Kaafi

Priyanka is a lawyer by education and a movement artist and theatre practitioner based in Bangalore. She has trained in Bharathanatyam for over 25 years and Kathak for about 10 years. Priyanka has performed extensively in both solo and group formats in India and abroad along with popular dance companies. Priyanka is the founder and director of ‘The Nirali Collective’. Presently, Priyanka is reimagining classical dance pedagogy through training, performance building, research, choreography, and the creation of new work. She is also a performer, curator, choreographer and facilitator.

With a keen interest in the politics of the form and its history, Priyanka believes in creating work that is accessible, critical, and contemporary. Her work is process-focused, exploring interdisciplinary approaches, methods, and collaborations that provide agency for her co-creators and audiences. With Nirali, Priyanka aims to create a non-hierarchical safe space to converse, express, critique and question, building a new culture in the field that nurtures reflection, intention, experimentation and creative exploration, along with rigour and discipline inherent in our styles and traditions. She hopes to create a new body of work in Bharathanatyam, expanding the boundaries of the form to include personal stories and political realities of our time.

Smitha is a versatile artist with a rich educational background and a profound passion for the performing arts. Having earned her diploma in banking and financing from jain university, Masters in Commerce from Christ University and Masters in Performing Arts from Jain University, she seamlessly combines her academic expertise with her artistic pursuits. With 22 years of dedicated training in Bharatanatyam, Smitha attained Vidwat certification from the Karnataka State Government, showcasing her mastery of this classical art form. She completed her arangetram in 2013 under the guidance of Guru Dr. Malashashikanth and from then in the pursuit of knowledge she took guidance from under many eminents like Bharathakalamani Guru Dr Sri C. Radhakrishna. Guru Dr. Sucheta Chapekar, Guru Dr. Padmini Shridhar. Guru Dr Soundarya Srivatsa, Guru Sheela Chandrashekhar

Her artistic journey extends beyond Bharatanatyam, as she has also delved into music for 6 years and contemporary dance for 4 years, further broadening her creative horizons. Smitha’s talent has been showcased in various productions, including “Civilisation to Nation,” curated by Mayuri Upadhyay and produced by Nita Mukesh Ambani. She has graced esteemed platforms like NMACC, Prabath’s 18 Days, and Bimba The Art Hut, captivating audiences with her expressive performances and leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.

Karuna Kirtivasan is a Carnatic Classical vocalist, Bharatanatyam artist, Mridangist and senior vocal faculty at the Trichur Brother’s online global music school -TBOSM. She has been involved in these several disciplines for about twenty years now, and has presented in many prestigious platforms, with several awards to her credit. Karuna has diverse range of interests; alongside her lifelong love and work in performing arts, she undertook a triple major arts course for her under-graduation, specialized in psychology for her masters, and was employed in finance for a brief period. Currently however, she is most excited about developing and providing accompaniment for soundscapes in the performing arts, and has collaborated on projects like, “Ands” by Talin Subbaraya and “Suo Moto” by Priyanka Chandrashekar. Under Priyanka’s guidance, Karuna has fostered her passion for mythology, religion and politics in post modern feminist works like “Draupadi: a retelling” and “The virtuous one: contemporary perspectives on Indian mythological women”, in which she has attempted to subvert pivotal patriarchal themes, through the use of movement, music and rhythm. Karuna currently performs in the dance ensemble “Kaafi”, for which she also contributed vocal assistance and compositional work.

Keerthana, daughter of Sri. Krishnakumar & Smt. Renuka was initiated into the art form of Bharatanatyam at the tender age of 4 by Guru Smt. Nihitha Prashanth and later continued under Smt Shantha Sreekanth. She then continued her learning under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Chitra Vinodh, Artistic Director at Natyavedalya, Bangalore and one of the foremost exponents of the Vazhavoor tradition.

She has performed in many prominent events like Ankura dance festival, ICCR, The great indian musical – Civilization to nation  at Nita mukesh ambani cultural centre, Hampi Utsav, Bramhotsava Festival – Isckon, Parampara Festival, Nadaneeranjanam- Tirumala, Guruvayur temple, to name a few. She was a part of various productions such as ‘Shades Of Love’, ‘Laya Vinyasa’, ‘Samashti’ , ‘18 days – dusk of an era’.

She pursued her Masters in performing arts (Bharatanatyam) from Jain university with a first rank. Keerthana has successfully completed the Visharad examination conducted by Akhila Bharatiya Ghandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal, Maharashtra.

Keerthana’s passion for dance and the rigorous training under her Gurus has helped her in further honing her technique,rhythm and aesthetics. She aspires to imbibe the subtle grace of this divine tradition with the blessings of the Almighty, her Gurus and all her elders.

Dr. Krutika Menon, daughter of Lt. Col. Ravindran.K and Smt. Asha Menon is currently practicing as a Dental Specialist. She has trained in the art form of Bharatanatyam under the guidance of Guru Smt. Jayanthi Thyagarajan and Guru Vidushi Smt. Chitra Vinodh- artistic director of Natyavedalaya.

Some of her prominent performances are programs at Vellore Golden Temple, Thaipooyam Pathanjali festival of Chidambaram Natarajar Temple, Iskon Brahmotsav, ICCR dance programs, Doordarshan programs amongst others. She has been a part of major productions of the dance institute like Sita Kalyanam, Shades of love, Bhavayami, Krishnashtakam and Samashti which saw the confluence of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music. She has completed her senior examination in Bharatanatyam and junior examination in Carnatic music with distinction.

Krutika is a core member of the dance troupe ‘Tatva’ and has had the opportunity to participate in Hampi Utsav, Karkala Utsav and other prestigious festivals.

She wishes to be able to use her passion for this art form to challenge conventional boundaries of right and wrong and portray contemporary concepts through her performances. Krutika’s undying love for the artform and her vision have driven her to be a part of Nirali’s project ‘Kaafi’.

Born into a family of rich cultural lineage, Adithi Ravi Prakash is a 22 year old performing artist from Bangalore. Dedicated to the profound art of Bharatanatyam for over 18 years, Adithi commenced her Bharatanatyam training under the guidance of Vidushi Lakshmi Radhakrishna in 2006. Having been under the tutelage of Karnataka Kalashree Guru Vidushi K.B runda for over a decade now, she secured the 3rd rank for the state in the Pre-proficiency and Post-proficiency exams with an outstanding score of 92%.

Recipient of the Karnataka State Government scholarship in Bharathanatyam, Adithi’s notable artistic achievement includes completing her Arangetram – a Bharatanatyam solo debut performance in 2016, earning acclaim and accolades. With over 500 performances to her credit, she has graced prestigious stages such as Hampi Utsava, Kannada Sahithya Sammelana, Alvas Nudisiri, Sankramana 2022, Aharnishi Dance Festival and Ananya Nruthyollasa.

Adithi’s artistic endeavours extend across the country – being a part of the inauguration of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai and performing in India’s largest Musical Production, ‘The Great Indian Musical – Civilization to Nation.’

 Currently freelancing as a choreographer and performer with distinguished dance companies, Adithi is exploring the world of ensemble choreography with an ambition to delve deeper into the endless possibilities and nuances of the dance form.

Adithi holds a BA in Communication and Mass Media, English Literature, and Psychology from Christ (deemed to be) University. With a deep interest in psychology, she aspires to infuse her passions as she prepares to be a performance and exercise psychologist.

Adithi Ravi Prakash, with her continued and dedicated learning and practice, aspires to stand as a testament to innovation, skill, and artistic brilliance in the realm of Bharatanatyam.

Dheeraj Banerjea is a music producer and arranger based in Bangalore. He has done his musical training in Hindustani Classical Music, Bengali Folk and Western Choral Music. He has been a full time musician since February 2019.

He has worked as a freelance music producer for studios, corporate clients, emerging artists and movie makers. He also works as a live session guitarist as well as bass guitarist. He also plays the tabla and a few Bengali folk instruments which he use for his Production.

His strengths are in the field of Acoustic music, Orchestral music, Indian and Western Rock, Desi Pop, Ghazal, Folk, Bhajan, Indian Light Music, Progressive Rock, Choir music, Acapella etc.

Arvind is a self-taught photographer and filmmaker based in Bangalore, India. As an independent freelance artist, he has worked with niche and creative businesses to tell their brand story with his pictures and films in a wide range of industries, including, product, fashion, food, lifestyle and interiors with brands Flipkart, Dori, Sui, Gonative, Kaiyare, The Purple Turtle, Humble Bean Coffee, Zivame. His core interest lies in documentary photographs and films and he has many projects to his credit.

Arvind is also founder of fly on the wall weddings, and the creative head of the Nirali Collective. Over the years he has developed an expertise in performance art photography and film and has worked closely with arts consultancy companies and dancers like SNS Arts Consultancy and Sooraj Subramaniam (Belgium). Arvind is passionate about interdisciplinary work and collaborations. He is an all-rounder and has great enthusiasm for music. He also creates and arranges music for TNC. Given Arvind’s training, experience in photography, films and visual arts, he also designs and executes lights for dance and theatre performances.