ARTIST BIO (DANCERS)

Concept and Direction : Sukanya Chand

Sukanya Chand is a devoted practitioner of Bharatanatyam and Odissi, whose journey began under the guidance of Padmashri Awardee Doctor Ananda Shankar Jayant. Her Bharatanatyam was lovingly nurtured by Guru Suryakala at Temple of Fine Arts, Chennai, and she continues to explore under Sri Mavin Khoo, Drawn to the lyrical grace of Odissi, she began her training with Smt. Geetha Shankaran Ket and is now mentored by Smt. Sumathi Chandra. A choreographer, performer, and teacher, Sukanya brings classical dance to life on stage and in the classroom. Her work has graced festivals, schools, and universities, echoing both tradition and innovation.

She established Natya Nirvana with a mission to enrich the Central Ohio community through arts education. She also teaches at MUCAI Academy and serves as co-director of Temple of Fine Arts, USA.

Among her many accomplishments, her notable honors include being awarded the Columbus Dance Fellowship for choreography (2019), and first place in the international Odissi competition organized by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (2023 and 2024).

Dance Artist : Priyanka Raghavan

Priyanka Raghavan began learning Bharatanatyam from the age of seven under the guidance of Late Guru Smt. Padmini Ramachandran. She is an auditioned artist at the Doordarshan Kendra (Karnataka, India) and is a recipient of prestigious awards such as the “Kishore Prathibhe Award” and the “Aryabhatta Award”. Priyanka was honored with the title “Kala Kusuma” by the Arya Bhatta Cultural organization and she has also won the cash award for the “Best Solo Bharatanatyam Performer” from Tamil Sangham. She has extensively performed solo and in group all over India, to name a few: Karthik Fine Arts (Music Academy Mini Hall, Chennai), Kinkini (Bangalore), Annual Dance Festival at Pollachi Tamilisai Sangham, etc. She continues to collaborate and perform with various dance companies in the USA such as the Jiva Dance Company (New York) and group ensembles led by Smt. Mangala Anand (Indiana).

Dance Artist : Amisha Shah

Amisha Shah is a dancer and teacher of Indian classical dance style "Kathak" in Central Ohio. Amisha has graduated in dance styles "Bharat Naatyam" and "Kathak" from Akhil Bhartiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, India. She learnt Kathak under Smt. Asha Joglekar and also had the opportunity to participate in workshops conducted by the legendary Pt. Birju Maharaj.

Amisha completed her Masters in English from the University of Mumbai. She taught English and Communication at various colleges in Mumbai including her alma mater - Mithibai College of Arts. After completing her Vishaarad in Kathak, Amisha established her own dance school named "Krutaanjali", where she teaches students of all ages in Central Ohio.

Amisha and her students offer their obeisance to the art form and the cultural tradition through annual Guru Poornima recitals. In addition to that they regularly participate and present at cultural festivals, workshops, competitions and community events, so as to further the cause of classical dance and cultural values in society.

Dance Artist : Brinda Ramasubramanian

Brinda Ramasubramanian, a student of Gurus RLV Geetha Varma and RLV Unnikrishnam, is well-versed in three dance forms: Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, and Kuchipudi. She has performed all over India and won several accolades ad appreciations at many dance competitions and festivals, such as the Kerala arts festival, for many consecutive years. Moving to the USA has been an active participant at various dance festivals in the state of Ohio. Holding a post-doc in Chemistry and working as a Product Manager with CAS, she is also the founder of Nrithyanjali Dance School and takes immense joy in teaching and molding the next generation of dancers with patience, precision, and a deep understanding of the art. Under her guidance, students of all ages learn the technical rigor, emotional expression, and cultural significance of Bharatanatyam, while also receiving exposure to Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi.

Dance Artist : Sneha Subramaniam

Sneha is a passionate Bharatanatyam dancer from Mumbai, India, now based in New Jersey, USA. She began her dance journey at the age of six under the guidance of Guru Kumari Vasantha and later honed her skills with Guru Shri Pavitra Bhat. Currently she is training under the mentorship of Sri Thina Subramaniam. Over the years, Sneha has performed on various prestigious stages across India and continues to share her passion for Bharatanatyam in the United States. In addition to her expertise in dance, Sneha is also trained in Carnatic music, having begun her musical education under her Amma before advancing her training with Smt. Prabha Rao.

Collaborator and Dancer : Sri Thina Subramaniam

Sri Thina Subramaniam is an internationally acclaimed Bharatanatyam and Odissi dancer, educator, and artistic leader whose work bridges classical traditions with contemporary social themes. As Artistic Director of the Temple of Fine Arts and founder of Kala Collective, she champions cultural education and expands access to Indian classical arts, particularly among underserved communities. Since moving to the U.S., she has curated major cultural events including the San Francisco West Wave Dance Festival and The Varnam Salon in New York, while also presenting original works and cross-disciplinary collaborations. Her performances span prestigious venues such as Lincoln Center, the Royal Opera House, and Buckingham Palace, and her artistic voice continues to resonate on both traditional and contemporary stages. Recognized for her innovation and community leadership, she is the recipient of several honors, including the DNJ Mini-Grant (2023), MAP Fund grant (2024), and the New Jersey Individual Artist Fellowship (2025).

Dance Artist : Madhavi Sudhir

Madhavi Sudhir is the Founder and Director of Natyapriya Dance School located in Columbus, Ohio. She trains her students in both the dance styles Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi. She earned her Vidwath
certification in Bharatanatyam through the Karnataka Education Board, India under the guidance of her guru Dr. Sanjay Shantharam. She initially started her dance in Chennai with guru M Sundharam and her Arangetram was conducted by Guru Neelakantham. Madhavi Sudhir has actively collaborated with her students to raise funds for various worthy causes performed for many festivals around Ohio.

She along with students had performed for Nadaneeranjanam at Tirumala Tirupathi temple in India. She has served as a choreographer for local theaters such as Gallery Players, Image Productions and the Chamber Orchestra in Cincinnati during the SummerMusik Festival, and Cedarville University on a college project. In Spring 2024, she took on the roles
of concept creator and choreographer, while also directing an Indian music ensemble for The Converging Art Center’s production, “Echoes of Tradition.” She received Ohio Arts Council Award for Traditional Arts
Apprenticeship for 2025.

Student Artist from various Dance Schools in Columbus, Ohio

  • Naganeha Amirineni

  • Tanvi Ghanta⁠

  • Sanvi Lathish

  • Sahana Sivakumar

  • Manasvini Kumaraswamy

  • ⁠Dhiya Suresh

  • Aaradhya Kurapati

  • Maya Chand

  • Lasya Janagama

  • Chinmayi Maringanti

  • Teertha Shivakumar