Suman Nayak

🪔 About

Suman Nayak is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artist, teacher, and the artistic director of the Natesha School of Bharatanatyam, located in Poway, California, USA. Her journey in Indian classical dance commenced in her childhood in Mangalore, a coastal city in Southern India. She received her foundational dance training at Kadri Nritya Vidya Nilaya, a renowned institution founded by Guru U. S. Krishna Rao. Suman Nayak underwent 16 years of intensive training in the Pandanallur tradition under the tutelage of Guru U. K. Praveen, son of U. S. Krishna Rao, and also learned Carnatic Music from Smt. Usha Praveen. She also received guidance from Smt. Sandhya Keshav Rao for a period. Suman Nayak performed her Arangetram in 1996 in Mangalore. In 2000, she successfully completed the Vidwath exam conducted by the Karnataka Education Board, which earned her the title 'Natya Vidhushi' and credentials to teach Bharatanatyam. After relocating to the United States in 2001, she established the Natesha School of Bharatanatyam in Poway, CA, with the primary objective of propagating the pure Indian classical form of Bharatanatyam to children of all ages. With over 30 years of experience in the field, Suman Nayak is recognized for her fluid grace, excellent sense of rhythm, elegant expressions, and creativity. Since 2009, she has been receiving advanced training in Abhinaya from renowned Guru Smt. Ramya Harishankar in Irvine, CA, and advanced Rhythm/Nattuvangam training with Mridangam Artist Sri Nagai Sriram. Suman Nayak and her students regularly perform at major cultural events and dance festivals held in Southern California. She actively volunteers to organize events on behalf of the Indian Fine Arts Academy San Diego (IFAASD) and the San Diego Indian American Society, and has conducted lecture demonstrations on Indian culture and dance at schools and universities. Awards & Honours: Natya Vidhushi (2000), Sri Sathya Sai Balavikas excellence award for dance (2019), Woman of the Year (2021).