17-year-old Kuchipudi dancer merges tradition, talent, and social empathy through Nrityamrit
New Delhi: Blending devotion, dance, and dedication, young Kuchipudi dancer Shambhavi Sharma marked her Rangpravesham at Delhi’s Kamani Auditorium, where Defence Minister Rajnath Singh launched ‘Nrityamrit’, celebrating art as a tool for healing.
A Class 12 student at Sanskriti School, New Delhi, and President of its Cultural Council, Shambhavi has trained for over a decade under Padma Bhushan Gurus Raja and Radha Reddy at Natya Tarangini. Her performances have featured at the International Rajgir Mahotsav (2022), G20 Youth Connect Programme (2023), and the Parampara Series. She is also a published author of The Algorithm of Betaal, released by the National Book Trust in June 2025, exploring AI ethics through Indian mythology.
Her Rangpravesham featured four signature Kuchipudi pieces — Dashavatara, Gananathaya, Tarangam, and Sanson Ki Mala— blending devotion, precision, and expressive grace.
*Nrityamrit*, launched in 2023, uses Kuchipudi as a medium for healing in hospitals, old-age homes, and underprivileged communities, offering therapeutic sessions and dance classes for children.
Reflecting on her journey, Shambhavi Sharma said, “When I first joined Natya Tarangini at six, it was the quiet start of something truly special — a path that has unfolded with grace and wonder. What draws me back every time is the peace dancing brings, a soft escape where my worries just melt into the music and the flow.”
The evening stood as a testament to Shambhavi’s decade-long dedication and to Natya Tarangini’s enduring legacy in nurturing India’s next generation of classical artists.
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