AaradhyaSwain is 9 years 4th grade student.  She is learning Odissi dance for 3 years. She has attended a stage performance in some events like ISCON Jagannath Rath Yatra, Ganesh Chaturthi, Hindu Heritage Month event and also She was invited by the Odia Society of Canada in Toronto for a stage performance

TGIF has collaborated with regional associations/ state representatives from East, West, South, and North, who have arranged heritage, culture, and tourism exhibits. The Great India Festival is a platform that celebrates the diversity of India and promotes art, literature, cultural heritage, and tourism.

The four days Mahabharatotsav event is scheduled to take place from August 10 th 2023 to August 13th, 2023. It will be a great opportunity for you and your association/organization to visit our heritage pavilion, which will showcase some of the state’s unique cultures and traditions to a diverse audience.

Participating associations are:

• Gujarati Cultural Association (GCA);
• The Ottawa Odiyas;
• Malayali Association;
• Himachali Pravasi Global Association,
• Hariyanvi Association of North America,
• Ottawa Tamil Sangam,
• Rajasthanis in Ottawa

From 7 states of India

1 HIMACHAL PRADESH
2 HARYANA HANA
3 GUJARAT GCA 4RAJASTHAN
5 ODISSA
6 TAMILNADU
7 KERALA

Welcoming you all to make this event a grand success.

Maitri Nuthalapati kuchipudi dancer, learnt the art of kuchipudi from guru Pusapati Gnaneshwara Rao Garu he is a scholar and a student of Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam. My theme of dance is Nritta abhinayam.

Ms. Richa Pandey has been learning dance since a young age. She has been a part of various dance programs and has learned kathak in her childhood along with zumba, hip hop and contemporary dance.

In this performance by the performance group of Gharana Arts, you will see their many years of rigorous training in footwork, hand gestures, facial expressions, and intricate rhythmic patterns. The dancers immerse themselves in countless hours of practice, perfecting their technique and honing their ability to effortlessly synchronize their movements with the music. The choreography is by Vidushi Kasturi Mishra, with original compositions and arrangement by Guru Ravi Singh

1. Amogh Nagaraja (11 yrs)
2.  Samarth Bhandiwad (12 yrs)
3. Kiran Banari Ganesh
4. Kishore Ramiyengar
5. Mithun Bhandiwad
6. Sreeranga Nagaraja
7. Kishan Belur
8. Kushalappa Ajjamada

1.  Yashvitha Yelena Chodavarapu (12 yrs)
2.  Kavana Bellamane
3. Puskara Ajjampur
4.  Ranjitha Kalakannanavar
5.  Supriya Chakravarthi Srihari
6.  Aruna Mangalwedhe
7.  Renuka Channagiri
8.  Prasanthi Akilla
9.  Deeksha Kantharaju
10. Veena Padmanabha
11. Meena Ajjamada

Rajesh Chenthy, an emerging young talent, is an eminent performing artist. He holds a Master’s in Bharathanatyam performing arts from the world renowned Kalakshetra Foundation College of Fine Arts located in Chennai, India. Having been exposed to the vast field of fine arts from a young age, he chose to pursue continuous and strenuous training for many years. He has also demonstrated proficiency in other Indian Classical dance styles and multiple folk dance forms. He has received many prestigious awards including Natya Kala Jothi, Natya Mayuri, Bhaasarawathi award, and the Best Choreographer award from the Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai.

Presently, Rajesh is based in Montreal, Canada where he contributes to the community as a performing artist. He travels all over the world and has performed numerous dance productions in collaboration with various acclaimed artists from around the world. He was the Director of the Bharathiya Sangeetha Sangham (BSS) and is the founder of Kshetram Fine Arts, Montreal. In addition to teaching, he actively conducts workshops. Kshetram Fine Arts School of Dance in Montreal presents “MISRA MARGA “. Witness the roots of the classical art form, which is the complete collaboration of Indian traditional classical folk dance and classical Bharathanatyam. Here the dancers will be showcasing Bharathanatyam from Tamilnadu and folk dances from Tamil Nadu and Sowrashtra.

Ardhanareeshwara is the deity that is depicted as half Goddess Parvathi and half Lord Shiva. Parvathi, the female principle, represents creation. Shiva, the male principle, represents destruction (or the opportunity for regeneration). 

Both are equally integral in maintaining balance and harmony in the universe and in ourselves. One cannot exist without the other. It is in this merger of opposites, of conflicting ways of being, that we find the true rhythm of life. 

Drawn by a real passion for dance, Dr. Radha Jetty evolves as a dancer, instructor, choreographer and community artiste. She owes her strong foundation to her guru ofover 25 years, Smt. Vasantha Krishnan and Kalakshetra masters in Chennai, India.  While steeped in tradition andever-present in her global context, Dr. Radha’s work is constantly influenced by herlife experiences through her traditional and contemporary dance endeavours. Using her choreographies as a voice for social change, she bringsawareness to women’s rights in Samsaara: Rebirth of a Woman and child soldiersin A Mother’s Plea. 

Dr. Radha’s passion pervades her lifework as a pediatrician. As a pediatrician at CHEO, a researcher at the CHEO research institute, associate professor at the University of Ottawa, medical advisor for Indigeous services at the government of canada, she strives to improve the health of all children with a focus on Indigenous children in Canada and globally. As Nunavut’s firstfulltime pediatrician, she called the Canadian Arctic home for many years.  She lobbies for Indigenous children’s rights with Indigenous organizations at provincial, national and internationally at the Inter-American human rights commission. She strives to advocate for health equity among Indigenous children at home in Ottawa, throughout Canada and globally. Dr. Radha was recognized as a CBC Trailblazer in 2020 for the positive impact of her work.

Her truest passion is now being a mother to her daughter, Jaya.

In this performance by Tabla Tarang, you will see their many years of rigorous training in Taal, musical expression, and clarity of sounds while producing intricate rhythmic patterns. The percussionists immerse themselves in countless hours of practice, perfecting their techniques and honing their ability to effortlessly synchronize mathematically complex rhythm patterns. They will be playing traditional compositions from the Banaras Gharana with an arrangement by Guru Ravi S. K. Singh.

Leela highlights the compassion showered upon the bhaktas by Rama , Krishna and Kalyani in their own ways. It describes the beauty and valor through short story telling in the form of following three items.

Prashanti School of Dance is a dance institution based in Ottawa which was founded by Radhika Pillai with the aim of supporting and promoting the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam. Since Dance is not only an artform but also a yoga that unites the dancer with the divine consciousness with control over the mind, body and emotions, Prashanti School of Dance believes in nurturing every student with individual attention and encouragement. Students of Prashanti School of dance have performed in several cultural festivals and are determined and focused to learn this beautiful dance form with dedication and with the motive
to uphold its beauty and integrity.

Rama Janardhana : Today the first item presented by Prashanti School of Dance is a nottuswaram which is composed by Sri Muthuswamy Dikshithar in the ragam Sankarabharnam and set to Talam Tisra Ekam. This beautiful Disksitar Kriti praises Lord Rama as the slayer of the demon Ravana, as the brother of Lakshmana , The just and compassionate King of Ayodhya and the consort of Sita. This item will be presented by Avni Varun, Joshitha Jayaram, Aishani Aitha, Anwitha Mudunuri, Gautham Samineni, Kalpana Jayaprakash and Prajna Suvarna.

Adidano Ranga : The next item is Adidano Ranga composed by Shri Purandara Dasar in Arabhi Ragam set to Adi Talam. This composition describes the beauty and elegance of Lord Krishna’s dance on the hood of the serpent Kaliya on the banks of the river Yamuna and how the Lords and even the Apsaras were showering their praise and flowers on Krishna as he saved the people of Gokul. This item will be presented by Deetchana Sai Kanan, Eshanika Jaladanki, Harshita Sharma, Keerthi Teki, Sreeya Dandey, Vaishnavi Goluguri and Kaira.

Varaveena : The last item performed by the students of Prashanti School of Dance is Varaveena which is in praise of the Goddess Lakshmi who bestows favorable boons on her devotees and is always compassionate, forgiving and loving toward her children. Her beauty and features are praised by Appayya Deekshitar in this composition that is in Mohanam Ragam and is set to Rupaka Talam which will be performed by Eva Eliz Meledam, Srinidhi Narayanan, Vagisha Kilaru, Vishwaa Bhavsar and Lalithya Chandrashekhar.

Both Deeksha and Maitri Arya began their trysts with Bharatanatyam at the young ages of six years at the Prabhath Academy for Music and Performing Arts under chief choreographer and instructor Guru Smt. Nirmala Madhava. The sisters continued their Bharatanatyam classes under the tutelage of Guru Kalamandalam Smt. Usha Datar at the Datar Insitute of Fine Arts. They completed their junior and senior level exams in the art form, conducted by the Karnataka State Education Board, as well as their Bharatanatyam Arangetrams, with the guidance of Guru Sri Karthik Datar. In addition, they have given over 100 dance performances and performed in multiple cultural events across India, and now in Canada. Having relocated to two different cities to pursue their higher education, the sisters began conceptualizing, choreographing, and producing virtual dance videos, laying emphasis to perfecting coordination to simulate an in-person performance. Both Deeksha and Maitri are also training in Mohiniattam under Guru Smt. Dhanya Santhosh since 2013 and have performed the dance form at multiple festivals. The sisters regularly volunteer for social causes alongside pursuing professional careers and strive to maintain a perfect balance between all these interests.

Performance at TGIF, Aug 11th, 2023:
“Ananda Natanam”

Deeksha and Maitri Arya will perform a Pushpanjali, a traditional show-opening Bharatanatyam item. They will follow this with a song in praise of Lord Ganesha: Ananda Narthana Ganapathi, describing the destroyer of all obstacles, Lord Ganesha dances as he is filled with happiness.

 Kauthuvam is a traditional dance piece in  Bharatanatyam. Kauthuvam incorporates elements of nritta (pure dance) and abhinaya (expressional dance). It consists of rhythmic footwork, intricate adavus (basic steps), and gestures, along with accompanying lyrics and music. The lyrics are usually in Tamil or Telugu and are set to a specific rhythmic pattern or tala. It consists of rhythmic footwork, intricate adavus (basic steps), and gestures, along with accompanying lyrics and music. The lyrics are usually in Tamil or Telugu and are set to a specific rhythmic pattern or tala.

Kum. Nitya & Kum. Niyati Thondapu have been learning Bharatanatyam in the “Pandanallur Pani” style from a young age with the guidance of their guru Jini Mayuri who taught them love, discipline, and dedication towards dance and this art form.

A Bengali fusion dance based on the combination of two melodious songs which are called Rabindrasangeet as those are written and composed by the famous poet and Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore. While both of the songs portrays the beauty of rain, the second song is called “Bhanusingher Padabali” which is the poetical representation of divinity and love between Radha and Krishna

Kum. Tanna Samanta is a trained Indian classical dancer and she has been trained with other local Bengali dance forms as well since her early childhood. She has  learned Bharatnatyam  from Srimati. Puspa Chatterjee, a renowned dancer and disciple of Guru Shri Khagendranath Barman in Kolkata and has performed in various cultural programs henceforth in India, USA and in Canada. By profession she is a Data Analyst and works and resides in Ottawa.

Indrani Choudhury from Kolkata, India, started dancing from the age of 7. Trained in Kathak dance of Lucknow gharana, she holds Sangeet Prabhakar certificate (6 yrs. degree course) in Kathak from Prayag Sangeet Samiti, India.

In the last 30 years she has performed in and choreographed numerous dance shows, taken summer classes, worked as dance teacher in a secondary school and won many accolades in India, UK, the Middle East and now in Canada.

In 2016, she founded Nrityashala Dance School in Ottawa The students at her school fall in the age group of 6 to 60, they are trained in Indian Classical dances like Kathak and Manipuri and various forms of Eastern and North Eastern India folk dance. Her intention behind setting up her own school is not only to teach dance but also to spread the rich cultural heritage of India. To her, dance forms an important part in the physical and spiritual well-being of an individual.

She believes in- “Live, love, dance and celebrate life’’!

This performance is from Sai Bhagya Dance Academy choreographed by 

Mrs. Lawanya Mayil. Lawanya is a Bharathanatyam artist and a teacher in the Ottawa region and she teaches in the Findlay Creek area. 

She has been teaching for the past 7 years and has been learning and practicing this art form since the age of 4. She completed her arangetram in 2016 and was a company dancer of many studios in Mississauga. She enjoys teaching Bharathanatyam to all age groups and wishes to spread her knowledge on this. 

The students of Sai Bhagya Dance Academy will be presenting the popular DhanashreeThillana. This is a fast and rhythmic dance piece with a modern twist. The dancers who are presenting this piece are: 

Ardhanareeshwara is the deity that is depicted as half Goddess Parvathi and half Lord Shiva. Parvathi, the female principle, represents creation. Shiva, the male principle, represents destruction (or the opportunity for regeneration).   

Both are equally integral in maintaining balance and harmony in the universe and in ourselves. One cannot exist without the other. It is in this merger of opposites, of conflicting ways of being, that we find the true rhythm of life.  

Drawn by a real passion for dance, Dr. Radha Jetty evolves as a dancer, instructor, choreographer and community artiste. She owes her strong foundation to her guru ofover 25 years, Smt. Vasantha Krishnan and Kalakshetra masters in Chennai, India.  While steeped in tradition andever-present in her global context, Dr. Radha’s work is constantly influenced by herlife experiences through her traditional and contemporary dance endeavours. Using her choreographies as a voice for social change, she bringsawareness to women’s rights in Samsaara: Rebirth of a Woman and child soldiersin A Mother’s Plea. 

Dr. Radha’s passion pervades her lifework as a pediatrician. As a pediatrician at CHEO, a researcher at the CHEO research institute, associate professor at the University of Ottawa, medical advisor for Indigeous services at the government of canada, she strives to improve the health of all children with a focus on Indigenous children in Canada and globally. As Nunavut’s firstfulltime pediatrician, she called the Canadian Arctic home for many years.  She lobbies for Indigenous children’s rights with Indigenous organizations at provincial, national and internationally at the Inter-American human rights commission. She strives to advocate for health equity among Indigenous children at home in Ottawa, throughout Canada and globally. Dr. Radha was recognized as a CBC Trailblazer in 2020 for the positive impact of her work.

Sophia Salingaros is a Bharatanatyam artiste residing in New York City, and has studied the art form under Guru Dr. Sreedhara Akkihebbalu since 2007. She has been invited to perform at prestigious venues both nationally and internationally – to name a few: Navatman Drive East, IAAC Erasing Borders, Battery Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, Narada Gana Sabha under the auspices of Kartik Fine Arts,  Vipanchee Arts Festival, World Government Summit Dubai, and multiple performances at the United Nations and NY Indian Embassy. Additionally, Sophia has studied intensively under Kalaimamani Rama Vaidyanathan and has performed in her international tours of ‘Vivartana’. She is an ICCR Empaneled Artist, IndianRaga Fellow, and 2013 YoungArts Finalist. Known for her precise nritta and sensitive abhinaya, she is also a blossoming choreographer and often presents her own works as well as those of her guru’s. Her training in Carnatic music further enhances her involvement and emotional connection with the art form.

As a non-Indian artiste, she hopes to spread the message that art knows no cultural or religious boundaries.

Sophia is a graduate of Columbia University and is currently pursuing her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College while continuing to perform internationally.

Both Deeksha and Maitri Arya began their trysts with Bharatanatyam at the young ages of six years at the Prabhath
Academy for Music and Performing Arts under chief choreographer and instructor Guru Smt. Nirmala Madhava. The
sisters continued their Bharatanatyam classes under the tutelage of Guru Kalamandalam Smt. Usha Datar at the Datar
Insitute of Fine Arts. They completed their junior and senior level exams in the art form, conducted by the Karnataka State
Education Board, as well as their Bharatanatyam Arangetrams, with the guidance of Guru Sri Karthik Datar. In addition,
they have given over 100 dance performances and performed in multiple cultural events across India, and now in Canada.
Having relocated to two different cities to pursue their higher education, the sisters began conceptualizing,
choreographing, and producing virtual dance videos, laying emphasis to perfecting coordination to simulate an in-person
performance. Both Deeksha and Maitri are also training in Mohiniattam under Guru Smt. Dhanya Santhosh since 2013 and
have performed the dance form at multiple festivals. The sisters regularly volunteer for social causes alongside pursuing
professional careers and strive to maintain a perfect balance between all these interests.

Sai Preethi Sayini

Civil engineer by profession. Food, travel and dance enthusiast. Trained in Kuchipudi and performed different dance styles on multiple stages. 

Manasa Sherman 

Silicon engineer by profession and an avid nature lover. Extremely passionate about music and dance and pursued Carnatic vocal for many years. Enjoy the beauty of motherhood being around my child and dogs.

Mounika Meduri

A Talent Acquisition Specialist by profession and an ambivert in nature. Attracted towards music and dance since a very young age and performed Bharatanatyam and Kathak on several occasions.

Ramya Geethika Khandavilli

A software developer by profession and constantly inspired by the power of dance. Be it traditional or western, the combination of movement, rhythm, and emotion captivates me like nothing else.

Divine Rhythm Creative Arts Academy, founded by Himani Agarwal, is devoted to preserving Indian cultural heritage through Kathak dance.With over 15 years of experience, Himani is an accomplished choreographer, dancer, and Kathak teacher. As a disciple of Rukmani Devi and Pt Jai Kishan Maharaj Ji, she is carring the legacy of the world-renowned Kathak dancer, Padma Vibhushan, Birju Maharaj Ji. The academy offers personalized guidance through the revered “guru-shishya parampara,” nurturing a diverse group of students from various backgrounds and age groups.

In today’s mesmerizing dance performance, the students of Divine Rhythm Creative Arts Academy present “Geet Govind,” a captivating musical journey that portrays the contrasting aspects of Lord Krishna’s persona. The performance beautifully narrates both his mischievous behavior and enchanting looks, leaving the hearts and souls of devotees enthralled. On one side, the little Gopi girls express their affectionate frustrations, creating a tender and heartfelt scene. On the other side, they transcend earthly concerns, completely enchanted by Krishna’s tune, and gracefully surrender themselves to the divine dance.

This enchanting dance performance music is composed by esteemed Padma Vibhushan Pt Birju Maharaj Ji’s and skillfully choreographed by Himani Agarwal. With utmost dedication the talented performers Ambili Muraleedharan, Arshamani Aruvaythil, Jagisha Sekhri, Yatra Suthar, Aashvi Sharma, Gowri Hemanth Kumar, Aadya Goel, Shaleen singh, Nanda and Ganga Devi
are going to deliver this captivated dance performance