Natyokthi Gurus

 Vidhushi Pallavi Bhagavath - Director Natyokthi  At the tender age of 9, Pallavi Bhagavathi's ardent love for Bharathanatyam propelled her parents to enroll her in a dance school, despite it being a half-day journey from their village that lacked even basic amenities such as electricity. It was under the tutelage of Guru Balakrishna Natya Nilayam that her natural flair for the art form was honed to perfection. Pallavi received training in the Pandanallur and Vazhuvoor style of Bharathanatyam, which ultimately led to her Arrangetram in 1998, when she was a mere 15 years old. The grand event was held at the prestigious Mangalore Town Hall, and was graced by Natyacharya K. Muralidhar Rao, GT Narayana Rao, and Manohar Prasad, who bestowed their blessings upon Pallavi's imminent talent.  Subsequently, Pallavi Bhagavathi embarked on her Senior and Vidhwath studies under the esteemed guidance of Karnataka Kalashree, Vidhushi Kamala Bhat. Her exceptional talent was soon recognized when she secured the top position in the center in both these exams conducted by Karnataka Secondary Education Board.  Over the years, Pallavi has choreographed and performed on various renowned stages and temples, enchanting audiences across Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, and Sydney. Her most prominent performances in the dance dramas were Shiva in Daksha Yajna, Yashoda in Krishnavataram, and portraying Krishna in Parijatha. She has also been a member of Karnataka Kalashree Vaijayanthi Kashi's team in Kuchipudi performance and has received multiple accolades for her stellar performances. She won the prestigious "Kalathilaka" award at the Kerala Youth Festival, as well as scholarships from the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy and Kalakshetra Chennai. She worked as Judge , Examiner and Choreographer at various Dance competitions, and also won the Bollywood dance competition conducted by famous Boogi woogi.   Pallavi Bhagavathi's artistic prowess extends beyond Bharathanatyam, as she has also dabbled in Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Kathak, all of which have been well received and appreciated across a plethora of events, festivals, and workshops.   With 19 years of experience under her belt in the software field, Pallavi Bhagavathi has worked as technical manager with Thomson Reuters for over 6 years. Currently, Pallavi is contributing in the  field of AWS as a technical consultant at Fineos in Sydney. Pallavi Bhagavathi attributes her unwavering dedication, impeccable discipline, and exceptional time-management skills to her lifelong journey with Bharathanatyam.   For Pallavi, dance is a medium for self-expression, providing a potential to expand one's otherwise limited self, and she holds this philosophy close to her heart. 

Archana Srinivas - Sydney, Australia 

Archana Srinivas is a dedicated and accomplished Bharatnatyam dancer and teacher based in Sydney, Australia. With a fervent commitment to preserving and propagating the rich cultural heritage of Bharatnatyam, Archana has spent over 17 years refining her skills in this traditional Indian dance form. 

Her journey commenced in India, where she received foundational training at the Matruka Cultural Trust under the expert guidance of Karnataka Kalashree Smt. Vidya Ravishankar. She was nurtured in the famous Mysore Bani style and continued her learning with Shri Umamaheshwara Kalakshetra Trust under Guru Smt. Lakshmi Kumar, culminating in her completion of the Senior-grade dance exams conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board.

Archana's unwavering dedication to Bharatnatyam has led her to perform at prestigious events and festivals across India, including the Mysuru Dasara festival and Navratri dance drama presentations at Avadoota Datta Peeta Organisation in Mysuru and Hyderabad. She has played various protagonists in successful dance dramas such as "Shankari" and "Thripura Sundari," and served as the main protagonist in "Kerege Haara'' dance drama at Suttur Mutt on Shiv Ratri. Archana has graced numerous on-stage performances in cities like Bengaluru, Melkote, Nanjangud, and Udupi, and she has showcased her talents at Tata Consultancy Services Family Day and Service Award events.

In addition to her prowess in dance, Archana possesses a strong foundation in Carnatic classical music, boasting 10 years of training in India. She has successfully completed preliminary level exams (junior) in music, demonstrating her versatility as an artist.

Archana's creative talents extend beyond traditional Bharatnatyam, as she has excelled in choreographing classical, folk, and Indian semi-classical forms for various events. She has conducted workshops and training sessions in Chennai, Udupi, Bengaluru, and Sydney. Furthermore, Archana has enriched her skills by attending Abhinaya and Yoga workshops conducted by Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre and has received training in other Indian classical dance forms like Kathak.

In her current pursuits, Archana Srinivas is continuing her artistic journey in Sydney, Australia, where she is pursuing her Vidwath training under the guidance of Guru Vidushi Pallavi Bhagavath at Natyokthi Dance School.

Outside of her dedication to Bharatnatyam, Archana serves as an IT Project Manager with the Government of New South Wales on a full-time basis. Once again, she demonstrates how the nurturing of Bharatanatyam contributes to a person's resilience and adaptability.

Embracing the role of a teacher is among the most effective ways to refine your skills. When you take on the responsibility of teaching, it surpasses the challenges of performing on stage. A profound understanding is essential, extending even to the fundamentals of adavus. Care must be taken not to transmit incorrect techniques. Teaching demands an acute awareness of common errors in "Änga Shudhi" and cultivates a heightened sense of overall aesthetics. The act of teaching fosters self-confidence, leadership attributes, and individual responsibility. Natyokthi encourages students, upon reaching a certain level of proficiency, to assist main teachers with minor tasks and conduct revisions for fellow students. In this way, at Natyokthi, we nurture students to evolve into future teachers as they pursue advanced studies in Bharatnatyam.