Gayatri Arya
Facilitator - Bharathanatyam
Gayatri Arya was born in Delhi but has roots in the state of Uttrakhand. Her journey with dance began when she was introduced and brought to Kalakshetra, the world-renowned Bharatanatyam Institute by her guru, Leela Samson. She started her training as a part-time student under Girish Madhu while pursuing her studies at Besant Arundale Senior Secondary School where she participated in interschool dance competitions and performed in groups on various occasions, including annual functions
Gayatri’s time at the Institute was a formative experience, as she was exposed to a diverse range of performance, including the dance dramas, music concerts and folk dances from across India. The exposure allowed her to appreciate the diversity in art expression and look at the world from different perspectives. This helped shape her artistic vision. She learnt to appreciate the culture of South India and the values that are stay with one through life. Gayatri continued her training at the Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya in Delhi, while pursuing an undergraduation at the University of Delhi. During this time, she performed with the group in and around Delhi. Gayatri also realized the importance of dance in her life, which led her to return to Chennai to pursue her Masters in Bharatanatyam at te University of Madras under the guidance of her guru, Leela Samson. During this time, she also performed in a few of her guru’s productions in Chennai, Bangalore, and Mumbai. In 2020, Gayatri performed her arangetram, a solo performance in Delhi after which she began teaching at The Valley School, Bangalore, where she continues to inspire and nurture young talent. Gayatri is known for her passion for teaching and her ability to find innovative and fun ways to engage her students. Gayatri is also fond of animals and nature, which is reflected in her work with children. She teaches children of all ages, from 6 to 18 years old, and her teaching philosophy is inspired by the sensitivity and growth mindset of her own school in Chennai. Her journey as a dancer and teacher is a testament to her passion for the art form and her desire to inspire others to appreciate and love it as well.