Agni Nritya Academy

**A long overdue post… but some memories deserve to be cherished forever. ❤️**

Agni Nritya Dance Academy is immensely proud to share the successful completion of the **Arangetram** of our dear students, **Aahaeli Patel** and **Pratya Manjunathan**.

An Arangetram is never just about a performance. It is the culmination of years of dedication, discipline, perseverance, and love for this beautiful art form. What the audience sees on stage is only a small glimpse of the countless hours of rehearsals, corrections, laughter, challenges, and memories that lead up to that special day.

Watching Aahaeli and Pratyanka grow from little girls learning their very first adavus to confident young dancers presenting a full margam was truly an emotional and proud moment for me. Every rehearsal, every correction, every conversation, and every milestone brought us one step closer to this day. Seeing them perform with confidence, grace, and maturity made every bit of the journey worthwhile.

A heartfelt gratitude goes to **Ami and Nilesh Patel**, and **Manju and Manjunathan**. Thank you for believing in me, trusting my decisions, and standing beside your daughters throughout this journey. Thank you for every rehearsal, every schedule adjustment, every ride, every word of encouragement, all the amazing food and for making this journey so smooth. An Arangetram is truly a family effort, and your support made all the difference.

We were once again blessed to have the same incredible orchestra by our side, and I couldn't have asked for a better team.

My heartfelt thanks to **Smt. Prithi Narasimhan** for her soulful vocals, **Sri. Sriram Ayyappan** for the energetic mridangam, **Sri. Uma Mahesh Iyer** for the beautiful violin, and **Sri. Gautham Narasimhaprasad** for the enchanting flute. Every time I have the opportunity to work with this wonderful team, they elevate the performance to another level. Their music doesn't simply accompany the dancers—it gives life to every piece, making the entire experience magical.

A special thank you to our wonderful MCs—**Adhithi Ramprakash, Sweta Mohan, and Sharikkaa Shanker**—for presenting the evening so beautifully. Your confidence, warmth, and effortless flow kept the audience engaged and made every transition seamless.

To my daughters, **Ranjana Ram** and **Bhavana Balaji**, thank you for taking complete ownership of stage management. I never once had to turn around to see if things were running on time because I knew everything backstage was in safe hands. From organizing every transition to making sure everyone was where they needed to be, you both worked tirelessly behind the scenes. Watching both of you handle such responsibility with confidence and maturity made me incredibly proud.

A very special thank you to my sister, **Abirami Balaji**. She stood beside me through every rehearsal, every discussion, and every little detail that goes into preparing for a day like this. Having someone who understands this journey the way she does is a blessing, and I truly could not have done this without her.

My heartfelt thanks also to **Sankari** for taking care of the beautiful hairdos and to **Anju** for the makeup that brought the complete look together so perfectly.

A big thank you to Balaji Subramanian for capturing timeless memories through your stunning photography and Venkat Jonnada for the wonderful videography that will help us cherish this day forever.

A special thank you to **Vaishnavi, Aishwarya, Anita, and Binal** for their wonderful green room support. From helping the girls get ready to making sure everything stayed organized and calm behind the scenes, your presence and support meant so much and helped the program move smoothly.

My heartfelt pranams to my beloved Guru, **Smt. Radhika Ganesh**. She instilled in me not only a love for Bharatanatyam but also the values that come with being a student of this art. I will forever remain indebted to her.

My respectful namaskarams to Guru**Kalaimamani Madurai R. Muralidaran**,
I feel especially blessed that many of the beautiful pieces presented during this Arangetram were his compositions. His
musical creations brought such richness and beauty to the performance, and I am deeply grateful for his continued guidance and blessings.

Last, but certainly not the least, my husband Ram. Thank you for the beautiful stage décor for Lord Nataraja and the incredible lighting that brought the entire production to life. Behind every performance was your quiet dedication and countless hours of work. You have always been the one who puts me in the spotlight while choosing to remain behind the scenes yourself. Your unwavering support, humility, and selflessness never go unnoticed. None of this would have been possible without you. Thank you for always being my biggest strength. ❤️

Thank you to every volunteer, friend, family member, and well-wisher who helped in ways both big and small. Whether you were on stage, behind the curtains, welcoming guests, or quietly helping wherever needed, your contribution made this day possible. No Arangetram is ever the work of one person—it truly takes a village.

Looking back at these pictures brings back so many wonderful memories. It is hard to believe that this journey has already come to an end. If there were a rewind button, I would gladly relive every rehearsal and every moment all over again.

Thank you to everyone who came, blessed the girls, encouraged us, and celebrated this milestone with our Agni family. Your love, support, and blessings mean more than words can express.

Please enjoy these beautiful memories with us as we relive a day that will forever hold a special place in our hearts. ❤️🙏

The 22nd year of Plano AsiaFest 2026 showcased the rich cultures of Asia through music, food, and numerous cultural demonstrations and performances.

Agni Nritya Academy is proud to have been invited to perform and showcase the talents of our senior students. Our talented dancers lit up the stage and enthralled the audience with their grace and amazing footwork. All three of them owned the stage with so much passion, grace, and elegance.

Their hard work and unwavering spirit truly shone through in every step. The roaring cheers and applause after their performance were proof of the girls absolutely crushing it on stage. They were appreciated not only for their dance, but also for the attention to detail in their costumes and makeup.

A proud and memorable moment for all of us!

We are starting a new batch for small kids from the age of 5 on Thursday evenings at 6pm.

Our guru Gayathri Ram choreographed the Kuralisai naatyam for the MTS chithirai thiruvizha celebration along with gurus of other dance schools,Bharathashetra Dance and Naatyalaya in DFW.