Styles/Teachers:

Abhinaya - Maya Kulkarni
Bansuri - Jay Gandhi
Bharatanatyam - Malini Srinivasan, Sahasra Sambamoorthi, Sridhar Shanmugam
Carnatic Vocal - Kamini Dandapani, Taniya Panda
Hindustani Vocal - Samarth Nagarkar
Kalari Payattu - Pradhuman Nayak
Kathak - Rachna Ramya Agrawal, Rajiv Purohit
Mridangam - Akshay Anantapadmanabhan (by Skype only at the moment)
Odissi - Priyadarshini Roy
Pre-K Classes - Kavita Bafana, Taniya Panda, Sahasra Sambamoorthi
Sitar - Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury
Tabla - Nitin Mitta
Veena - Anupama Komaravolu

Teachers in Training: Gayatri Mohan, Divya Jayashankar, Ratna Sheth

Rachna Ramya Agrawal - Kathak Teacher

Performer, choreographer, educator and published author, Rachna Ramya Agrawal has studied the Lucknow style of Kathak under Smt. Maya Rao and the Jaipur style of Kathak under Guru Rajendra Gangani, both recipients of Sangeet Natak Academy Awards. She has undergone further training in expressive and interpretative aspects of Kathak with Smt. Sandhya Desai.  To strengthen and enhance the rhythm, laya, and bol aspects of Kathak, Rachna has studied Tabla with Pt. Subhankar Banerjee. She has also received a Master's degree in dance from the prestigious Pracheen Kala Kendra in India and trained in Choreography at the Natya Institute of Choreography in New Delhi, India.  

In addition to her degrees in dance, the State of Connecticut Commission on the Arts selected Rachna as a Master Teaching Artist in 1993.  She was also a recipient of 1994-1995 Apprenticeship Award given by the New England Foundation for the Arts and worked as a master artist for the organization.  Presently Rachna is working for Young Audiences of Connecticut, an honored arts-in-education organization and is listed on the YAC Artist roster.  She also runs her own institute, India Performing Arts Center, in CT and is a faculty member of Antarnad in San Diego.  Rachna is also teaching a dance course at Trinity College in Hartford, CT.  Rachna has won many awards in dance, including a gold medal from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, in recognition of her Kathak skills.

Akshay Anantapadmanabhan - Mridangam Teacher

Akshay Anantapadmanabhan is an energetic mridangam artist who is creating an impact through Indian classical and World music in the United States. Akshay began his mridangam training at the age of six under the tutelage of Sri T.S. Nandhakumar. After moving to America when he was nine, Akshay started learning from Dr. Venkat Natarajan of Sankara Academy (New Jersey). As he grew as a percussionist, Akshay also had the opportunity of receiving advanced training in mridangam and kanjira from the world-renowned percussion maestro, Professor T.H.
Subash Chandran.

Following the experienced mentorship and creative rhythmic prowess of Sri T.H. Subash Chandran for over a decade, Akshay continues to learn and improve as a musician. He has been performing in carnatic concerts accompanying several distinguished carnatic artists such as Sri. R.K. Srikantan, Sri. O.S.Thyagarajan, Sri Chitravina Ravikiran and others. Akshay has performed at various prestigious venues in the United States as well as in India. He has performed at leading sabhas during the December Music Season in Chennai making his debut performance at The Music Academy in December 2007.

He has collaborated with Hindustani, Latin jazz, rock and Brazilian musicians in unique showcases of Indian percussion. He also teaches several students in NJ under Sankara Academy. Akshay is an educator
of Carnatic percussion under the Anamika-Navatman project in NY and is part of the performing and teaching team at Sarva Sree Foundation, Iowa.

Kavita Bafana - Little Ustaads Partner

Born and raised in New York, Kavita grew up in an environment which supported the Classical Indian Arts. Having the opportunity to bounce back and forth between the US and India, Kavita developed a strong foundation and love for classical dance and music. Kavita started her Kathak training at the age of 6 and has performed at many venues such as, Lincoln Center, Madison Square Garden and Nehru Center in Mumbai. Though her first passion is Kathak, having twin boys she quickly realized her classical teaching has to go beyond just dance. Hence, the idea of Litte Ustaads was born. Besides her envolvement with the arts she is a full-time referee for her 2.5 year old twin boys.

Kavita has her BA from Columbia University and MA from Northwestern University.

Kamini Dandapani - Carnatic Vocal Teacher

Kamini Dandapani has had extensive training in Carnatic vocal music, Western Classical music (piano) as well as in Bharatanatyam . She studied Carnatic music for over 20 years with some of the leading teachers and performers in the field, including Vidwan Madurai N. Krishnan (who was a discipline of Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar), Dr. M.
Balamurali Krishna, Smt. T. Muktha, Smt. Lalitha Sivakumar and Smt. Vedanayaki. At the same time, she studied classical piano, and holds a Licentiate from Trinity College of Music, London. Simultaneously learning and being immersed in these two different classical traditions has given her a not-often-encountered perspective on the similarities and differences between them across many dimensions including the theory, history, performance, performers and trends.

Kamini is a guest faculty member at Barnard College of Columbia University in New York. She is also a faculty member at the International Vocal Arts Workshop held every summer in Croatia.

Kamini writes extensively on South India – history, travel, music, dance, short stories, science and anything else that catches her fancy – on her blog, Tales of South India.

Jay Gandhi - Bansuri Teacher

A truly outstanding young disciple of the world renowned bansuri maestro, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia , Jay initially trained in vocal music under Smt. Kum Kum Sanyal and later bansuri under Pt. Ronu Majumdar, Pt. Vijay Raghav Rao and Pt. Raghunath Seth. Inspired to gain deeper knowledge of both the gayaki ang (vocal style) as well as the tantrakari ang (stringed instrument style), Jay has also taken guidance from Pt Vidyadhar Vyas (vocal) and Pt. Nayan Ghosh (sitar, tabla). A recipient of the prestigious AIIS Performing Arts Fellowship, Jay has performed to great acclaim for audiences across the globe. More at www.jaygandhi.com

Anupama Komaravolu - Veena Teacher

Under the guidance of her mother Smt. Komaravolu Nagamani, Anupama had extensive training in the Carnatic style of both Veena and Vocal starting at the tender age of three. Inheriting the vocal bani, a unique style of playing the veena from her mother, Anupama performed several concerts in All India Radio and Doordarshan as a performing artist. At five years of age, she became a recipient of the famous "Bala Keeriti" award for her expertise in the art at that age. Anupama has also been trained under Sri Maha Mahopadhyaya and Dr. Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana garu.

Anupama has been performing as an artist at major cultural events held at the state level and won the appreciation of famous musicians like Sri Mangalampalli Balamurali Krishna, Sri Nookala Chinna Satyanarayana garu, Sri Chitti Babu garu and others.

She has acquired immense teaching experience in Veena and Vocal over the past 10 years, obtaining a distinction holder from her Diploma in Music at the prestigious Telugu Univeristy. Afterwards, she worked as a Veena lecturer at Vasavi College of Music and Dance. Many of her students have consequently applied and qualified for the certificate and Diploma Examination conducted by Telugu University.

Maya Kulkarni - Abhinaya Teacher

Maya Kulkarni, a leading exponent of Bharat Natyam, studied dance under illustrious Gurus, Dandaydhpani Pillai, Kittappa Pillia and Jayalaxmi Alva and Guru Kalanidhi Narayan (Acting). She had performed extensively in the United States, Europe and India to great critical acclaim. She produced and choreographed several full length dance dramas, Shakuntala, Kumar Sambhavam, Uttar Ramacharitam in addition to episodes from Mahabharata and Ramayana. Described by the New York Times as “the dancers dancer”, Maya has performed at Carnegie Hall, Town hall, Danny Kaye Theatre in New York City, Ravinia Dance festival, Lincoln Center Summer series, World Music Dance and music series, Symphony Space, The Open Eye, and at the United Nations Human Rights’ day celebrations. In addition to mastery over vast repertoire of her Gurus, Maya frequently choreographs her own dance items and has been invited regularly to give lecture demonstrations and master classes in Indian classical dance and Abhinaya (dance acting).

Samarth Nagarkar - Hindustani Vocal Teacher

Samarth Nagarkar, a Hindustani classical (North Indian classical) vocalist, is a disciple of Pandit Ulhas Kashalkar and Pandit Dinkar Kaikini. A former scholar of the ITC Sangeet Research Academy, Kolkata, he was head of the K. K. Kapoor Sangeet Research Academy, Lucknow as Founder Faculty. Pursuing a full-fledged career as a performing vocalist, Samarth is hailed as one of the most promising young artistes of today.

Samarth was the youngest teacher to have ever been on the rolls of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, and he has also taught the Sangeet Visharad course (B.Mus) at Bhavans Bombay. Samarth eventually became head of the K K Kapoor Sangeet Research Academy, Lucknow from July 2009 to Sept 2010. As Founder Faculty, in addition to imparting performance oriented training to intermediate and advanced students, he was head of operations where day to day affairs, budgets, event organising, media and public interface, etc fell under his purview.

Pradhuman Nayak - Kalari Payattu Teacher

Pradhuman has studied Kalaripayattu under Guru Gopinathan of Trivandrum, Guru Subrathan of Trissur and Guru Shahji in Chennai.  He is also an expert in the Purulia and Seraikela Chhau mask dance drama forms.  He has toured extensively in India and abroad with the folk dance-theater troupe, Kunjban.  A graduate of the prestigious National School of Drama in Delhi, India, Pradhuman has appeared in numerous plays under the direction of some of the best-known Indian directors, as well as under non-Indian directors from Japan, the US and Europe, including the world-renowned Robert Wilson.  Pradhuman is currently in the US as an artist-in-residence with ANIKAI Dance Theater and Akhra: the Dancing Grounds, Inc.  In this role has taught and performed at Brown University, Harvard University, Barnard College, Dance Theater Workshop, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, as well as for many youth programs around the Boston area.

Taniya Panda - Carnatic Vocal Teacher

Taniya Panda  is well versed in Carnatic music. She was fortunate enough to learn from Veena Vidushi Smt Padmavathi Ananthagoplan (sister of Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman). When Taniya is not busy pursuing her musical and dance interests, she is a science buff conducting research in the field of Immunology.

Rajiv Purohit - Kathak Teacher

Rajiv is a student of Smt Sandhya Desai (Lucknow Gharana, Kadamb Institute of kathak India) and Rachna Ramya (Jaipur Gharana).  His formative training was with Prashant Shah (Kadamb Institute of Kathak in India).  His passion for the arts is the driving force behind his perseverance to learn and educate others to appreciate and understand Kathak as a way of life. Rajiv has performed at Lincoln Center, Symphony Space, Trinity College of Dance, and the Ted Hershey Dance marathon.

Rajiv currently teaches with his guru Rachna Ramya in both Stamford, Connecticut and New York.

Priyadarshini Roy - Odissi Teacher

Priyadarshini was tutored in the nuances of Odissi by her mother Dipanwita, one of the leading exponents of Odissi and senior disciple of the Odissi legend Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra.

Priyadarshini started performing at the age of four. When she was six, Priyadarshini appeared on television (Doordarshan Calcutta) in a solo Odissi performance. She has performed solo and in groups at numerous cultural centers in India, the UK, France, and on television. Priyadarshini has held workshops and dance demonstrations to promote Indian culture in schools and universities in Europe. She has also worked in experimental projects with Western classical, ballet, contemporary, and other Indian classical dance forms. In the recent past, she has performed at prestigious venues
such as the Nehru Centre (Indian High Commission), London, and Auditorium duMusée Guimet, Paris.

Priyadarshini holds the Prabhakar Degree in Odissi (with Distinction) from Prayag Sangit Samiti, Allahabad. She has received several accolades for dance, music and dramatics, including the Siranama Award for "The Best Upcoming Dancer", 2002.

Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury - Sitar Teacher

Indrajit Roy-Chowdhury is a disciple of the sitar maestro Pandit Subroto Roy-Chowdhury. Groomed in the Veen-kar style of the Senia Gharana, which maintains the Dhrupadi origins of Indian Classical music, Indrajit strives to innovate while keeping a firm connection with the past. While completing his undergraduate studies at Duke University, Indrajit received the Bennenson Award for the Arts to further his study of Indian Classical music.

Since then he has taken the profession of a full-time sitarist and has performed on stages across the world including such prestigious venues as Gyan Mancha (Kolkata), Hammerstein Ballroom (New York), Kennedy Center (Washington D.C.) and has had his concerts telecast by Doordarshan (Indian National Television). During the 2010 Fall semester Indrajit was a visiting faculty member at the University of Pennsylvania and taught the University's sitar course.

Malini Srinivasan - Bharatanatyam Teacher

Choreographer, Dancer Malini Srinivasan is a third-generation Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher. Malini is the disciple of world-renowned artist Sri C.V. Chandrasekhar. She began studying Bharatanatyam at a young age with her mother, Radha Srinivasan, and grandmother, Komalavali Mani, and performed her Arangetram (debut) under the guidance of Meena Raman. Living in Chennai from 1999-2004, Malini pursued her study of dance and allied subjects such as Nattuvangam, Carnatic vocal music, Kalaripayattu, Yoga, Sanskrit and Tamil. She has performed with groups including the Padmini Chettur Group, Ragamala, Rajika Puri and Dancers and Thresh. 

Malini has choreographed solo and group Bharatanatyam pieces, including Ode to Love's Arrows and Tejas-Luminous. She was awarded the Dance in Queens Residency (2009) the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center Residency (2010), and the Queens Council on the Arts Individual Artist Grant (2010). Based in Queens, NY, Malini is a Lecturer at the Asian & Asian-American Studies Department at SUNY Stony Brook, on the dance faculty of the Young Indian Culture Group, and a Teaching Artist with City Lore. She is also a trained Yoga Instructor.  

Sahasra Sambamoorthi - Bharatanatyam, Adavu Workout Teacher

Sahasra Sambamoorthi's unique approach to bharatanatyam comes from the combination of her Vazhoor style training from Smt. Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan and many years of training in ballet and gymnastics. Her approach to the body becomes one based on muscle alignment and strength that come through from her gymnastics, precision and exacting physics of the body from ballet, and an individual technical approach from bharatanatyam. She has been teaching since she was 15, first at the Nrithyanjali Institute of Dance, then with individual students through college, helping her dance troupe Columbia Taal train, and finally, at Anamika-Navatman.

Sridhar Shanmugam - Bharatanatyam, Veena Teacher

Sridhar Shanmugam, as Chandralekha's primary maie dancer for 20+ years, has gained many perspectives that allow him to teach bharatanatyam in a passionate, dedicated, thorough and extremely effective way. To that effect, he is also an excellent veena player, rangoli artist, lighting designer, interior decorator, all of which allow him to approach teaching in a unique manner.

Throughout his illustrious career, Sridhar has taught extensively and conducted workshops at several leading institutions including Columbia University, New York University, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn Museum of Arts, Queens Museum of Arts and many such prestigious venues. Since July 2004, a series of schools from Queens and Manhattan, long Island & Westchester have been exposed to dance and lectures by Sridhar Shanmugam under the programs of City Lore Arts Program and Hospital Audiences, Inc.

Sridhar Shanmugam's extensive knowledge had allowed him to serve on panels at Queens Council for the Arts, Queens Museum, Lincoln Center, the Indo American Arts Council, Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Bharathiya Kala Kendra, and many other organizations.

Nitin Mitta - Tabla Teacher

Nitin Mitta is one of the most sought after tabla players in the music world and has quickly established a reputation as an artist with a rare combination of technical virtuosity, spontaneity, clarity of tone, and sensitivity to melodic nuance. He is an acclaimed accompanist who has performed with some of India’s most celebrated musicians including Pandit Jasraj, Pandits Rajan and Sajan Mishra, Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Ustad Nishat Khan, Ustad Shahid Parvez and Pandit Nayan Ghosh.

He has also made a mark as a versatile musician in other spheres, his most recent collaboration with 2010 Grammy Nominee Vijay Iyer and Guitarist Prasanna on their new Album titled "Tirtha".

Picture Coming Soon!