Shantanu Salunke

🪔 About

Shantanu Salunke is an Indian classical Bharatanatyam dancer, originally from Pune, India, who has made Germany his home since 2004. Based in Stuttgart, he actively performs the classical Indian dance form in and around the region. His dedication to Bharatanatyam is evident through his extensive training and ongoing artistic development. Salunke's formal journey into Bharatanatyam, specifically embracing the Kalakshetra Bani style, began in 2008 at the Tanzschule Lotus in Stuttgart, Germany. He diligently pursued his training there for fourteen years, concluding his studies in 2022. A pivotal moment in his career was his Arangetram, the traditional solo debut performance, which he successfully completed in June 2017 in his native city of Pune. This significant event was graced by the presence of Kalaimamani Prof. N. S. Jayalakshmi, a distinguished alumnus of Kalakshetra, who attended as the Chief Guest. To continually deepen his understanding and mastery of Bharatanatyam, Salunke engages in regular advanced studies with Dr. Gayatri Krishnaveni Lakshmanan. Dr. Lakshmanan, herself a Kalakshetra alumnus, directs the Krishnadhwani School of Natya in Chennai, providing Salunke with ongoing mentorship in the finer nuances of the art form. Furthermore, since 2009, he has consistently participated in Bharatanatyam workshops conducted by P. T. Narendran, another senior alumnus of Kalakshetra, thereby broadening his artistic perspective and technical skills. Demonstrating a holistic approach to Indian classical arts, Shantanu Salunke is also dedicated to learning the veena, an Indian string instrument, under the guidance of Kalaimamani Jayalakshmi Sekhar. In addition to his performance career, he contributes to the propagation of Bharatanatyam by offering dance classes in Leonberg, Germany.