Visalini Sundaram

🪔 About

Visalini Sundaram is a Bharatanatyam dancer and Carnatic vocalist based in Southern California, USA. She has been actively involved in the classical arts for approximately 30 years, stemming from a family with a rich background in music and dance. Her foundational training in Bharatanatyam was under Guru Ramya Harishankar, and she continues to pursue advanced training and mentorship with Chennai-based Kalaimamani Shri. A. Lakshmanaswamy. In Carnatic music, Visalini began her training at the age of five with Smt. Padma Kutty, and further honed her skills under the tutelage of Shri. Palai Ramachandran and Shri Delhi. P. Sunderrrajan. Her arangetram, marking her debut in Bharatanatyam, took place around 2014. Throughout her career, Visalini Sundaram has performed extensively in the United States, India, and other international venues, including a performance in Chennai in December 2019. Beyond her dance performances, she is also a skilled Carnatic vocalist, frequently lending her voice as vocal support for various arangetrams and dance productions. Visalini is the founder and Artistic Director of Naayika Arts, a school in Orange County, California, dedicated to teaching Bharatanatyam and Carnatic vocal music. She also established The Naayika Collective, which serves as a creative and collaborative platform for artists. Her teaching journey began with music in 2007, followed by dance instruction in 2016. Her contributions to the arts have been recognized with accolades such as the first place prize at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana in 2007 and the Alliance for California Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant in 2022, awarded for her work in integrating dance and music. She has also been featured in media, including a Narthaki article in 2016 and an episode of "Dance Conversations" in 2021. Awards & Honours: Alliance for California Traditional Arts Apprenticeship Grant (2022), First place prize (2007).