Dance is the hidden language of the soul” Martha Graham. The kuchipudi repertoire dates back to antediluvian time periods, from when Bharata Muni had paved the path for this natya shastra to when Siddendra Yogi had refined it. Though Kuchipudi is similar to Bharatnayam in a plethora of ways, the challenge it poses to the dancer to be able to master expressions and footing is quite different. The mercurial fluidity of the dancer manages to enrapture the audience. I hope that through my dance I will be able resuscitate the older traditions of India in a new and modern culture.

I started learning dance at the age of seven under Smt. Pratyusha Apparasu, a distinguished dancer in the Kuchipudi repertory. My mom does say I came out of the womb dancing ☺ I am extremely fortunate to be born into a family of Kuchipudi dancers and Carnatic musicians, as they have instilled a love for art and a and passion for dance. Kuchipudi to me is extremely sacred as it helps me connect with my Indian values and traditions.At the same time this art form lures me into a separate world where I can release all my mundane stresses. I will always carry dance with me as I enter into high school and beyond.

As mentioned before, I will be a freshman next year at Rock Canyon . Outside of dance I am an Honors student and an avid speller, having earned first place in the Douglas County District Spelling Bee and the Rocky heights Middle School Spelling Bee. This March, I participated in the 73rd annual Colorado State Spelling Bee, in which I earned seventh place. I also qualified to regionals in National History Day, but wasn’t able to participate in the competition due to a conflict with the state spelling bee. I am also an honored member of the Interact Club at Rocky Heights and was the official Children’s Hospital Ambassador for National Junior Honor Society. I love to volunteer at Assisted Living Centers and inner city schools whenever I get a chance to serve. I hold a black belt in taekwondo and play club volleyball for HRCA. I love to hang out with my cousins and my little brother, including Maya, mahadev, Leya, and Sashya. I hope someday that my interests in information technology and cloud computing will help me make a positive impact on the world. My mom and dad are my role models and help me stay extremely grounded while at the same time giving me limitless opportunities to realize my dreams.

I have been very fortunate to perform under Laya Dance Academy's banner at at various events including Colorado Telugu Association, the Colorado Fine Arts Association, Indian Association of Colorado, Tamil Association of Colordao, Colorado Kerala Association,Vibha Denver and various religious organizations throughout Denver.

Thank You,
Shreya