Chitra Visweswaran
Managing Trustee | Guru
Chitra Visweswaran, a legend in the field of Indian dance, is an eminent dancer, intuitive teacher, choreographer par excellence, composer and lyricist and has the distinction of being a scholar, thinker and seeker. It is this aesthetic vision that has seen her art transcend and go beyond grammar and technique , to touch and evoke in the viewer, a unique aesthetic and spiritual experience. Her enquiring , scholastic mind has seen her stretch the parameters of dance and dance scholarship, as she continues to perform and lecture across the globe.
Intent on passing on this tradition to following generations, Chitra and Visweswaran, the much acclaimed and unique dancer-singer , choreographer-composer pair, established Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts in 1974, introducing a new holistic vision and approach to dance training.
Known as an extraordinary choreographer, Chitra Visweswaran, in collaboration with musician composer husband, R.Visweswaran, has created a voluminous body of work, covering several margams, thematic solo, group and dance theatre productions, which reflect individuality , are a synergy of tradition, innovation and the contemporary, each a gem, unique to Chitra and her style propagated by her only at Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts and it affiliate institutions.
Chitra Visweswaran’s passion for dissemination of arts has led to her creating several outreach programs, especially in non metros and grassroot levels, targeting the less privileged.
Sukanya Ravindhar
Dancer | Teacher | Arts Administrator
Due to Smt. Sukanya’s unflinching devotion to the Art form and loyalty to Chidambaram Academy Of Performing Arts, Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar was recently handed over the Directorship of CAPA. The Directorship chair was kept unoccupied for the last 16 years since the demise of Sri, Visweswaran and with Ms. Sukanya Ravindhar we now have a deserving occupant.
Sukanya Ravindhar has studied Bharatanatyam from Padmashri Smt Chitra Visweswaran and has been part of Smt Chitra Visweswarans’s dance institution, Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai for over 30 years. She has chosen to specialise in dance dramas and dance theatre productions of the institution. She has been part of several mega productions of the Academy. Sukanya has had the privilege of learning nattuvangam (the complex art of wielding the cymbals) from her Guru, Smt Chitra Visweswaran. She has been performing nattuvangam for her Guru since 1993.
Sukanya Ravindhar is a dedicated and sensitive Acharya, who teaches and trains students in the holistic tradition, designed and developed by her Guru Smt Chitra Visweswaran. Sukanya has completed an advanced teachers training course and is at present the Deputy Director & senior most faculty member at Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA). She is also the Centre Head for the ECR Branch of CAPA, wherein she teaches beginners, as well as advanced students.
Her training in the teaching methodology of International Baccalaureate® through Grassroots Global School of which she was Founder/Trustee, has inspired and prompted her to bring in new age concepts and promote an inquiry-based approach to teaching and learning of the arts.
Sharmada Vishwanath
Dancer | choreographer
Sharmada Vishwanath began her journey in Bharatanatyam at the tender age of five, under the tutelage of her Guru, the legendary dancer and choreographer, Smt. Chitra Visweswaran (Padma Shri awardee) and Pracharya Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar at Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) in Chennai.
She began and continues to learn finer nuances of Bharatanatyam through her advanced training under the guidance of her Guru and Pracharya which has paved the way for her to develop herself as a solo and an ensemble artist.
Sharmada has also completed her teacher training course at CAPA under the guidance of Smt. Chitra Visweswaran and Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar and continues to train students at the beginner, intermediary and advance level.
She is at present also training in the art of Nattuvangam under Smt Sukanya Ravindhar.
Sai Priya Senthil Vasan Dancer | Teacher | Social Media Manager
Saipriya Senthil Vasan, a talented and passionate dancer, has been learning Bharatanatyam at Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts since 2007 . She successfully completed her Arangetram in the year 2017 under the tutelage of our Guru, Smt. Chitra Visweswaran and Pracharya Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar.
Being a dedicated student for the past 19 years, Saipriya has been an important part of the institution’s journey. She is a soloist and has received the “Best Performer Award” from Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha and the “Kartik Promising Artist Award” from Kartik Fine Arts, in addition to winning several dance competitions.
Saipriya is an active member of the Chidambaram Dance Company, the performing wing of CAPA, and has been part of several acclaimed dance productions, such as Skaandam, Anubhuti, and Panchali.
Saipriya is a staff member at CAPA, having completed her teacher training at CAPA ,aiming to give back to the art form through teaching and nurturing young talent.
Saipriya feels immensely blessed and fortunate to learn this divine art form under the guidance of our Guru, Chitra Akka and Pracharya, Sukanya Akka. She believes that her training in CAPA has not only deepened her understanding of the art form and its values but has also instilled in her the importance of discipline, hard work, persistence and time management – skills that help her effectively balance various challenges of life.
She is presently also working as a Software Engineer, while continuing to actively pursue and nurture her passion for dance.
Sankriti Krishnan Dancer | Teacher | Arts Manager
Sankriti Krishnan has been a student of the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) since 2002, training under Guru Smt. Chitra Visweswaran and Praacharya Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar. She completed her arangetram in 2015 and has since continued her journey as a senior student and teacher at the institution.
She completed the teachers’ training programme at CAPA in 2019 and has been teaching students at the Academy since then. Alongside teaching, she is actively involved in the institution’s work and works closely with Praacharya Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar on the administrative aspects of the academy.
She holds an academic background in engineering and arts management, with a master’s degree in arts management from King’s College, London. She has been part of group productions of the institution, and was also involved administratively in Dance Unbound: Celebrating Chitra Visweswaran at 75 in collaboration with her Praacharya, Smt. Sukanya Ravindhar and Shreya Nagarajan Singh Arts Development Consultancy.
Having trained at CAPA for over two decades, dance continues to be a very important part of her life. She hopes to continue learning, performing and supporting students in their own journeys with Bharatanatyam.
Aparna Rajagopalan Dancer | Teacher
Aparna Rajagopalan is a passionate and dedicated member of the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA), deeply connected to the art of dance and its rich traditions. Her journey began in 2004, and over the decades, dance has shaped her discipline, her expression, and her deep appreciation for this timeless art form.
She has had the immense privilege of training under the esteemed guidance of her Guru, Smt. Chitra Visweswaran, and Praacharya Sukanya Ravindhar, whose teachings remain a constant source of inspiration. Under their tutelage, Aparna not only honed her technical skills but also gained a profound understanding of the cultural and spiritual essence of dance.
Today, as a staff member at the very institution that nurtured her, Aparna finds it a true honor to give back to her roots. She is committed to supporting and inspiring students in their own artistic journeys, while striving to carry forward the values, knowledge, and traditions so generously imparted by her Guru.
Saraswathi Krishnan Community Liaison
Saraswathi Krishnan started her career with NIIT as a Systems Associate, and has always been passionate about teaching. She has the experience of teaching people from different walks of life – company executives, home makers, children, and people with special needs.
She is proficient in teaching, system development and software testing skills in the software industry with 10 years of experience at Progress Software Development Private Limited.
She has been providing Academic Content Development consulting to Kognify Assessment and Skill Development Pvt Ltd, since July 2018.
Saraswathi has joined CAPA in a voluntary capacity, as Community Liaison, and will be involved in creating a seamless connection between our institution and the community. She will be our personal contact for the institution’s new admissions and enquiries.
