Shalini Varghese Chandragiri

🪔 About

Shalini Varghese Chandragiri is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and choreographer based in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, Texas, USA. Her journey in Indian classical dance began at the age of five when she joined the Arathi School of Dance under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Revathi Satyu. Under Smt. Satyu's guidance, Shalini performed in various dance dramas, including "Sita Swayamvara," "Anmol Bhakti," "Meera," "Virangana," and "Pragati." She further enriched her training by learning extensively from several legendary gurus, including Padma Bhushan The Dhananjayans, Padma Shri Adyar K. Lakshman, Kalaimamani Smt. Priyadarsini Govind, Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Smt. Padmini Ravi, Dr. Maya Rao, Smt. Priya Murle, Dr. Seshadri Iyengar, and Smt. Nirupama and Rajendra. Shalini Varghese Chandragiri had her arangetram in 1997. She has been actively teaching Bharatanatyam for over 25 years, with her students performing widely across the DFW metroplex. She has successfully guided more than 30 students through their arangetram. Shalini is a founding member of the Indique Dance Company, a troupe established in June 2008, which aims to explore new and creative directions in Indian classical dance. She has choreographed and participated in many original productions of this company. Additionally, she serves as a board member of the Indian Cultural Heritage Foundation (ICHF), a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting intercultural awareness through Indian and American cultural interactions. In September 2015, Shalini was honored with the prestigious Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence by the Dance Council of North Texas. She currently teaches in Carrollton, Plano, and Frisco, Texas. Awards & Honours: Natalie Skelton Award for Artistic Excellence (2015).