Sivagami Vanka, Founder/Director
Sivagami Vanka is the founder and director of the Kalabharathi School of Dance in Portland, Oregon.
As a dancer, she is known for her abhinaya (story telling) and maturity in portraying various characters in her dances. She has given dance performances in several cities in India, Africa, USA and Europe. As a skillful choreographer, she has produced several elegant works that dealt with subjects ranging from ancient Hindu mythology to modern social themes. She is the recipient of numerous grants from the Regional Arts and Culture Council and has become a well recognized ambassador for Indian classical dance for the community in Portland. Through collaborations with multi-cultural art groups, she has given her students opportunities for choreographic performances that have been well applauded by the community. She believes in dancing from the heart while nurturing a love for dancing in her young students. Her warm and caring disposition compliments her rigor in eliciting the very best from her students.
