Jaanvi's Bharatanatyam Arangetram

The Guru

Guru Smt. Dr. Kripa Baskaran

Founder & Artistic Director, Natyarpana Dance Company

Dr. Kripa Baskaran, Founder & Artistic Director at Natyarpana Dance Company, began her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of seven and brings over two decades of teaching experience. She has integrated the Pandanallur, Tanjore, and Vazhuvoor styles in her repertoire and developed a thoughtfully structured curriculum seamlessly integrating these traditions into her practice and pedagogy with utmost depth and clarity in training for Natyarpana. A distinguished performer, she has presented her work on stages around the world and is a regular performer at the renowned Chennai Music and Dance Festival. Her excellence has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, including the "Nritya Seva Mani" Award (2015) and the "Papanasam Sivan" Award (2016) for her outstanding contributions to Bharatanatyam in the United States. She has also been honored by the Wisconsin Arts Board as a Master Teacher (2014-2016, 2018-2023), enabling her to mentor apprentices through fellowship programs, and served as a panelist in 2021.

Smt. Dr. Kripa Baskaran believes dance has the power to transform character and cultivate values. Rooted in the values of bonding, discipline, and presentation, her teaching inspires students to grow as dedicated dancers and principled individuals emphasizing discipline, integrity, and purposeful creativity. Her commitment extends beyond performance and education into meaningful community impact. Beginning as early as her high school years, she has worked with individuals with Down syndrome, autism, and cerebral palsy, using dance as a medium of expression, empowerment, and inclusion. Through Natyarpana outreach initiatives, her students continue this spirit of service across the United States and India. She also introduced "World Movement Traditions" at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and founded WICA, Wisconsin Indian Classical Arts, to share Indian classical dance with diverse audiences. Holding a Doctoral degree in Bharatanatyam from Tamil University, Thanjavur, with research focused on mental health through Bharatanatyam, she continues to inspire generations through her artistry, mentorship, and community leadership, with students now leading Natyarpana branches in North Carolina, Tennessee, Connecticut, and Illinois.

About Me

Jaanvi Kottapalli

Jaanvi's love for Bharatanatyam began at the age of eight and has grown into a deep and enduring passion. She started her early Bharatanatyam training with Smt. Nandida Variathody, a Natyarpana faculty member, and later continued her journey under the guidance of Guru Smt. Dr. Kripa Baskaran. Over the years, Jaanvi has come to cherish every aspect of this classical art form - its rhythm, grace, discipline, expressive storytelling, and rich cultural heritage.

Jaanvi's interest in Indian classical arts extends beyond Bharatanatyam. She has performed in programs organized by WISMA, TAGM, and SEWA, earning recognition for her dedication to dance. She also received formal training in Carnatic vocal music for several years under Smt. Bandaru Kameswari. In addition, Jaanvi enjoys playing the violin and continues to develop her skills across multiple classical art forms.

A sophomore in high school, Jaanvi is actively involved in Forensics, HOSA, Student Council, and several other clubs, where she demonstrates leadership, commitment, and a strong sense of responsibility. Beyond the arts and academics, she is also a karate black belt, reflecting her perseverance, discipline, and determination to achieve her goals. In her free time, Jaanvi enjoys painting and spending time with her friends and family.

Through her Arangetram, Jaanvi celebrates a significant milestone in her Bharatanatyam journey one that reflects years of growth, dedication, discipline, and perseverance.

My Sister Nithya

Nithya Kottapalli

Salangai Puja Debut

Nithya started her Bharatanatyam journey early at the age of six with Natyarpana Dance Company under the guidance of Smt. Nandida Variathody. Nithya has developed a deep love for Bharatanatyam by watching and learning from her older sister, Jaanvi, who has been a constant source of inspiration to her.

Passionate about both dance and singing, Nithya has participated in several cultural programs, including WISMA and TAGM events, where she has enjoyed sharing her enthusiasm for the arts.

A fourth-grade student, Nithya also has a strong interest in science and mathematics and approaches learning with curiosity and excitement. In her free time, she loves playing with her friends and spending time with her family.

Through her Salangai Puja and training under Guru Smt. Dr. Kripa Baskaran, Nithya marks a meaningful milestone in her Bharatanatyam journey, reflecting her growing dedication, discipline, and joy in dance as she continues to follow her passion with inspiration from her sister.

Live Musical Ensemble

Nattuvangam

Smt. Dr. Kripa Baskaran, founder of Natyarpana, is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist, teacher, and mentor with decades of experience in performance and dance education. For this recital, she will provide nattuvangam, guiding the rhythm, energy, and coordination of the performance with her deep understanding of Bharatanatyam tradition.

Vocal

Vidushi Smt. Deepthi Srinath is an accomplished Carnatic vocalist and an ‘A’ graded artist of All India Radio, with performances across respected venues in India and the United States. Known for her versatility in classical, light classical, and light music, she has been a sought-after live vocalist for Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi performances for over two decades. Her artistry extends to compositions, audio recordings, and theatrical productions, including notable work with the Benaka ensemble. She also co-leads Nirantharam, an international festival dedicated to promoting Indian classical arts, and continues to mentor students, preserving and sharing the richness of the tradition.

Mridangam

Vid. Sri. Ambur Padmanabhan is an accomplished mridangam artist with over two decades of performance and teaching experience. A highly trained musician, he earned a Gold Medal in Diploma in Music, a Bachelor’s degree in Music, and an M.A. in Rhythmology. His artistry has been recognized by All India Radio, where he progressed from ‘B Grade’ to ‘A Grade’ mridangam artist in 2023. He has performed internationally, accompanying leading artists in dance, music, and television, including appearances on Raj TV and Vijay TV’s Margazhi Maha Utsavan. He has also been honored by Kanchi Kamakoti Peedam Aasthana Vidwan.

Flute

Vid. Sri Raghunandan Ramakrishna is a versatile flautist, composer, arranger, and sound engineer with over 20 years of global performance experience. His music spans Carnatic, Hindustani, contemporary, folk, jazz, fusion, and world music traditions. He has performed as a solo flautist in India and abroad and has collaborated on films, commercials, jingles, dance ballets, private albums, and short films. Raghu has worked with renowned artists including S. P. Balasubrahmanyam, Hariharan, Sadhana Sargam, Kavitha Krishnamurthy, and Vijay Prakash. He is also the founder of Suraaghavi Studios and co-founder of Suraaghavi Foundation in Bengaluru.

Rhythm Pad

Sri Pradyumna Soraba is a dynamic percussionist, rhythm programmer, and music arranger with more than two decades of experience. Recognized as one of India’s accomplished percussion artists, he has performed across India, the USA, the UK, Australia, Singapore, the UAE, Qatar, and beyond. His work has supported distinguished musicians and dancers worldwide and is featured in numerous music albums, television programs, and major festivals. In addition to live percussion, he is known for his expertise in electronic music production, rhythm programming, and arrangement. As the owner of Soraba Studios in Bengaluru, he brings creativity, precision, and innovation to every performance.

Master of Ceremonies

Smt. Deepa Reghuram is a valued faculty member of Natyarpana Dance Company and an accomplished Master of Ceremonies. With her deep understanding of Bharatanatyam, she thoughtfully guides the audience through each presentation, explaining its story, symbolism, spiritual significance, and cultural context. Her warm and engaging narration brings the performances to life, helping audiences better understand the stories being portrayed and appreciate the beauty, depth, and true essence of this sacred classical art form even more.

Credits & Acknowledgements

Event Credits

Costumes:

Shanthi Tailors, Chennai

Videography:

Media Eyes Audio Visual Productions

Unnikrishnan Warrier

Make Up & Hair:

Enoka Herath

Mahalakshmi Srinivasan

Decoration:

Vanitha Prakash - Diva Decors LLC

Sirisha - Decor by Siri

Near and dear ones

Photography:

Ramesh Kumar

Heartfelt Gratitude

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our family, friends, and the Natyarpana family for their unwavering support, generous help and constant encouragement. Your love, blessings, and presence make this Arangetram a truly memorable milestone that our family will cherish for a lifetime. We are deeply grateful.

VISSU & SUDHA

With Blessings & Best Wishes

Grand Parents:

Kottapalli Krishna Rao Achary & Indira Lakshmi

Maradapudi Jaya Satya Rao & Laxmi

Family & Friends

The Art

A brief introduction to the traditions celebrated in this Arangetram — the classical dance form, the milestone performance, and the sacred blessing of the dancer’s bells.

Bharatanatyam

Emotion • Music • Rhythm

Bhava Raga Tala

Bharatanatyam is one of the oldest and most revered classical dance forms of India, originating in the temples of South India. Rooted in devotion, discipline, and storytelling, it beautifully combines nritta — pure rhythmic dance, nritya — expressive dance, and natya — dramatic storytelling.

The word Bharatanatyam is often understood through “Bha-Ra-Ta”: bhava or emotion, raga or music, and tala or rhythm, while natyam means dance. Through intricate footwork, graceful movements, sculptural poses, hand gestures, and expressive facial emotions, Bharatanatyam allows the dancer to communicate rhythm, technique, devotion, and narrative.

Arangetram

Stage Ascent • Debut • Gratitude

Discipline Perseverance Artistic Growth

Arangetram is a significant milestone in a Bharatanatyam dancer’s journey. The word comes from arangam, meaning “stage,” and etram, meaning “ascent” or “debut.” After years of dedicated training under the guidance of an accomplished guru, the shishya ascends the stage for her first full-length solo performance.

While the performance may be viewed as a graduation ceremony, it is more accurately considered the beginning of the dancer’s journey toward artistic excellence. It is a moment of gratitude to the guru, family, musicians, and all those who have supported the dancer’s artistic journey.

Salangai Puja

Blessed Bells • Rhythm • Commitment

Blessing Readiness New Beginning

Salangai Puja is an important milestone in a Bharatanatyam student’s journey. Salangai refers to the anklet bells worn by dancers, and puja means worship or prayer. During this ceremony, the student’s salangai are blessed by the guru and offered in prayer before they are worn for the first time in a formal performance.

The salangai are more than an ornament; they symbolize the dancer’s growing commitment, discipline, and readiness to take the next step in training. With each movement, their sound reflects rhythm, precision, and connection to the art form.