Faculty and Staff

Our faculty of experienced dance and music instructors are deeply dedicated to Silambam’s philosophy of holistic and high-quality arts education, and passionate about passing on these ancient Indian art forms to the next generation.

Click on the photos to learn more about each of our faculty and staff members.

Organizational Leadership

Lavanya Rajagopalan
Executive Artistic Director
Director, Bharatanatyam Program

Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan is a dancer/choreographer, arts educator/ administrator, and scientist/science communicator who has resided in the Houston area since 2001. Dr. Rajagopalan trained in Bharatanatyam with the legendary Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, and in vocal Indian classical music and in nattuvangam. She has performed extensively and to critical acclaim, both individually and in collaboration with other artistes, throughout India and the US. She directed and performed in the US revival tour of the highly acclaimed dance theater production ‘Krishnam Vande Jagatgurum’, in 2007, and, in 2020, scripted, directed and performed in the digital reworking of the iconic ‘Raas’ choreography from that production, with a global cast of performers.

Dr. Rajagopalan is the founder and Executive Artistic Director of Silambam Houston, Houston's premiere Indian classical arts non-profit. She has choreographed and directed several dance performances/productions for the Silambam Houston Dance Company. Among these are Ritu – The Changing Moods of Nature (a collaborative Bharatanatyam/Ballet dance production); Krishna...?, Shambhavam, Maya – A Midsummer Night’s Dream (an Indian classical dance theater adaptation of the Shakespeare play), Kāvya: Poetry in Motion, and Chakravyuh: Battle Against the Odds. She oversees and develops Silambam Houston’s arts education programs; these include performances, workshops and residencies for K-12 and community settings, including ‘Dance Across India’, ‘Storytime with Silambam’, and ‘Dancing into STEM’.

Among the honors she has received is the distinguished 'Acharya Kala Bharathi' award from Bharat Kalachar in Chennai, recognizing her contributions to the field of Bharatanatyam as a Guru.

Dr. Rajagopalan holds a Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Following a decade- long, federally-funded, academic research career, she now focuses her scientific skills and energy on science communication and education, including through arts integration. She has taught at the elementary, undergraduate, graduate, and medical school levels, has extensive experience in scientific writing, editing, and content review, and develops standardized content for the MCAT. Her specific areas of research expertise range from biophysical and structural biology to biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology.

Krithika Mohankumar
Education Director
Co-Director, Bharatanatyam Program

Mrs. Krithika Mohankumar With over 20 years of experience as an arts educator and a decade in nonprofit leadership, Mrs. Krithika Mohankumar is responsible for building the organizational backbone that has allowed the Silambam community to thrive. As the Education Director of Silambam Houston, she has played a pivotal role in guiding the nonprofit through sustained and explosive growth over the last two decade, including a 1,000% increase in student enrollment in that time.

Trained in the Kalakshetra style of Bharatanatyam under Guru Balameera Chandra Grimes, Krithika completed her own Arangetram at the astonishing age of 7, and subsequently continued her dance training under Guru Saraswati Sundaresan, performing extensively both in solo performances and group productions. She discovered her passion for arts education at Silambam in 2007, which has since evolved into a deep commitment to arts education, outreach, and administration. Over the past two decades, she has designed and implemented the operational systems, student frameworks, and multi-location logistics that support Silambam's arts education activities in a spectrum of distinct classical disciplines today.

Her leadership approach balances meticulous operational strategy with a deep commitment to community. During the pandemic, she co-led the rapid development of an innovative virtual platform, introducing unique mentorship and socialization spaces for youth. Beyond daily programming, faculty oversight, and financial management, Mrs. Krithika Mohankumar is deeply passionate about youth empowerment and civic engagement, and spearheads the teaching track of Silambam’s Arts Apprenticeship Program to mentor the next generation of arts educators. Her rare blend of artistic vision, administrative precision, and community-first leadership is at the heart of Silambam's success.

Adjunct Faculty

Priya Murle
Visiting Faculty, Bharatanatyam
Faculty Advisor

Kalaimamani Priya Murle is a guiding figure and mentor for the faculty and students of Silambam Houston, and teaches advanced techniques and concepts to selected students. Smt. Priya Murle has been in the field of Bharatanatyam for over 4 decades. A disciple of the legend Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, Priya is multifaceted. An MPhil in philosophy with research in the Rasa theory, Priya has performed the world over and received several awards, including the Tamil Nade State Award, Kalaimamani.

Priya, a performer, teacher, and choreographer, is the Artistic Director of Shri Silambam Academy of Fine Arts. Along with Shreya Nagarajan Singh, Priya has started an initiative - the Parivartan Research Initiative - that provides annual short grants for research scholars. Priya is actively involved in outreach programmes that make classical dance accessible to all. She is currently the Vice President of Abhai.

Dr. Preethi Ramaprasad Preethi Ramaprasad is a dancer, curator, musician, and researcher. Her journey teaching and performing Bharatanatyam has led to artistic community-building endeavors across India, Europe, and the United States. She co-runs When Eyes Speak Choreography Festival, The Varnam Salon, and Performing Voices of Bhakti which aim to create safe spaces to share South Asian expression in the diaspora. Ramaprasad has a doctorate in Critical Dance Studies from UC Riverside where her dissertation focused on representation and the performance of myth among transnational Bharatanatyam practitioners. Ramaprasad's work has been funded by and earned accolades through the San Francisco Arts Commission and SF Public Library Residency, American Society for Theater Research, Gluck Fellows Program, Zellerbach Family Foundation, American Conservatory Theater ArtShare Program, Deborah Slater Dance Theater, SAFEhouse Arts Lead Resident Fellowship, and the All-Rounder Yuva Kala Bharati for Young Artists. More at preethiramaprasad.com.

Preethi Ramaprasad
Visiting Faculty, Bharatanatyam

Program Directors

Kalpana Subbarao
Kathak

Kalpana Subbarao is proficient in two styles of Indian Classical Dance - Bharatanatyam and Kathak. She began her dance training in Bharatanatyam with Guru Rema Shrikant at the age of 9, and later with Guru Nandini Easwer, under whom she completed her Arangetram. She was the 2nd rank holder in the Junior, and 1st rank holder in the Senior and Vidhwat exams of the Karnataka State Board. She was also the recipient of a 3-year scholarship from the Karnataka Sangeet Natak Academy. Kalpana later took up Kathak and currently continues advanced training under Guru Pandit Sontosh Kumar. She performs extensively in the Houston area and around the world.

In 2015, Kalpana moved back to Houston, where she had previously lived for several years before moving east for a while. She joined the Silambam faculty in October 2016. Kalpana is passionate about classical dance and brings an exciting new dimension to Silambam in the form of the unique Indian classical dance form Kathak.

Kalpana holds an Engineering degree, as well as a Masters in Computer Science from UH. She has two grown daughters and lives with her husband in the Energy Corridor area.

Supradipta Datta
Odissi

Supradipta has built a reputation as being an outstanding dancer with a natural flair for choreography. Supradipta was born in Kolkata India, and started learning Classical Indian dances at a tender age of 3, She trained in both in Bharat Natyam and Odissi, and has the rare distinction of completing her dance graduation "Sangeet Kriya Visharad" in both Bharat Natyam and Oddissi with top honors.

Supradipta is one of the most senior students of Nritya Shiromoni Guru Smt. Aloka Kanungo. Over the years she has been mentored by Padma Bibhushan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra. She has also blessed by the guidance of Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Smt. Sujata Mohapatra and Guru Monoranjan Pradhan.

Supradipta had been very active in the dance circuit in India. She has performed in prestigious dance festivals including the Khajuraho Dance Festival, the Konarak Dance Festival, the Puri Beach Festival and the First World Odissi Conference in Washington D.C. Supradipta was a regular artist at the national and network television of India. Her Odissi Dance was featured by the BBC in their documentary "In Search of Hinduism". She has worked in collaborations and other legendary dancers and musicians like Guru Smt. Kalavati Devi (Maha Raas) and Kanniks Kannikeswaran (Chitram).

Supradipta holds an MBA (Finance) from the Bauer School of Business Management Supradipta started Kalaangan, a dance school for Odissi in Houston. Kalaangan was the first school in the Greater Houston area which focussed solely on the practice and performance of Odissi. Kalaangan strives to educate our community about this beautiful art form and to help develop a passion for this style amongst the younger generation. Silambam is proud to partner with Kalaangan, and with Supradipta, in our shared mission to promote Indian arts.

Currently, Supradipta is also a faculty at Kala Bhavan, the center for visual and performing arts at the Houston Durga Bari Society.

Dr. Raji Natarajan
Carnatic Violin

Dr. Rajalaxmi Natarajan trained in vocal and instrumental music for several years at the Bhaktha Rasika Ranjani Sabha in Mumbai. She received music training from the late Shri P.N. Krishnamoorthy and Mrs. Jaya Subramaniam in Carnatic vocal music. She also trained in Carnatic violin under the tutelage of Shri. Kannan at the BRR Sabha. She is passionate about passing along the basics of this cultural tradition to the younger generation. She is a neuroscientist by profession, and pursues a full-time career as a science communicator in the Texas Medical Center.

Dr. Natarajan teaches classical music (vocal and violin) at Silambam, both as an ancillary subject for dance students and as a primary subject, in group and private lessons.

Shalini Srivathson
Carnatic Vocal

Shalini Srivathson is an accomplished Carnatic vocalist, versatile performer, and dedicated music educator with over four decades of musical experience. As a disciple of the legendary Sangita Kalanidhi Smt. R. Vedavalli, Shalini’s artistic foundation is rooted in the highest standards and rich lineage of the classical tradition. For the past 20+ years, Shalini has shared her passion through teaching, nurturing musical talent across all ages and skill levels. Her teaching combines a nurturing approach with classical discipline, successfully guiding countless students to achieve strong foundational excellence and a deep, lifelong appreciation for the art form. Shalini has performed in Chennai, India, and has also become a prominent voice in the cultural landscape of Houston, Texas; she has sung for numerous organizations and community events. She is an avid lover and skilled performer of film music and appreciates multiple genres. Shalini continues to share her immense knowledge and love for music with the next generation.

Dr. Mounika Karnam
Hindustani Vocal

Dr. Mounika Karnam began her journey in music at the age of four in Hyderabad. While she lived in the UK, she learned Carnatic vocal and violin at The Bhavan, London. She started her music training under the guidance of her Guru, Smt. Sudha Sharma and acquired a Visharad(Bachelor’s) in Hindustani Classical Music from Bhatkande Sangeet Vidyapeeth, New Delhi. She began performing at a young age and has since taken the stage across India, the UK, Canada, China, and the USA. Mounika is a medical graduate and also holds a master’s degree in healthcare administration. She is also a social media content creator and co-host of ‘What’s Your Sankalp?’, a podcast about the butterfly effect which delves into inspiring life stories and biographies from around the world. She has been teaching music since 2020, guiding students in both Australia and India. On a mission to preserve her cultural roots, Mounika continues to contribute and promote Hindustani classical music at Silambam.

Naga Srinidhi Kuruvada
Carnatic Percussion (Mridangam, Konnakol)

Meenakshi Balaji began learning dance at the age of four and has been training with Silambam for the past five years. She will be a freshman at the University of Houston, where she plans to major in Finance. Meena is passionate about sharing her love for dance and looks forward to helping her students build confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the art.

Naga Srinidhi Kuruvada has been learning Carnatic Mridangam from Gurus Vidwan Shri M Vasudeva Rao, Vidwan Shri S V Balakrishna and Vidwan Shri Mannargudi A Easwaran, as well as Vocal, since the age of five. He has performed extensively in India and the USA and won several awards in competitions held at the Madras Music Academy, Chennai, and at the Nada Brahma Sangeeta Sabha, Mysore. He is currently pursuing his Bachelor's degree at the University of Houston, and plays the cello in addition to the mridangam.

Jason Zinn
Hindustani Percussion (Tabla)

Jason Zinn is a disciple of Pandit Shantilal Shah, and has been playing the Tabla since 2007. As a student of Hindustani Classical Music, he learned in the traditional Guru Shishya Parampara, living directly with his Guru for 9 years. Jason regularly performs as an accompanist for Kathak dance, vocal, and instrumental music. In 2022, he performed with the Unbound production in New York and was part of the exciting Kathak Flamenco group Ritmo Zindagi in Houston, TX, for performances at the Miller Outdoor Theatre and San Jacinto College in 2019. Jason is excited to join the Silambam faculty and share his passion for Tabla with new students.

Dr. Rajarshi Bandyopadhyay
Sitar

Rajarshi Bandyopadhyay Dr. Rajarshi Bandyopadhyay started his musical journey with the Sitar at the tender age of 7 in Kolkata, India, under the tutelage of Pandit Monoj Shankar, one of the finest exponents of the Senia-Maihar Gharana and a teacher par excellence. His intense training following the Guru–Shishya Parampara, the traditional way of imparting training on Indian Classical Music, made him adept in this instrument. Rajarshi has been playing the instrument for more than 30 years and is currently a senior disciple of Sitar Maestro Pandit Partha Bose. Rajarshi has performed solo across venues in India, Denmark and the USA. He has also been part of several orchestra groups and has composed music for several plays and short films. Since coming to Houston in May 2021, Rajarshi has regularly performed in various prestigious venues – NASA Johnson Space Center, Asia Society Texas, Kaplan JCC, University of Houston, Houston Durga Bari Society, Stafford Civic Center – to name a few. Rajarshi holds a doctoral degree in Chemical Engineering and pursues a full-time career as an Innovation Technology Specialist with Braskem America, Inc. Rajarshi firmly believes in the therapeutic power of music and intends to spread awareness about the Sitar and Indian Classical Music in the Greater Houston area through Silambam.

Dr. Kavya Mathukumalli
Kuchipudi

Dr. Kavya Mathukumalli is an accomplished classical Indian dancer, choreographer, and scientist. An accomplished Kuchipudi dancer trained first under Guru Harirama Murthy and then under Dr. Sathyapriya Ramana and Guru Sailaja in the legendary Vempati Chinna Satyam lineage, she has performed on stages across the world and has been awarded the title of ‘Natya Ravali’. She joined the Silambam family in 2021, expanding into teaching and choreography, and serving as director of the Kuchipudi program as well as lead Kuchipudi choreographer for several of Silambam’s major productions, including Dance of the Cosmos (2022), Waking Up Free: India’s Journey (2023), and Kavya: Poetry In Motion (2026).

She has also trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan, and had her Bharatanatyam Ranga Pravhesham in 2026. Currently a Senior Scientist at Thermo Fisher Scientific, Kavya has continued to be associated with Silambam as a choreographer, faculty member, and performer. .

Preeti Krishnamani is an accomplished Kuchipudi dancer, choreographer, and educator. Immersed in Kuchipudi and Carnatic vocal music since the age of five, she underwent intensive training at the prestigious Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai, cultivating a deep mastery of the classical art form that earned her the "Natya Visharada" award in 2023. She has been deeply involved in collaborative productions, such as Tales in Thillana – Myths Unfolded and The Cosmic Dance of Shiva, that have graced prominent regional stages including Small Plates Austin and the Aimed Dance Summer Fest. Seamlessly blending artistic passion with exceptional intellect, Preeti also holds a degree in Biological Engineering and Management from MIT, bringing a unique analytical perspective and dedicated leadership to the cultural arts community.

Preeti Krishnamani
Kuchipudi

Karthika Haridas
Bharatanatyam (Heights location)
Carnatic Vocal Instructor

Faculty and Instructors

Dipika Pathak
Bharatanatyam

Dipika Pathak began her Bharatanatyam training in the Kalakshetra style under Kalaguru Dimple Deputy Shah at Kalashree Institution, Surat, Gujarat, India. She holds a B.A in Bharathanatyam from Gujarat state. She has performed at the National level in Gujarat, and has also performed in many dance festivals in all over India. She taught Bhatratanatyam for 8 years in India before moving to Texas in 2018, and is excited to continue her enthusiasm and love for Indian Classical dance with Silambam Houston. Dipika holds a Post-baccalaureate degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Chicago, IL and works as a Nutritionist.

Kaavya Rajarathnam
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal

Kaavya Rajarathnam had the great good fortune to be initated into Bharatanatyam by her MahaGuru, the legendary Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, in 2013. She has trained at Silambam under the tutelage of Mrs. Krithika Mohankumar and Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan ever since, while continuing to be mentored by Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, and Kalaimamani Priya Murle. Having completed her Ranga Pravesham in 2021, Kaavya has performed in various productions of the Silambam Houston Dance Company, including being a part of 'Waking Up Free: India's Journey' on the Company's tour to India. She was a student instructor from 2021-2025 prior to joining the Silambam faculty.

Karthika Haridas started her dance journey at the age of 6 under the guidance of Guru Smt. Charu Narasimham. For over 15 years, Karthika learned under Charuji, with skills ranging from basics to more advanced pieces. She completed her arangetram under the guidance of Smt. Anisha Rajesh in October 2022 and has continued her journey through teaching and performing at Silambam Houston since early 2024. She has toured with Silambam to perform in the famed Chennai Margazhi season in 2025, and performed in Silambam's original production 'Kavya: Poetry in Motion' at the Hobby Center in 2026 Along with being a classically trained dancer, Karthika has spent many years learning various other art forms. She started her Carnatic music training under her father from a very young age and has gone on to learn from many prestigious teachers over the years. Karthika had also completed years of Mridangam training under Vijay Ganesh and continues to show her love for the arts wherever she can. Karthika now works in the tech space and extends her talents in event management through wedding planning as well.

Shweta Srinivasan
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal

Shweta Srinivasan is a Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer, and teacher based in Dallas, Texas. Her training spans multiple lineages, including the Tanjavur bani under Smt. Gayatri Ramaratnam, and ongoing mentorship with Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan at Silambam Houston. Shweta has performed widely across India and the United States at prestigious venues and festivals. Her recent work includes presenting a collaborative production for AT&T Performing Arts Center's Elevator Project 2025 Series, a milestone that reflects her growing engagement with interdisciplinary and contemporary performance spaces. She has also performed as part of Silambam Houston's dance ensemble at renowned venues such as Moody Performance Hall and Miller Outdoor Theatre, among others. Recognized for her expressive abhinaya and a deeply communicative performance style, she has received several awards for her artistry. Her artistic goal is to immerse more deeply in the Bharatanatyam tradition while bringing it to global audiences, inviting viewers not only to witness the form, but to understand, question, and be enriched by its emotional, philosophical, and cultural depth.

Meenakshi Balaji
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal

Ariya Shah
Bharatanatyam

Ariya Shah began her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of five under the guidance of Mrs. Krithika Mohankumar and Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan at Silambam. Following the successful completion of her Ranga Pravesham in 2025, she has featured in several prestigious company productions, including ‘Ramaneeyam’ during its tour in India. Today, Ariya is deeply passionate about teaching, dedicated to sharing her love for the art form and inspiring the next generation of dancers.

Rishveda Shinoj
Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Vocal

Sruthi Srivathson is a vocalist who has been singing since the age of six. She is a disciple of Smt. Rajarajeshwary Bhat and her mother, Shalini Srivathson, both of whom have shaped her versatile musical foundation. Sruthi has performed across Texas and other cities in the U.S and India, where she has performed in Carnatic concerts, devotional programs, Bollywood and light music shows, and dance Arangetrams. A passionate contributor to the music community, Sruthi loves to perform and collaborate in projects that bridge tradition and modernity. She is also currently a Juris Doctor candidate at the Indiana University School of Law.

Sruthi Srivathson
Carnatic Vocal

Rishveda Shinoj is a high school senior at Carnegie Vanguard High School and a dancer at Silambam Houston. She began her Bharatanatyam training in 2020 and expanded into Mohiniyattam in 2024. She has performed widely in Silambam productions, including Kindred SOUL: The Legacy of King and Gandhi (2025) at the Miller Outdoor Theater and Kavya: Poetry In Motion (2026) at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts. Furthermore, she performed alongside her guru, Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan, and her peers in the thematic performance 'Ramaneeyam' at Kartik Fine Arts in Mylapore, Chennai, during the Chennai Margazhi festival in December 2025. Beyond her classical roots, Rishveda is an active student leader, varsity Cross Country Captain, and school Dance Officer. She balances her athletic stamina with sharp creative focus as she pursues advanced training in ABRSM classical piano.

Arts Apprenticeship Program

Our unique arts apprenticeship program provides pathways for students to train and gain experience in artistic skills other than performance - teaching, stage management, arts administration, communication, and more, while learning to navigate professional responsibilities. Learn more about this unique program here!

  • Supervisor: Krithika Mohankumar

    Junior Faculty: Ariya Shah, Kaavya Rajarathnam, Meenakshi Balaji, Rishveda Shinoj

    Senior Student Instructors: Jaanvi Patel, Reethi Kavaipatti

    Junior Student Instructors: Ankita Deenadayalan, Faiza Chatoor (Bharatanatyam & Kathak), Gayathri Jayakarmoorthy, Kaartik Gali, Kalyan Gali, Laya Keshav, Madhurabhashini Gowreesan, Prina Joshi, Shreya Vaithianathan, Smrithi Jayaraman, Veda Kaushik

    Trainee Student Instructors: Aarna Bhagat (Odissi), Annika Bhagat (Odissi), Aranya Yasa, Eva Kishore, Ivana Abhilash, Kavya Mathukumalli, Yavanasri Rajan

    *all are Bharatanatyam unless otherwise specified.

  • Supervisors: Anjali Kadur, Kaavya Rajarathnam

    Lead Tech / Second Tech: Meenakshi Balaji, Shreya Vaithianathan

    Second Tech: Madhurabhashini Gowreesan

    Trainee Techs: Aarna Bhagat, Ankita Deenadayalan, Annika Bhagat, Ariya Shah, Eva Kishore, Faiza Chatoor, Gayathri Jayakarmoorthy, Ivana Abhilash, Kaartik Gali, Kalyan Gali, Laya Keshav, Neha Shah, Prina Joshi, Vruti Patel, Yavanasri Rajan

  • Supervisors: Krithika Mohankumar (Office/Academy), Mridula Padmanabhan (Wardrobe), Shweta Srinivasan (Programs)

    Coordination:
    Academy Coordinator: Kaavya Rajarathnam
    Wardrobe Coordinators: Gayathri Jayakarmoorthy, Neha Shah (Kathak)
    Volunteer Coordinator: Vruti Patel

    Management:
    Office Managers: Ankita Deenadayalan, Ariya Shah, Gayathri Jayakarmoorthy, Meenakshi Balaji, Shreya Vaithianathan, Vruti Patel, Database Manager: Smrithi Jayaraman

    Interns:
    Office Interns: Aarna Bhagat, Aranya Yasa, Ivana Abhilash, Jaanvi Patel, Kaartik Gali, Kalyan Gali, Madhurabhashini Gowreesan, Prina Joshi, Yavanasri Rajan
    Wardrobe Interns: Eva Kishore, Prina Joshi

  • Supervisors:
    Social Media: Karthika Haridas
    Website: Anjali Kadur
    Blog:Lavanya Rajagopalan

    Content Creators & Reporters:
    Digital Content Creator: Ankita Deenadayalan
    Trainee Reporter: Newsletter/Blog: Ariya Shah, Annika Bhagat

    Communication Interns:
    Digital Content Interns: Jaanvi Patel, Madhurabhashini Gowreesan
    Website Intern: Prina Joshi

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Shweta Srinivasan
Programs Coordinator
Email

Anjali Kadur
Theater Manager
Email

Mridula Padmanabhan
Wardrobe Manager
Email

Kaavya Rajarathnam
Academy Coordinator
Email

YUVA Festival Co-coordinators
yuva@silambamhouston.org

Janani Ramachandran

Srinija Adibhatla