Janani Lakshmanan

Janani Lakshmanan began studying the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam at the age of five, and has been considered a senior performer since 2014, upon the completion of her Salangai Pooja, or commencement ceremony. She completed her professional stage debut, her Arangetram, in India in December 2016. She is a student/instructor with Sampradaya Dance of India (Chandler, Arizona, dir. Nita Mallya), and has been an active member in collegiate Indian classical art groups (Emory University, Arizona State University). She has been invited to organize, write, co-direct, and perform at events promoting the welfare of underprivileged communities in India. She has led workshops and performed at venues around the world. Janani was recognized by the Government of India’s cultural arts bureau, Doordarshan, with a Professional Artist’s Grading in March 2019. She is also a practitioner of Nattuvangam, rhythmic beat-keeping unique to Indian classical dance, as an accompanist to live orchestras and performers. She is studying Sanskrit and Tamil, to improve her connection to the ancient texts and stories that inspire her art. Janani is currently a student affiliate at the East West Center. She is currently a doctoral student in the Mathematics program at University of Hawai’i.