Nandita Varshini’s
Bharatanatyam
Arangetram
Saturday, August 9th 2025
About the Guru
Dr. Praveena Vajja is the owner and director of Natyom Dance Academy. She is the Disciple of Guru Natyacharya Shri Avasarala Rukmaji Rao, who is a disciple of Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman in Bharatanatyam Kalakshetra style and trained in Kuchipudi from Kuchipudi Kalakshetra established by Guru. Sri. Padma Bhushan. Dr. Vempati Chinasatyam Garu.
Dr. Praveena specializes in teaching Bharatanatyam, and also has extensive training in Kuchipudi and Kathak. With over 40 years of experience in learning, performing, and teaching dance, she brings deep expertise and passion to every class.
Natyom Dance Academy’s core curriculum focuses on building a strong foundation in Bharatanatyam, which enables students to easily learn other forms of Indian classical and modern dance. Students at Natyom graduate by taking certification exams in four levels through SAMPADA SiliconAndhra, culminating in performing their arangetrams.
Dr Praveena Vajja is on the Board of trustees of Sankara Nethralaya and the co-founder of Paving Hope, a non-profit organization that supports charitable causes through fine arts.
Dr. Praveena Vajja also specializes in presenting dance productions to convey storylines combining both ancient and modern principles in a way to make the Bharatanatyam vocabulary more accessible to the modern day audience.
Dr. Praveena Vajja founded Natyom Dance Academy after graduating from Andra Medical College MBBS, passing the USMLEs, and ECFMG (Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates) exams. Although certified to be a doctor, Smt Praveena Vajja chose to follow her passion for dance and began Natyom Dance Academy whilst using her medical expertise to support her husband, Dr. Manohar Vajja with his medical practice.
About the Shishya
Nandita Varshini Kasaraneni is a rising junior at Dallas International School, enrolled in the International Baccalaureate (IB) program. In addition to English, she is fluent in Telugu and French. Varshini has been dedicated to Bharatanatyam since the age of five, training under her Guru, Praveena Vajja, at Natyom Dance Academy. Over the years, she has developed a deep appreciation for the Kalakshetra style of this classical art form. Her commitment has earned her a Level 3 Certification in Bharatanatyam from the SAMPADA Silicon Andhra Organization. Beyond her personal training, Varshini actively assists Natyom teachers in instructing beginner students and values the strong sense of community she shares with fellow dancers at the academy.
Outside of dance, Varshini is passionate about Scouting, traveling, and outdoor adventures. Through her journey in Scouting, she has gained valuable life skills and participated in a variety of experiences—including Sea Base expeditions, rock climbing, and hiking while demonstrating strong communication, teamwork, and leadership abilities. She also traveled independently to study abroad through a student exchange program, embracing new cultures and learning opportunities. In her free time, Varshini enjoys spending quality time with friends and family.
Accompanists
Nattuvangam
Smt. Induvadana Malli
About Smt. Induvadana Malli
Induvadana, an exponent of Bharatanatyam, was fortunate to be born into a family of highly accomplished artists. It is no surprise that she inherited her love for dance and music from childhood, nurtured in a richly creative and artistic environment.
She is the daughter of Guru Padmashri Adyar K. Lakshman, a highly acclaimed dance guru, choreographer, nattuvanar, composer, and director of the internationally recognized institute of fine arts, “Bharatha Choodamani.”
Training and Artistic Excellence
Trained rigorously in both Bharatanatyam and Nattuvangam, her thorough foundation is evident in her well-executed rhythmic patterns that shine through her scintillating nritta (pure dance) and her highly emotive and sensitive abhinaya (expression).
She has also been closely associated with:
Her uncle Shri K Rama Rao and aunty Smt Nagamani Srinivasa Rao, both well-known dance gurus.
Her uncle Shri K Gopinath, an acclaimed mridangam player.
Performances
Induvadana has performed in various dance programmes organized by Bharatha Choodamani and numerous cultural organizations in India and abroad, earning appreciation for her dedication to tradition and artistic brilliance.
Teaching and Legacy
Apart from her dancing career, she is a dedicated teacher of Bharatanatyam and Nattuvangam. She conducts Bharatanatyam recitals for her students in the Kalakshetra style, known for its traditional purity, grace, and vigor. She also imparts training in Nattuvangam, following the unique style of her illustrious father, Guru Shri Adyar K. Lakshman.
She further promotes the art form by teaching Bharatanatyam as a fitness program for adults, making the classical dance accessible and enjoyable to a broader audience.
Vocalist
Smt. Akshaya Ramanathan
About Smt. Akshaya Ramanathan
Smt. Akshaya Ramanathan hails from a musical family and received her initial training from her mother, A. Jayanthi. Under her father’s encouragement, she decided to pursue music full-time. After moving to Texas with her husband, she has continued to advance her musical journey.
Akshaya went on to learn from the Carnatica Brothers and Smt. Padma Sandilyan. Currently, she is receiving advanced training under Smt. Prarthana Sai Narasimhan (disciple of Smt. Mani Krishna Swamy & Sri Chingleput Ranganathan) and Sri Chembai Srinivasan (Bharatanatyam vocal accompaniment).
She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Carnatic Music from Annamalai University, Chidambaram, where she also completed her Carnatic Vocal Grades.
Akshaya has served as a Music Lecturer at Sri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, Chennai, for four years, where she trained more than 500 students. With over 10 years of teaching experience, she has been imparting Carnatic music education to students in India and abroad.
She has performed Carnatic vocal concerts and provided vocal accompaniment for Bharatanatyam recitals at The Music Academy and various sabhas in India and the USA, always with her gurus’ blessings.
In addition to her performances, Akshaya has also contributed as a playback singer in albums, jingles, and films (Tamil and Kannada), and has collaborated with eminent Carnatic musicians and music directors.
Violin
Sri. Umamahesh Iyer
About Sri. Umamahesh Iyer
Umamahesh is an ardent lover of music whose journey began with learning the Mridangam, later nurturing a deep passion as a violinist. He started violin training at the tender age of 5 under Guru Pala Balakrishna Pillai, an eminent violinist known for his unique style. Umamahesh gave his first public concert at just 9 years old.
He continued his musical education under Shri Nedumangad Sivanandan in Kerala and Prof. R. Thyagarajan of Swathi Thirunal Music College, Trivandrum, Kerala.
Currently, Umamahesh is pursuing advanced violin lessons from Smt. Vaikom Padma Krishnan, a senior disciple of Kalimamani / Padmashree A. Kanyakumari, and also consults with Shri TKV Ramanujacharlu of Srirangam for further guidance.
He actively participates in and supports various music activities, as well as vocal and dance arangetrams in the DFW area.
Professionally, Umamahesh is a Software Engineer / IT Professional, employed in a reputed IT company in a senior management position, and currently resides in Plano, TX, USA.
Mridangam
Sri. Balu Rajendrakurup
About Sri. Balu Rajendrakurup
Balu Kurup is a renowned Mridangist and percussionist who experiments with multiple genres including Indian Classical, Jazz, African, and world music percussion.
He considers himself fortunate to be a small leaf of the huge banyan tree that is the Thanjavur Bani Mridangam lineage of Palghat Mani Iyer, having trained under esteemed gurus Sri Nagoor Ambi Iyer, Sri Mavelikara Velukutty Nair, and Sri Erickavu Sunil.
For the past 25 years, Balu has been performing with notable maestros from the South Indian film music fraternity as well as leading Carnatic music exponents.
He is also part of Valle Venia, a symphony group based in Germany, through which he performs world music concerts across European countries, the United States, and the Middle East.
Balu believes that music is a universal medium to communicate our most innate expressions with nature and remains open to experimenting with any form of music and collaborating with artists from around the world.
Flute
Kum. Sindhu Gudimella
About Kum. Sindhu Gudimella
Sindhu Gudimella is a gifted Carnatic vocalist, violinist, flutist, and bassoon player who bridges Indian and Western classical traditions.
She completed her Flute Arangetram in 2024 and Bassoon Arangetram in 2025, and actively supports community arangetrams.
As Co-President of GEMHS (www. gemhs.org) she leads youth in arts, music, service, culture, and leadership.
Program Details
Sri Vigna Rajam
Ragam: Gambheeranaata
Talam: Khanda Chapu
Composer: Oothukadu Venkata Subba Iyer
Choreographer: Padma Shri Sri. Adyar K. Lakshman
Tisra Alarippu
Talam: Tisra Eka
Choreographer: Padma Bhushan Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Kalyani Jatiswaram
Ragam: Kalyani
Talam: Roopaka
Composer: Tanjore Quartet
Choreographer: Padma Bhushan Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Devi Shabdam
Ragam: Ragamalika
Talam: Mishra Chapu
Composer: Madurai N Krishnan
Choreographer: Natyom Dance Academy
Varnam Rupamu Chuchi
Ragam: Thodi
Talam: Adi
Composer: Muttuswami Dikshitar
Choreographer: Padma Bhushan Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Keerthanam Khseerabdi Kanyaku
Ragam: Ragamalika
Talam: Kanda Chapu
Composer: Shri Annamacharya
Choreographer: Natyacharya Sri Avasarala Rukmaji Rao
Javali Yera Rara
Ragam: Khamas
Talam: Adi
Composer: Dharmapuri Subbaraya
Choreographer: Padma Bhushan Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale
Thillana Kalinga Narthana
Ragam: Nattai
Talam: Adi
Composer: Oothukaadu Venkatasubaiyyar
Choreography: Natyom Dance Academy
Mangalam
The Conclusion
Gallery
Invitation
Mrs. Bindu & Mr. Prabhath Kasaraneni
along with
Natyom Dance Academy
would like to cordially invite you and your family for
Nandita Varshini’s Arangetram
Disciple of Guru Smt. Praveena Vajja
Venue
Granville Arts Center
300 N 5th St
Garland, TX 75040
Arangetram is a celebration of art, culture, and tradition. It is a time for the dancer to honor their gurus and their ancestors.
