Sahasra Sambamoorthi

🪔 About

Sahasra Sambamoorthi is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, dedicated to revitalizing South Asian performing arts in the United States. Her extensive training began at age five with Carnatic violin under Smt. Ranjini Swamy, followed by Bharatanatyam at age nine. She completed her arangetram in Chennai in 1998, just four years after commencing her Bharatanatyam studies under Guru Smt. Kalaimamani Ramya Ramnarayan in the Vazhoor style. Two years later, she performed at prestigious venues in Madras, including the Krishna Gana Sabha and Kartik Fine Arts. Sambamoorthi is the co-founder and CEO of Navatman, Inc., an organization based in New York City that serves as a hub for South Asian arts, with a particular emphasis on Indian classical dance and music. She also serves as the Artistic Director of Navatman Dance Company, which aims to make Indian classical dance more accessible while preserving its traditional beauty. Her academic pursuits include a graduation from Columbia University and a Master's degree from New York University in South Asian dance, history, and anthropology. Her ongoing classical dance education includes Kathak under Prashant Shah, Odissi with Bijayini Satpathy, Surupa Sen, and Pavitra Bhatt (Nrityagram), and Kuchipudi with Kishore Mosalikanti. She has also trained in Kalaripayattu and Mrdangam. Sambamoorthi has created over 50 choreographies, co-choreographed and co-produced the dance drama "Her Story" which toured internationally in 2008-2009, directed a full-length feature film, and produced two music albums. She is also a co-founder of the Navatman Music Collective and the Navatman Junior Troupe, and co-curates the global Indian arts festival Drive East. Reporters have lauded her as a "young trailblazer...on the crest of the wave leading us towards a new understanding of South Asian arts in the United States." Awards & Honours: NJSCA Folk Arts Apprenticeship.