Sitara Chakkamadathil has been learning Bharathanatyam for the past 12 years under the tutelage of Guru Smt. Janaki Sivaraman, who has patiently corrected every misstep and mistimed mudra along the way. From nervously tying her chilangas for the first time to confidently telling stories through abhinaya, Sitara has grown to appreciate not only the structure and discipline of the dance form, but also the joy it brings her.
Though she once thought dance class felt more like bootcamp, with endless adavus, sore thighs, and the constant reminder to “sit lower,” she now sees Bharathanatyam as a powerful form of expression and connection. Beyond the rhythmic footwork and expressive eyes, dance has taught her perseverance, dedication, and how to smile even when her legs are on fire.
Sitara is thrilled to share her Arangetram today, a performance shaped by years of dance, dedication, and the occasional ice cream bribe after class.
Sanika Chakkamadathil has been learning Bharathanatyam for the past 10 years under the tutelage of her Guru, Smt. Janaki Sivaraman. However, her dance journey began two years earlier, while sitting on a window sill watching her sister struggling to dance. As always, Sanika thought she could do better than her sister and was eager to join the dance class. But she found out soon enough that dancing required way more effort than initially perceived. Over the years, Sanika’s family has discovered that the key to encouraging her to put in this effort was to bribe her with ice cream. During the early days of dance class, Janaki aunty found it hilarious that Sanika came to dance class in a car seat.
Despite the occasional bribery, Sanika’s love for dance has only grown. Whether it’s learning a new jathi or perfecting her footwork, dance has become her favorite way to express herself. She especially enjoys dance competitions, though she’d love them even more if they started after 10 a.m. Her dislike of early mornings is only rivaled by her inability to sit still, which, she claims has led her mom to become very skilled at applying eyeliner. Her Arangetram is not just a performance, it’s a celebration of the many years of practice, patience, and post-rehearsal ice cream runs that brought her here.
