Shanti Shanker considers herself fortunate to be trained in Bharatanatyam, from the age of 4, by Guru Rajee, from whom she has also learnt Nattuvangam, Tala Shastra and Natya Shastra. Rajee Aunty has not only imparted training in art, but has left an everlasting impression with values, tradition and passion for dance for an entire lifetime, claims Shanti.

She performed her Arangetram in 1997, participated in various dance dramas with Guruji at National Centre for the Performing Arts, Nehru Centre, Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha and others. She has also performed solo pieces and has given group performances at Kali Bari Mandir, Mylapore Fine Arts and Lalit Kala Akademi, Chennai.

She participated in the Nattuvangam workshop held at Nehru Centre, Mumbai. A keen dancer, she has choreographed and participated in various folk and tribal dances at school and college. At Ruia Junior College, she was adjudged the best student. She did her training in Nursery Class Organisation (E.C.C.Ed) from S.I.E.S., after which she graduated in Psychology from Vivekanand Education Society’s College of Arts, Science & Commerce. She has completed her Masters in Psychology and presented and co-authored various research papers, including a paper presentation in the South-Asian Regional Conference in Mumbai.

Shanti is settled in Secunderabad, where she also conducts Bharatanatyam classes and pursues a career in Psychology.

Shanti Shanker
shantishanker@rediffmail.com