I'm Shoba Narayan (nee Parvathi Dandapani), one of the senior students of ‘Aunty’ - Guru Smt. Rajee Narayan and I live in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, with my husband, Narayan and our two children. Narayan is also a singer and composer of Hindustani music and in India, he was also an artiste with AIR, Mumbai.

First and foremost, I have to thank my parents for taking me to the right Guru, which is so important for a student.

In Guru Rajee, I found an ‘all-encompassing’ teacher, who trained me in not just the Natyam of Bharata, but Natyam in all aspects related to it. All her students are lucky to receive training in Nattuvangam, Natya Sastra and of course, Carnatic Music.

I conduct the Nritya Geethanjali branch here and two of my students, Kanaka and Nivedhitha Meyyazhagan had their Arangetram on 22nd November, 2003. They are very hard-working, sincere students and all their practice and hard work paid off on stage.

It is during these times that I thank God for Aunty’s training. I don't have to look very far for singers or nattuvanars, as I am able to play both these roles myself, with another singer for vocal support. I remember when I was a student, Aunty would encourage us to do the nattuvangam, singing, compering or the make-up, for programmes and arangetrams. These experiences have given me the confidence to take up any role and play it well. It has made an immense difference to me, as a performer and teacher, that I was with one Guru all through my formative years.

In conclusion, I must say that the amazing repertoire of songs that we have in Nritya Geethanjali will last us a lifetime. People always comment about the novelty and variety of the items and I feel proud to say that these songs are exclusive to Nritya Geethanjali. Aunty, thank you for being my Guru and teaching me all that I know. The thirty-plus years that I have been with you have enriched my life and hopefully made me a good Guru. May God bless you with good health, so you may continue to compose and teach and may all dance and music enthusiasts benefit from it.

Your ever-grateful ‘Shishya’
Shoba (Parvathi) Narayan