About Smt. Sandhya Kandadai Rajagopal
Personal Profile
Smt. Sandhya Bhargavi Kandadai Rajagopal, Founder and Artistic Director of Bhargavi Bharata Natyalaya, is an Indian classical dancer, teacher and choreographer. Bhargavi Bharata Natyalaya is an institution promoting Bharatanatyam and striving to preserve the tradition.
Sandhya is also the Founder of Bhargavi Arts Academy, a Non-Profit Organization to promote Indian Classical Performing Arts and Music. She has been teaching in the greater Seattle area for more than a decade now. Smt. Sandhya has received her formal training in various styles of Indian Classical Dance like Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi from several Gurus. She feels fortunate to have come under the tutelage of Dr. Janaki Rangarajan who is a world-renowned Bharatanatyam exponent.
Smt. Sandhya has choreographed and presented dance programs and dance dramas for numerous cultural events in USA. She created and choreographed several productions on many concepts. Many of her students have done Arangetrams and are pursuing this art form. Her students have won several awards in regional and national competitions in Classical Dance. She has served as judge in many competitions held in various organizations. She is a well-known senior artist in the Greater Seattle Region. She entered the Asia Book of Record's, India Book of Record's for the 50 Jathi Challenge conducted by Kalaimamani Madurai R. Muralidharan. She was selected as Master Artist consecutively for 2 years in a row for the Heritage Arts Apprenticeship Program by, an initiative by WA State. She strives to preserve this art and pass on to the future generations to come. Now, she continues to run her dance school while completing her PhD in Bharatanatyam at the Vedic Wellness University
Experience
2008-Present
Bhargavi Bharata Natyalaya
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I have conceptualized, choreographed, and directed nearly 13 Mega Dance Ballets which were very well received by the audience.
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Women Ikon Title winner for 2023, 2020, 2019.
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Women Entrepreneur Award in the year 2016.
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Entered the Asia Book of Records, India Book of Records in the year 2021 for 50 Jathi Challenge.
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1st price in Dance Competition conducted by Dance Idol in India.
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Got selected as Master Artist consecutively for 2 years in a row in Heritage Apprenticeship Arts Program.
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I was interviewed by a local YouTube Channel to give a discussion on Bharatanatyam and its relevance in today’s world.
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I was also published in the recent local online newspaper “Sammamish Independent” mentioning my contributions to Arts and Culture in the community.
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Gave a lecture demonstration to Issaquah School Staff members in 2018 to nearly 90 people about “Bharatanatyam” and its history.
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Conducted many workshops for outsiders apart from my school students.
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Invited and hosted many great artists to Seattle for workshops and performances to promote the rich Indian Culture and Heritage.
1997-2003
Performances
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Gave nearly 200 performances in India and abroad.
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I also choreographed dances for many songs and taught dance to school and college friends, winning several awards in local schools & college dance competitions.
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Served as Cultural Representative consecutively for 3 years in college.
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Gave a lecture demonstration to nearly 700 people in Shilparamam, Hyderabad in 2002 about Indian Classical Dance and its importance.
1990-1997
Telugu University
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Completed Masters in Bharatanatyam from Telugu University, while volunteering as a teacher's assistant at the same University.
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Performed in a local Television Channel Doordarshan 1992.