BREATHE MOVE IMAGINE - "When we behold dance, the world is seen as it truly is - sacred."
09/03/2026
Our Summer Intensive 2026, conducted exclusively for Natya students, was a wonderful week of learning, exploration, and coming together. Students had the opportunity to deepen their practice, explore new ideas, and learn through movement, music, and conversations. A special time to learn, grow, and share the joy of dance together.
Pictures by: Ranj Raj
09/01/2026
We are delighted to announce Rasa Sutra - From Tapestry to Tradition.. An afternoon celebrating the artistry, people, memories, and traditions that have shaped Natya Dance Theatre over the years.
Join us on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at The Rookery Building in Chicago as we come together to celebrate 50 years of legacy and the many threads that continue to make Natya what it is today.
We look forward to sharing this special afternoon with you.
Tickets available on the link in our bio.
For years, Sri Vijayaraghavan on mridangam, Sri Kalaiarasan on violin, and Smt. Chitrambari Krishnakumar on vocals have accompanied Natya’s dancers across numerous productions in Chicago.
Here, they share memories from their many years with Natya and the journey they have shared with us. We are deeply grateful for their music, their support, and their enduring association with Natya.
08/21/2026
Our Arangetram girls from 2025 and 2026, all in one frame.
Different journeys, different stories, and different stages, but one shared love for Bharatanatyam. It has been so special watching each of these girls prepare, grow and take the stage for their Arangetram. Here’s a little moment with our dancers, off stage and together.
08/18/2026
Natya Dance Theatre presents Devatma: The Divine Essence, choreographed by Hema Rajagopalan, as part of the Jeernodharana Celebrations at The Hindu Temple of Greater Chicago.
On Sunday, August 23, 2026 | 5:00 PM
At Sama Rathi Auditorium, Lemont, Illinois
All are welcome.
08/17/2026
We are delighted to announce Rasa Sutra - From Tapestry to Tradition.. An afternoon celebrating the artistry, people, memories, and traditions that have shaped Natya Dance Theatre over the years.
Join us on Sunday, November 15, 2026, at The Rookery Building in Chicago as we come together to celebrate 50 years of legacy and the many threads that continue to make Natya what it is today.
We look forward to sharing this special afternoon with you.
Tickets available on the link in our bio.
Akshara takes the stage for a moment we have all been looking forward to.
From her earliest days as a little dancer to the countless hours of practice that have brought her here, we are incredibly proud of the journey she has taken. Under the guidance of her gurus, Smt. Hema Rajagopalan and Smt. Krithika Rajagopalan, she has grown not just as a dancer, but as an artist. As Hema Rajagopalan’s granddaughter and Krithika’s daughter, this evening is also a beautiful continuation of a legacy that means so much to her and to all of us.
We are grateful to the wonderful team of musicians accompanying Akshara, Vijayaraghavan on mridangam, Kalaiarasan on violin, and Chitrambari Krishnakumar on vocals, and to Murugan for lights and Karl King for sound, who will help bring the evening together.
The evening is extra special with flautist J. A. Jayant accompanying her tomorrow. His presence in the orchestra and the effort he has made to be here and share in this milestone makes it especially meaningful.
With Akshara, we arrive at the final leg of Natya’s Arangetram season, our 14th and final Arangetram. It is a moment of immense pride for all of us at Natya.
Come celebrate this beautiful milestone with us. All are welcome. We would love to see you there.
08/05/2026
Three generations. One enduring legacy. A new chapter begins.
For fifteen years, Akshara Ramachandran has immersed herself in the discipline and artistry of Bharatanatyam. Guided by Guru Hema Rajagopalan and Krithika Rajagopalan, she now takes the stage for a milestone that celebrates not only years of dedicated training, but a legacy lovingly nurtured across three generations.
As she prepares to begin her next journey, exploring the intersection of neuroscience and dance at Case Western Reserve University, this Arangetram marks both the culmination of one chapter and the beginning of another.
Join us in celebrating Akshara’s Bharatanatyam Arangetram.
McAninch Arts Center
Saturday, August 8, 2026 | 5:00 PM
08/04/2026
Years of dedication, unwavering discipline, and countless hours of practice culminated in a truly memorable Bharatanatyam Arangetram.
Congratulations to Lakshmi Sundaram on reaching this significant milestone. Her performance was a beautiful reflection of the hard work, perseverance, and passion she has nurtured over years of training.
As she embarks on the next chapter of her artistic journey, we wish Lakshmi continued joy, growth, and success as she carries the art of Bharatanatyam forward. Congratulations once again on this well-deserved achievement.
Photos by: Varnam Studio LLC
Happy Guru Purnima. ✨
At Natya’s Summer Intensive 2026, our students come together to learn dance and so much more.
This Guru Purnima, they took a moment to share the significance of this special day and reflect on the timeless bond between a guru and shishya.
One of many meaningful moments of learning, gratitude, and tradition shared together.
| Monday | 9am - 5pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 5pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 5pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
| Saturday | 9am - 5pm |
| Sunday | 9am - 5pm |