Rang Pravesh
The word Rang Pravesh literally means "ascending or entering the stage". This is the first full length on- stage solo recital by a student of Indian classical dance. It marks the graduation of a student onto the professional performance stage. A Rang Pravesh is an outcome of many years of disciplined training and hard work and marks an important milestone both in the life of the dancer and their Guru.
Below are some Sri Shakti Academy's students who have completed their Rang Pravesh in the past years.
Menka Purswaney Amin
Menka Purswaney Amin directed many school dance shows for fundraisers where she was part of the creative and choreography team. Formal dance training began when she started learning Flamenco in Spain at the age of 18. Tracing the roots of Flamenco she started Kathak under Guru Neesha Jhaveri. She completed her Rang Pravesh in 2007 and Visharad In 2019 under Smt. Neeshaji and Smt. Sunayana Hazarilaljis guidance. Currently Menka teaches kathak and teaches yoga, mindfulness and meditation to children.
Anuradha Sethuraman
An IIM grad and investment banker by profession, Anuradha has kept up her passion for dancing over the years ! As a teenager, she was trained in the Tanjore style of Bharatanatyam under Smt. Rajeshwari Natarajan . Alongside a work stint in New York (2013), she joined Navatman Dance Company as a professional Bharatanatyam dancer and performed extensively in their productions in the U.S. Subsequently she began training in the Jankiprasad Gharana of Kathak under Guru Neesha Jhaveri ji in HK (with mentorship from Guru Padmashree Sunayana Hazarilalji) and completed her Rangrapvesh in 2018 . She has been performing extensively as a part of Sri Shakti Academy at various events in HK, Taiwan and India
Aruna Bharti Swamy
An IITD Allumini, a hands-on mother of two and a lifetime dance devotee, Aruna performed her Kathak RangPravesh in Hong Kong in 2019 under the able guidance of Guru Neesha Jhaveriji of Sri Shakti Academy. Aruna also had the good fortune of recieving intermittent training directly under Padmashri Guru Sunayana Hazarilalji, the doyen of Benaras Gharana of Kathak. Over the last eight years, she has given over 15 performance in HK , Taiwan and India, which include Republic Day Celebrations at the Consulate General of India HK (2020), Performances at City University and Baptist University HK (2017-18), Ethnic Cultural Day RTHK-eTV HK (2016), Tribute to Guru Pt. Hazarilalji by Natwari, Nehru Center Mumbai (2018), Dance Exchange at Dream Community Taipei (2018).
Swapnal Gadnis
Swapnal Gadnis started learning Kathak at a tender age of 6. Kathak and dancing always had a special place in Swapnal’s heart. Swapnal was a regular performer at all school shows and took lead in choreographing performances at school events. Swapnal completed her graduation as bachelor’s in science and post-graduation as master’s in computer management before she started working as IT corporate trainer in India before moving to Hong Kong. After a hiatus of 2 decades, Swapnal decided to reignite her passion for Kathak and sought out the tutelage of renowned Kathak Guru Smt. Neesha Jhaveri and joined Sri Shakti Academy in Hong Kong. Swapnal is now learning Kathak for more than 7 years and is one of the senior students of Sri Shakti Academy. Swapnal has participated in many events in Hong Kong including prestigious New York Kathak Festival and also fortunate to attend workshops of Padmashri Sunayana Hazarilal and completed her Rangpravesh in 2023. For Swapnal, this Rangpravesh would be one of her biggest achievement and a culmination of her efforts over the past 7 years and; the journey will continue.