Steps Through Time: My Dance Journey

**CLASSES ARE ONLY CONDUCTED ON SATURDAYS.**

I’ve been a student of Bharatanatyam, the classical dance form of South India, since the age of six. With over three decades of training, performing, and teaching, this art has remained a steady thread in my life, both a source of personal fulfillment and a way to connect with culture, community, and creative expression.

In 2023, I established Padma Paadam School of Performing Arts Inc., a non-profit institution based in Frederick, Maryland. The school now serves more than 100 students, offering structured training in Bharatanatyam to children, teens, and adults.  Classes are conducted only during weekends, allowing me to balance this passion alongside my professional commitments.  Founder and Artistic Director, I lead the school’s vision, curriculum, and creative productions, while also managing community events, parent engagement, and student showcases. I am the sole teacher at the school, personally guiding every student’s journey through this classical art form. 

Alongside teaching technique, I focus on imparting values embedded in the art, discipline, patience, storytelling, and emotional expression. I write original scripts for thematic productions and choreograph dances rooted in classical repertoire as well as original narratives. Many of our events aim to bring together families, celebrate cultural heritage, and give young dancers a sense of pride and belonging.

Running the school has been a meaningful complement to my professional journey in GIS and remote sensing. The skills I apply in one space often inform the other, whether it’s attention to detail, organizing large projects, or interpreting complex patterns.

"I see art in everything,  whether mapping landscapes or choreographing a story. Because to me, both are ways of understanding and expressing the world."