Janaki Sivaraman
Smt. Janaki Sivaraman, disciple of Padmabhushan Dr. Padma Subramanyam, was trained in Bharathanatyam at Nrithyodaya in Chennai, where she completed the course of ‘Nrithya Visharadha’. She has been recognized by the Governor of Maryland for her outstanding efforts and sincere dedication to the preservation and promotion of classical Indian dance not only to the Indian community but also to the mainstream audience at local schools, universities, community centers, and arts festivals
Janaki hails from a family of ardent lovers of classical arts and music. Her aunt and uncle, Late Smt. Janaki and Sri M.G. Ramachandran are well known cine artists in the Tamil film Industry. Her grandparents, Late Sri Rajagopal Iyer and Sri Papanasam Sivan were great Tamil Scholars and musicians.
Janaki continues to contribute to the art in her capacity as the director of Nrithyashala, founded in 1986 in Baltimore, MD. For more than 39 yrs, Nrithyashala has served the Baltimore and Washington community, spreading awareness of the Indian culture and passing on this divine art to future generations. The dancers ar Nrithyashala strive for perfection and perform extensively in around the Balitimore/Washington community and throughout Unites States. The dancers have received awards and scholarships from prestigious organizations including the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Smt. Janaki Sivaraman is today recognized as an excellent choreographer as well as an able and committed teacher.
Anita Sivaraman
"Nadanamamani” Dr. Anita Sivaraman is an accomplished Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi dancer whose passion for the art is evident in her graceful, soul stirring abhinaya (expressions) and excellent command over laya (rhythm). Anita is the daughter and disciple of Mrs. Janaki Sivaraman, the founder and director of "Nrithyashala" in Baltimore, Maryland. Anita completed her arangetram at the tender age of 7, her first step in her lifelong journey to follow her passion for dance.
Anita was awarded the prestigious titles “Nadanamamani” for Bharathanatyam by Karthik Fine Arts (Chennai, India) in 2019, “Yuva Kala Vipanchee” by Vipanchee Turst (Chennai, India) in 2019, and "Yuva Kala Bharathi" for Bharatanatyam by Bharat Kalachar (Chennai, India) in 2007. As an undergraduate student, The Johns Hopkins University recognized Anita for her long-term dedication and significant contribution to the arts through the "Louis Sudler Arts Prize," awarded to one highly qualified student across all departments and schools of the university each year as having achieved a professional level in the art as a non-arts major. She has worked and trained with several leading dancers in both Bharathanatyam and Kuchipudi and has performed extensively in India, Canada, Europe, and USA.
Anita is a practicing Gastroenterologist and a talented dancer as well as teacher, choreographer, nattuvanar, and mentor for the students of Nrithyashala.