is currently a full time faculty and Assistant Professor at the University of FL at the Fixel Institute for Movement Disorders and Neurorestoration. Despite the rigorous schedule of academia, she continues to keenly pursue her passion for dance by teaching, and performing throughout the year.  

  Vinata began teaching Bharatanatyam in Bangalore, India and has been invited to judge several dance competitions both in India as well as in the US. While in Maryland, she was a member of IDEA (Indian Dance Educators Association), and its offspring EAF (Youth forum) based in VA. She was also a member of the MD Council for Arts. Vinata has taught an introductory Bharatanatyam class for beginners at the Howard Co. Arts Council in the fall of 2004, where she was visiting faculty. She has been offering dance and music lessons at her residence in Gainesville, FL (Nrityakshetra) since she moved in 2007. She has conducted several performances with her students as well as student “graduations” or Arangetrams. In addition, Vinata is also a part of the UF-SPIC MACAY music group, and has performed several solo and group music numbers on various occasions.