Beyond the Studio
Over the past 2 decades, our directors have engaged in a wide variety of programs that go beyond traditional performances -- from being active in the community to teaching & reaching diverse audiences.
Workshops & Master Classes
Both within and beyond the Indian arts community, Megha continues to design and teach masterclasses, workshops, and semester-length residencies that introduce Indian classical dance to non-Indian and interdisciplinary artists. Her sessions bridge movement, storytelling, and rhythm, fostering cultural dialogue and deeper creative exploration. These programs have been hosted in schools, universities, and community arts spaces.
Summer Camps/ Youth Programs
Building on Lakshmi’s legacy of creating the Natya Festival and Summer Arts Camps in Seattle, our St. Louis programs continue to offer youth immersive experiences that blend dance, theatre, music, and Indian cultural arts. Students engage in choreography, crafts, storytelling, and stage performance—celebrating culture while developing artistry, confidence, and collaboration.
Community Outreach
Lakshmi now serves as President of Abhinaya STL, helping expand access to Indian classical dance and music through performances, workshops, and cross-cultural initiatives. Megha’s mission -- through Janya Arts -- is to bridge Indian classical traditions with contemporary and global artistic practices & invite audiences into uniquely immersive experiences.
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Together, they draw inspiration from arts across disciplines and cultures, creating opportunities for dialogue, exchange, and community engagement. Whether through festivals, partnerships, or curated performances, their work continues to strengthen the presence of South Asian arts in the St. Louis cultural landscape.
Natya Festival
(Seattle, 2010)
Students from the Abhinay School of Dance taking part in the festival's preliminary rounds
About the Festival
In 2010, Lakshmi launched Seattle’s Natya Festival, a first-of-its-kind platform that welcomed dancers across categories—kids, advanced, and senior. Preliminary rounds were evaluated by teachers from across the dance community, and the finals were adjudicated by Rama Vaidyanathan. The festival’s transparent, community-centered format set a benchmark in Washington and inspired similar initiatives across the country.
Abhinay Fine Arts: Initiatives
Summer Camps
Through Abhinay Fine Arts, Lakshmi also created an immersive Summer Arts Camp that paired professional theatre direction with crafts, painting, and Indian cultural storytelling—all tying back to dance technique and choreography. Students explored stagecraft and collaboration, culminating in a final sharing that brought families and community together.
Our founder’s vision has always extended far beyond the classroom. In 2007, Lakshmi co-founded Abhinay Fine Arts and later helped establish Sangeetham (a recurring musical choir), both of which became cornerstones for South Asian classical arts in the Pacific Northwest. Through these initiatives, she brought quality music, dance, and cultural performances to the Seattle area—creating a vibrant ecosystem for artists and audiences that continues to thrive today.