Vithya Karthigesu

🪔 About

Vithya Karthigesu is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, based in Adelaide, Australia. Originally a lawyer by profession, she made a complete career transition to dedicate her time to teaching dance full-time. Born and raised in Malaysia, Vithya migrated to Australia in 2011. In April 2012, she established The Temple of Fine Arts Adelaide, where she serves as the artistic director and principal. This institution is a branch of the internationally acclaimed Temple of Fine Arts, founded in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, by His Holiness Swami Shantananda Saraswathi in 1981. Vithya completed her Bharatanatyam arangetram in September 1992 at the Temple of Fine Arts Kuala Lumpur. Following this, she pursued Odissi, completing her solo graduation in December 2010 at TFA Penang. She is a qualified teacher in both Bharatanatyam and Odissi, and also teaches Indian Folk Dances and Bollywood dances. Before moving to Australia, Vithya taught Bharatanatyam and Odissi in Penang. She continues to advance her Bharatanatyam training under Shri Shankar Kandasamy from TFA Kuala Lumpur and her Odissi training under Guru Ratikanth Mohapatra, son of the legendary Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. Under her leadership, TFA Adelaide has gained public recognition, performing at state festivals such as OzAsia and Fringe festivals, community functions, and temple festivals. The academy's annual school shows are consistently sold out. In March 2021, TFA Adelaide presented "Margam" (Bharatanatyam) and "Simply Odissi" (Odissi) at the Adelaide Fringe to sold-out audiences. As of October 2024, the academy boasts 130 students, with 109 participating in their annual showcase.