About Arshia
It's All About My Story
My Roots, Tradition & Culture Shaped My Dance
With deep humility and reverence, I offer my pranams at the Divine Lotus Feet of Bhagawan Shri Sathya Sai Baba—my Guru, my guide, and the ever-present force in my life. I also extend my love and gratitude to my family, who have been my unwavering foundation.
I consider myself truly blessed to have been born into a family steeped in culture, tradition, and spirituality.
With the blessings of my beloved grandparents, (Natarajan, Jayalakshmi, Sundararaman, Rhama), I was fortunate to be raised within the loving and spiritually enriching fold of the Sathya Sai Baba family.
As I reflect on my early years, one thread has remained constant—my passion for dance. This journey began when I was just three years old, under the care of my first dance teacher. She welcomed me with warmth and saw in me a spark worth nurturing. With grace and strength, she embodied both elegance and power—qualities that mesmerized me. I still remember how she lovingly guided me through every position of each intricate Adavu, gently nurturing the spark of fascination I felt for this beautiful art form.
Early days at Sai Center
From a very young age, my parents recall how fond I was of dancing. I eagerly volunteered to perform in various plays at my Sai Center, sometimes even exploring styles like ballet. Seeing my enthusiasm, my parents enrolled me in Bharatanatyam classes—a classical dance form native to my homeland of Tamil Nadu.
Chandna Aunty, my guru, welcomed me with open arms. She didn’t focus on how young I was, but instead recognized my passion for dance. I always looked forward to class—not just for the dance itself, but for the joy of spending time with her. From the chocolates she’d sometimes bring for whoever held a pose the longest, to the sleepovers after class, to the laughter shared with all my Akkas, it became more than just training—it became a community.
Over the years, she guided me patiently from the foundational Adavus to more complex pieces like Jatiswarams, nurturing both my skill and love for the art.
Guru's Guidence
Global Dance Odyssey
Under the guidance of my guru, Smt. Chandna Aunty, I began to explore the intricate world of Bharatanatyam. At the tender age of three, she introduced me to all the mudras through a beautiful composition, which I performed at our annual day celebration. From there, my journey continued with compositions like Dolayam, Ganesha Koutvam, Natesha Koutvam, and Allaripu. I also won first prize at the Vibha Competition.
I performed at the Sacramento Dance Festivals and in various plays at my Sai Center, which offered larger platforms to express my passion for dance. I also performed at several local temples, including the Sri Panchamukha Hanuman Temple in Dublin.
A highlight of my journey has been the opportunity to dance at seven Ati Rudra Maha Yagnyams, in the divine presence of Omkareshwar and Swami. At the Sacramento Atirudram in 2022, I performed in a dance drama based on Devi Mahatmyam. In 2024, during the Atirudram held in New Jersey, I took part in another dance drama—this time narrating the entirety of the Shiva Puranam. While preparing for this performance, I also learned to edit and stitch music, giving me insight into the creative process beyond performance and shaping my growth as a complete dancer.
To my guru and dear friend, Chandna Aunty—you are the embodiment of patience and love. Your unwavering dedication to sharing the art of dance with me is a gift beyond measure. For twelve years, you have nurtured my understanding of Bharatanatyam and helped shape my deep passion for it. You welcomed me into your home during winter breaks, giving me the space and time to immerse myself fully in dance.
My most heartfelt gratitude goes to Kalaimamani Sri Suryanarayana Murthy, who taught me the posture, stamina, and discipline essential for Bharatanatyam, and who enriched my repertoire with his deep knowledge and guidance.
I am also grateful to my companions who have walked this dance-filled journey with me since childhood—Tanvi, Ghrini, Sukantha, Srushti, Apara, Poorna, Anvi, Nitya, and Sahaana. The memories of our sandwich parties after long, tiring classes will always hold a special place in my heart.
Dance will always be my passion, my life, my breath—an eternal part of me. It is not just movement; it is storytelling, expression, and emotion that will accompany me through every high and low in life.
Sathya Sai Baba & Parents Blessings
Dance Journey with Devotion and Grace
I am also ever so grateful to you for your deep spiritual devotion. You introduced me to Sathya Sai Baba and Swami Vasudevananda and opened the door to perform at various Ati Rudra Maha Yagnam- I am forever indebted. Blessed by Vasudevananda Swami, who wore my Arangetram dance bells, I felt deeply inspired to captivate the audience through my performance.
With all my heart, I want to thank my dear Mama, Sekhar Boddupalli. You created a beautiful platform for me to dance and introduced me to the spiritual dimensions of the art, deepening my understanding in ways I never imagined. Through your teachings of epic stories, the inner meanings of Vedic scriptures, and the deeper layers behind the lyrics of Kritis, you’ve given me a priceless gift. Your wisdom and unwavering support have been a strong pillar throughout my life. I am forever in your debt.
To my parents, you have been my number one supporter since day one and opened up doors and opportunities. You have stayed by my side with unwavering devotion through various times in my life and have always shown up. I look back at dance practice videos and see both my parents put time into making sure I perfected everything I learnt.
To my brother—you’ve always been by my side, my day one. For every single dance performance, you were there backstage, calming me down when I cried about a pin poking me or a headache setting in. You’ve always been the first person I run to when something’s wrong—even when you’d rather not deal with my “girl drama.” But no matter how much I write, I’ll never find the perfect words to express just how much I love you. Thank you for being my constant.
To my aunts, uncles, and cousins—Periamma (Akila), Periappa (Balaji), Chitthi (Irfana), Chithappa (Arun), Sainarayanan (Akul), and Sai Krishna (Krish)—your unwavering love and support mean the world to me.—your unwavering love and support mean the world to me. My aunts and uncles have always treated me like their own, offering care, encouragement, and constant presence throughout my journey. And my cousins have gone above and beyond what anyone could expect—more than what brothers do. The life advice you give and the way you always show up for me are things I cherish the most. I’m truly grateful to have you in my life.