Y. Jeyanthi

🪔 About

Jeyanthi Ghatraju is a prominent Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher, known for her dedication to the art form and extensive community service. Her journey in Bharatanatyam began with initiation by Guru Madurai Gopinath. She further honed her skills at the Shivanjali Temple of Fine Arts in Coimbatore, India, under the tutelage of Guru Suryakala and Guru Vimala Chandrashekar. After completing her graduate studies, Jeyanthi Ghatraju commenced her teaching career at Natyanjali in Ottawa, Canada. She subsequently founded Natyanjali in New England, establishing it with a core mission of performing for charity and bringing the classical Indian dance form to underserved communities. Natyanjali is celebrating its 30th year of service in 2024, a testament to her enduring commitment. Through Natyanjali, Jeyanthi Ghatraju and her students regularly present performances at nursing homes and senior centers across the New England area. They also actively engage in fundraising efforts for various noble causes, supporting organizations such as UNICEF, Ekal Vidhyalaya, Vision Aid, WeCare Charity, and ASHA for Education. She has choreographed numerous dance productions for Natyanjali and has collaborated with artists from both India and the New England dance community. Jeyanthi Ghatraju is academically affiliated with the Alagappa Performing Arts Academy, part of Alagappa University in Karaikudi, India. Through this affiliation, she offers Certificate, Diploma, and Degree programs in performing arts, contributing to the formal education of aspiring dancers. Her teaching legacy includes guiding 25 students through their arangetrams (debut performances) and overseeing the graduation of over 30 students from her programs. She completed 25 years of teaching in 2019. Additionally, she participated in a workshop recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records for featuring the largest number of dancers performing a choreographed piece online. Beyond her artistic endeavors, Jeyanthi Ghatraju holds a professional background as a Plant Geneticist and works as a Senior Manager in the defense industry. Awards & Honours: US Presidential Service Gold Award (2013), US Presidential Service Gold Award (2014), US Presidential Service Gold Award (2017), US Presidential Service Gold Award (2018), MA Cultural Council grants.