Sankhya - Thematic Music and Dance Performance

Sankhya (Numbers)

A Vibrant Celebration of Numbers and Dance

Conceptualized and Choreographed by:

Smt. Sangeetha Agarwal

Artistic Director, Hastaswara Performing Arts

www.hastaswara.com

Year 2025 marks Sangeetha's fifteen years of teaching Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music in the DMV metro area. With her natural flair for teaching, she hopes to spread the joy of dance and music for many more years to come.

About the Show:

Sankhya is a full-length performance that celebrates the interplay of numbers and the art of dance. Each sequence in Sankhya serves as a journey through the power and symbolism of numbers, with intricate patterns and fluid movements, offering the audience a unique and thought-provoking experience. The performance bridges the abstract world of mathematics with the expressive beauty of Bharatanatyam, bringing numbers to life through dynamic choreography and artistic expression.

Event Details:

• Participants: All students of Hastaswara Performing Arts

• Date: June, 07, 2025

• Venue: Westfield High School, Chantilly

• Dinner: Please join us for dinner after the show.

• Dress Code: The audience is requested to wear burgundy or hues of burgundy to the show.

• Entrance: The venue has multiple entry doors. Please enter through Door 14

• Parking: There is plenty of parking in front of the auditorium - Do not park more than 2 cars in the bus parking lanes. There is overflow parking in the school if additional parking is needed.

About the Guru – Smt. Sangeetha Agarwal: Sangeetha Agarwal, trained in the prestigious Kalakshetra style of dance, began learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 3.5 years and trained under Kumari Prasannavadani, a disciple of Kalakshetra in Chennai. She completed her Arangetram under the presence of Smt. S. Sarada of Kalakshetra at age 10.

Sangeetha has performed in several prestigious venues in India and the United States, including the Cherry Blossom Centennial celebration, the International Showcase at the World Bank, and the National Council of Asian Indian Associations event, attended by dignitaries from the Indian government.

In addition to her dance expertise, Sangeetha is well-versed in Carnatic music and has trained under Smt. Vijayam in Chennai. Her forefathers were renowned musicians Chinna Vaidyanatha Iyer and Periya Vaidhyanatha Iyer at Tanjore King's court, and she continues to honor their legacy through her work.

Awards and Recognition:

• Sangeetha received Governor’s Citation from the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia for enriching the lives of Virginia residents through Dance and music.

Sangeetha’s Community Involvement:

Sangeetha Agarwal has been actively involved in various non-profit organizations and fundraising events, supporting causes such as:

• South Asian Dance Evolution – supporting joint surgical mission trips to Sri Lanka and the Philippines.

• Unique Foundation Inc. – raising money for cancer research.

• Empowers, Inc. – supporting educational initiatives for underprivileged children in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh.

• Murugan Temple of North America – organizing fundraising programs featuring Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music

  
  

Thematic Productions:

Sangeetha has produced full length productions - Kamalambal Kataksham - a thematic dance production on Sri Muthuswamy Dikshitar’s Navavarna Kritis and Namami Venkatesam - a full length dance production telling the story of Lord Srinivasa and his wedding to Padmavathi Devi. These productions were very well received by the local community.

Guest Lecturer of Carnatic Music - University of Mary Washington:

Sangeetha has been regularly lecturing on topics of Carnatic Music and teaching music compositions to International students from University of Mary Washington's music department.

About Hastaswara Performing Arts:

Founded by Sangeetha Agarwal, Hastaswara Performing Arts aims to promote and spread the classical art forms of Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music in Northern Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. The name “HastaSwara” combines Hasta (hand gestures in Bharatanatyam) and Swara (musical note), reflecting the school’s dedication to South Indian classical arts.

Motto: Finding Happiness through Dance and Music

We hope you will join us for this unique and inspiring performance, where art, culture, and numbers come together to create a truly special experience.