The Disciple

Kalyani was born in Scottsdale, Arizona and began learning bharatanatyam at the age of 5 with her first teacher, Smt. Gauri Bhobe-Sardesai. After getting a firm grounding in the dance form and developing a love for the art, Kalyani came to Arathi School of Dance in 2017 to learn under the tutelage of Guru Kalashri Asha Gopal. At Arathi School of Dance, Kalyani has learned the many intricacies of Bharatanatyam and has developed into the dancer she is today. With the blessings of her guru, Kalyani has had the opportunity to perform at several festivals, cultural showcases, and family events, both in the US and in India, including the Sheela Bal Bhavan 25th Anniversary Celebration in Jaipur, India.

Over her 10 years as a student of Bharatanatyam, Kalyani has grown and developed into a bright, multi-talented individual. As a rising sophomore at Veritas Preparatory Academy, Kalyani is very active in academic and extracurricular pursuits. She has been on the school yearbook staff since the start of middle school and will be a yearbook editor for the upcoming school year. She has been selected for her school’s women’s choir. She has also performed in several community musical theater productions with Desert Stages and Art and Sol Performing Arts Program, including the lead role of Maria Von Trapp in The Sound of Music. She also has a deep love for reading and can often be found tucked away in a corner with her nose in a book!

Through classes with Chinmaya Mission Phoenix and Indian classical dance, Kalyani has developed a deep understanding of her heritage and Indian culture.

Thanks to the support of her guru, parents, teachers, mentors, family, and friends, Kalyani has acquired the perseverance, strength, and discipline that will carry her through the next phase of her life. Kalyani plans to continue dance after her arangetram to further her skills and knowledge.