Shilpa Krishnan

🪔 About

Shilpa Krishnan is a Bharatanatyam dancer and teacher, known for her adherence to the Pandanalloor style. Born in New Delhi, she spent her childhood in Nairobi, Kenya, after moving there at less than one year of age. She is the daughter and disciple of Natya Ratna Smt. Gita Umesh, who founded the Nrityalaya dance school in 1978. Shilpa Krishnan had her Arangetram, her debut solo performance, in 1992 in Kenya. Her artistic development was further enriched by the guidance of S.K. Rajaratnam Pillai. In 1996, at the age of 19, Shilpa Krishnan relocated to the United States. She subsequently established the American branch of Nrityalaya in Florida, continuing her mother's legacy of promoting Bharatanatyam. Based in South Florida, specifically Davie, FL, she offers Bharatanatyam dance classes to both children and adults. As of April 2008, she was actively involved in the day-to-day operations, choreography, and performances of Nrityalaya in Kenya, working alongside her mother. Her dedication to the art form extends to performing, with a notable appearance in the Chennai Music Season in 2008 for the Hamsadhwani sabha. Shilpa Krishnan views Bharatanatyam as her "sanctuary, her passion, her prayer and her energy," and finds joy in both performing and teaching, aiming to impart the enriching knowledge of this classical dance form. She is married and has two daughters, who were aged four and six in 2008.