Pooja Kumar

🪔 About

Pooja Kumar Shyam is an internationally renowned professional Bharatanatyam dancer and a dedicated teacher. Her journey in dance began at the age of six with initial lessons from Smt. Sujatha Srinivasan. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of eminent gurus including Sri A. Lakshman, Smt. Savithri Jagannatha Rao, and Smt. Shreelatha Vinod in Chennai, India. Additionally, she received specialized abhinaya training from Smt. Indira Kadambi. Known for her technical perfection in "Nritta," strong posture, excellent "araimandi," and precise footwork, Pooja Kumar Shyam is celebrated for her traditional approach to Bharatanatyam, bringing grace, poise, and vibrancy to her performances. She is a regular performer at the prestigious December Arts Festival in Chennai and has presented numerous performances and fundraisers across India, the U.S., and Canada. As an educator, Pooja Kumar Shyam is the artistic director of "Nrithyapooja Dance Academy" in the USA, where she conducts classes and has been successfully guiding students through their arangetrams since 2012. Her commitment to the art form extends to presenting thematic concerts, collaborative presentations, innovative workshops, and lecture demonstrations. Her sister, Arthi Kumar, is a Carnatic musician. Awards & Honours: NATYA KALA BHUSHANAM (2000), Youngest prize winner at the Bharatanatyam dance competition (2001), Lakshmi Vishwanathan Endowment Prize for ABHINAYA (2006), Nrithya Yuva Rathna (2007), 1st prize winner, Gutti Vasu Memorial Prize Award.