Kutty Katcheri Edition 3
Celebrate the first day of Navaratri with a delightful morning of Dance and Carnatic music. Join us for an intimate Kutty Katcheri featuring a vibrant line-up of dancers and musicians, bringing together rhythm, melody, storytelling, and community in celebration of this auspicious festival. Of course, Sundal and sweets. 😊
Reserve your spot with a $25 donation in support of the artists.
Venmo: @Varshini-Krishnaswamy
Featured Artists:
Avanthika Srinivasan
Avanthika, is a Carnatic vocalist with over 25 years of training and more than a decade of experience singing for Bharatanatyam performances. A recipient of the Smt. M.S. Subbulakshmi Award conferred by CMANA, she has performed in India, Singapore, and the United States, including at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana and the Chennai Margazhi season. She regularly provides vocal accompaniment for dance performances.
Meerra T
Meerra, is a Bharatanatyam dancer based in New York City with more than 31 years of training and experience. She began at Apsaras Arts, Singapore, under Guru Mohana Harendran, and continued at SIFAS under Guru Sitaravamma Sandrasegaren, a direct disciple of Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale. Meerra is a co-organizer of NYC Adavu and continues her training under Guru Vikas PN.
Joey van Leeuwen
Joey, is a ghatam artist, konakkol practitioner, multi-percussionist, singer, composer, and music educator. He began learning konakkol under Sri Umayalpuram Mali and later moved to Chennai to study ghatam under Sri Neelamani Rajaraman, of Padma Bhushan Vikku Vinayakram’s school. Now based in New York City, he is an active and sought-after musician in the local Carnatic community.
Aasish Cherukupalli
Aasish, is a Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dancer from New York. He has studied Bharata Natyam under Smt. Satya Pradeep, Smt. Rhadha, and is currently under Smt. Sunanda Narayanan of Boston. He has also been mentored by Late Padmabhushan Smt. Kamala. Additionally, he has studied Kuchipudi under Dr. Subha Maruvada, Smt. Sasikala Penumarthi, and Kalaimamani Uma Murali of Chennai.
Having performed his debut in 1999 in both styles, Aasish has performed both in India and the US to critical review over the last 25 years. He has also taught a number of students, most notably for Smt. Kamala's dance school. Aasish also had the good fortune to play Lord Krishna in Smt. Rhadha's production of "Jaya Jaya Gokula Bala" in 2000. Despite admission for doctoral studies in dance at UC Riverside on full scholarship and NYU Tisch in Performance Studies, Aasish has continued his work as a speech and language pathologist, actively exploring the use of movement, mudras and music in his practice of speech and language therapy with specially abled students.
Sapna Krishnakumar
Sapna, is a Bharatanatyam dancer, Carnatic vocalist, and nattuvanar with 20 years of training. She is under the guidance of Sangita Kala Acharya Smt. Geetha Raja for Carnatic music and Kalaimamani Smt. Roja Kannan for Bharatanatyam and nattuvangam. A recipient of the Government of India’s Cultural Talent Search Scholarship for Bharatanatyam, Sapna brings the rare ability to simultaneously sing and perform nattuvangam.