Shalini Varghese Chandragiri

🪔 About

Showing a keen interest in this classical art form, Shalini joined the Arathi School of Dance under guru Smt. Revathi Satyu, at the age of five. With the guidance of her guru, she performed in various different dance dramas. She has also had the privilege to learn extensively from other accomplished gurus, including the legendary dancer couple – Padma Bhushan's The Dhananjayans, Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman, Kalaimamani Smt. Priyadarsini Govind, Padma Bushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Smt. Padmini Ravi, Dr. Maya Rao, Smt. Priya Murle, Dr. Seshadri Iyengar and Smt. Nirupama and Rajendra to name a few. Smt. Shalini had her arangetram in 1997. Since then, she has performed extensively in the US and internationally. In addition, she had the honor of being formally presented by her guru for a performance in India during January of 2004. The Arathi School of Dance has always been Shalini’s home. She has been teaching for over 25 years and her students have performed widely within the DFW metroplex. She has presented her students in multiple large dance dramas. Shalini has had more than 30 students complete their arangetram in bharatanatyam. She is a board member of the Indian Cultural Heritage Foundation (ICHF), a non-profit organization. Shalini is also a founding member of Indique Dance Company - a dance troupe started in June of 2008 that attempts to take Indian classical dance in new and creative directions. She has choreographed for and taken part in many original dance productions of this troupe. In September of 2015, Shalini was awarded the prestigious Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence by the Dance Council of North Texas of which she is a member. Her mission remains steadfast: to inspire every student, their families, and every rasika who witnesses her work—to feel the transformative power of classical dance and the joy of lifelong learning. She is immensely supported by her loving husband, Sameer, and is a devoted mother to their daughter, Zara.