Kalyani is a truly dedicated exponent of Bharatanatyam. She became a well-accomplished dancer and performer through her training at Kalakshetra, the leading cultural institution for fine arts in India. She is fortunate to have received tutelage from Smt. Sarada Hoffman, and received direction from the late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale while participating in the Kalakshetra dance dramas. Upon graduating from Kalakshetra in 1974, she extensively toured and performed in Sri Lanka along with other Kalakshetra graduates.
Kalyani has a relentless love for Bharatanatyam and has dedicated her life to the propagation of this divine classical art. She initially taught at numerous institutions in Sri Lanka and then after moving to Los Angeles, founded the Shiva Jyothi School of Dance in North Hills California, in 1990. In 1996, with the support of Sri Bhagavatalu Seetarama Sarma of India, the school was renamed as the Kalapeetham School of Dance. Kalyani has dedicated the past 50+ years of her life to training, molding, and inspiring her students. Over the years she has conducted over 75 Arangetrams. Many of her senior students are currently instructors at Kalapeetham and also continue to perform as professional artists both in the U.S. and abroad.
Tharini Shanmugarajah is an accomplished professional Bharatanatyam dancer whose impeccable technique reflects a prestigious lineage of dancers and educators. She received her initial training under her mother, Smt. Kalyani Shanmugarajah, Artistic Director of Kalapeetham and an alumna of Kalakshetra. In 2008, Tharini began advanced training under her guru and mentor, Sri Sheejith Krishna (Director, Sahrdaya Foundation, Chennai). She has also had the privilege of studying abhinaya under the acclaimed exponent Smt. Bragha Bessel.
In addition to Bharatanatyam, Tharini has trained in ballet since the age of four and studied Carnatic music for many years under Smt. Sankari Senthilkumar. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Dance from California State University, Northridge in 2013.
After presenting her Arangetram (solo debut) in 2002, Tharini established the performing wing of the Kalapeetham School of Dance in 2005 with the vision of using dance as a vehicle for service. Under her leadership, the Kalapeetham Dance Company has raised over $200,000 for various nonprofit organizations.
Tharini has performed extensively across India and the United States. In 2012, she was featured in the prestigious Spirit of Youth Festival at the Music Academy, Madras. In 2015, she performed in Sheejith Krishna’s production Don Quixote, which premiered at the Music Academy, Madras, and subsequently toured fifteen U.S. cities, including a performance at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C. She appeared in MARA at the Ford Amphitheater in Hollywood in both 2013 and 2016. In 2024, she was one of the featured dancers in Dr. Gowri Ramnarayan’s production Magic Bow, which toured the United States in the spring. Most recently, she marked her return to the Chennai stage with a full-length solo performance in December 2025.
Beyond her accomplishments in dance, Tharini is also a skilled makeup artist specializing in dance, beauty, and theater. She currently serves as Co-Director of the Kalapeetham School of Dance and remains deeply committed to teaching and nurturing a love and appreciation for Bharatanatyam among the students of the Kalapeetham family.
