Srithika Kasturirangan

A TALE OF PASSION AND DEDICATION UNVEILED

Discover oblivion through dance – in both movement and stillness

The Plot

In 1985, a 5-year-old Srithika and her 8-year-old brother were embroiled in endless pillow fights. To channel their boundless energy, Srithika’s mother enrolled her in Bharatanatyam classes next door. Meanwhile, Ambika Kameshwar, a talented dancer from Delhi, had recently moved to Chennai and was thrilled to teach little Srithi. This marked the beginning of something extraordinary. Two seeds were planted that year—RASA, Kalaimamani Dr. Ambika Kameshwar’s organization, and Srikalaranga, which blossomed 19 years later. The master’s plot unfolds…continues to unfold.

LEGACY

Dr. Srithika Kasturirangan has grown into an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer through two decades of learning from Kalaimamani Dr. Ambika Kameshwar. Nurtured lovingly in the dance form from the tender age of 5, Srithika has grown to recognize the power and beauty of Bharatanatyam and counts it among her life’s greatest joys.

PERFORMER

She has performed along with Ms. Anitha Ratnam in her group productions, and has received advanced training in Abhinaya from Ms. Brigha Bessel and Ms. Priyadarshini Govind. A veteran of over 300 performances (in both group and individual form) at prestigious arts houses like Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Karthik Fine Arts, Sri Sankarabharanam Trust etc, Srithika has also donned the role of a cultural ambassador for the art form through representations for SAARC summits at Nepal in 1997 and Hyderabad in 2000. She also counts among her life’s most exciting experiences, a professional and cultural exchange program in early 2008 to Mexico.

PASSION

Srithika enjoys all forms of dance and has exposure to varied dance styles, including, quite interestingly, Russian Ballet that she learnt from the 92Y: A Cultural Institution and Community Center for Youth in New York.

HEARTFUL

STUDENT

STORIES

I used to live near Srithika akka’s house, but had no clue about Bharatanatyam. On my birthday in 2004, akka’s mother invited me to a function (SKR’s opening day!) at their place the next day. Little did I know that conversation would change my life significantly, for the better. Probably the best birthday gift yet! I have learned not only to dance, but also to be creative and humble, which has extended to other areas of my life. Thrilled to be here 20 years later and hope the school grows and my association with it continues!

Sandhya RamakrishnanCompany Name

Dance is my passion. I have been actively engaged with Bharatnatyam at SKR for close to 7 years and have been continuously learning new nuances which has increased my love for this art. Staying connected with SKR is an ongoing journey for me as there is so much more to discover and learn. Love!

Narmadha Janarthan

In the nearly two decades that I have had the privilege of being under the tutelage of Srithika akka, she has managed to create an environment of acceptance that is free of competition. Through her unique style of teaching by which she pushes each student to reach their full potential, she also inspires a passion for learning and a strong affinity to the art form. I am very grateful for Srithika akka for inspiring the same in me.

Manjari Pradeep

I embarked on my journey with Srikalaranga in 2003, and it has been a truly wonderful experience ever since. My Guru has been a beacon of inspiration, and this association has helped me in all aspects of my life. It is here that my love for dance has been nurtured and transformed into a lifelong passion. I am grateful and look forward to more invaluable lessons and cherished memories.

Renuka MukandarajanCompany Name

For most dancers, dance class is like a second home. At SKR, we not only have that family-like bonding (or even better!), we have a Guru, our Akka, who is like another mother to all of us. I’m sure my fellow SKR-ites will agree with me on how we cannot imagine anyone better than Akka as our Guru. She brings so much life to this art, and I’m happy and proud to celebrate Srikalaranga’s 20-year milestone!

Aashikaa SrinivasanCompany Name

Srikalaranga School of Dance is a place that not only grooms us in natyam, but also in life. It’s a place where I found friends who are like family, a Guru who is like a second mother, and where we all came together to elicit our love for dance. Grateful to Srithika akka for 20 years of Srikalaranga and beyond!

Anerudh SrinivasanCompany Name

A VISUAL JOURNAL

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