"The day the student truly owns the stage is the day I have fulfilled my duties as a Guru."
- Smt. Shiva Mathur
ACADEMY GRADUATES
The Kathak Pranam, Taal Praveen, and Dhol Praveen Ceremonies are significant milestones in a student’s life. When the Guru deems fit, select students audition for the opportunity to showcase their skills in a solo performance as a graduation ceremony. It does not mark the end of their training, but rather the beginning of a new kind - the art of performing on stage. Smt. Shiva Mathur is known to administer a live pareeksha, or test, on stage, testing the confidence, skill, and passion of the student. The most famous aspect of the graduation ceremony is the "Self-Composed” - a unique, original concept initiated by Smt. Shiva Mathur in 2007. This item is entirely directed by the student with limited guidance from the Guru and is mandatory for each Kathak, Tabla, and Dholak graduate of the school. Shivangini Academy is proud to see their graduates use their art to navigate the world as emerging leaders, choreographers, and visionaries in their respective professional fields.
AMITA BATRA
LEARNED KATHAK FOR 10+ YEARS
"There is so much for me to say about my time and learning with Shiva Aunty that is hard to fit in just a few sentences but I'd start off by saying that it's a large part of the foundation of who I am both professionally and personally. Being in her presence growing up was truly like having an additional maternal figure my life who enabled me to recognize and exercise my passion for the arts, and even though it has been some time since I've been a part of the academy, I know that the bond and love we share is permanent/cannot be touched by anything.
Of the many lessons, my favorite from Shiva Aunty was her emphasis on developing students as creative, free-thinking storytellers in addition to immense technical knowledge. To find a dance teacher who will push you to think creatively is rare and for that I'm infinitely grateful.
From the foundation that I gained from Shiva Aunty, I did go on to continue my Kathak training under various different gurus til date & can finally say that I've created a career for myself as an independent choreographer that draws from all of my experiences, of which knowledge of Kathak and the lessons of life that I gained from Shiva Aunty are a large part. Credits include NBC-Universal, various theater productions in New York, and a series of independent works. Without my time at the academy, I may not have ever taken the path to become an artist and I owe it to Shiva Aunty for instilling in me the knowledge and confidence to do it. Many thank yous to her and lots of love."
Shomik Verma
LEARNED TABLA FOR 12 YEARS
"Shiva Aunty is a fantastic guru and I am honored to have been able to learn from her. Not only is she incredibly loving and caring, but she also empowers students to be their best in both the art form and life in general. As a result, I've learned the value of persistence and daily practice in developing any skill. Shiva Aunty is also unique as she encourages students to expand their knowledge and experiences beyond the standard curriculum. Using these skills, I've been fortunate the lead the Indian classical music group at Duke, playing with both Hindustani and Carnatic singers, as well as a fusion band at Cambridge, playing with a Carnatic vocalist, guitarist, and flautist. I'm forever grateful for everything Shiva Aunty has taught me."
Riya Solanki
LEARNED KATHAK FOR 12 YEARS
"My dance experience was very special to me, and it would not have been possible without Shiva Aunty. I was not sure if dance was for me at first, but Aunty pushed my abilities beyond my imagined limits as a dancer and a person. These art forms are at the core of Shiva Aunty's spirit, for sure, and she takes them very seriously. But somehow we joke and laugh for so many hours in the process. I learned creativity, perseverance, and hard work every week. We were constantly challenged to come up with ideas and plan out their implementation. These are things I use every day working in tech, though I had no idea I was developing these skills as a Kathak student. Going on this journey with Shiva Aunty was the one of the most transformative parts of growing up. I wouldn't change a thing."
Siddarth Satish
LEARNED TABLA FOR 12 YEARS
"Learning Tabla compared to other western instruments is truly a unique and amazing experience. Shiva Aunty takes her classical training in Kathak and Tabla and allows for well rounded and developed experience in Tabla as an accompaniment instrument. Her training is disciplined and thorough but also creative and enjoyable. The lessons and values that Shiva Aunty teaches stays with you years after you graduate from her classes. She was less of teacher and more of a mentor guiding us through life while she taught tabla. Even though it has been a while since I have played tabla regularly through Shiva Aunty’s classes or performing at events in college, I find myself drifting back to my tabla as a way to meditate and relax as I practice my old routines. Taking Tabla classes with Shiva Aunty has had a monumental impact on my life and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to learn Indian performing arts."
Anika & ADITYA Saharia
LEARNED KATHAK & TABLA FOR 13+ YEARS
"The most tangible skill that I learned from Shiva Aunty, outside from several aspects of Kathak, has been time management. While I always want to make my work perfect, I have always struggled with completing that work in a timely manner. From the deadlines that Shiva Aunty enforced (not only in terms of practicing a certain part of a dance in time but also for managing aspects of my Kathak Pranam ceremony), I really honed down my ability to live every part of my life efficiently while still ensuring perfection— or as close to perfection as I can get!
I have been under Shiva Aunty’s teaching for over 13 years now, and there is parts of me that I am amazed she can tell within a second which I don’t even have to verbalize to her! I have been able to cry, laugh, and get put in my place with Shiva Aunty! She really is like a second mother to me, and I have learned humility, hard work, and compassion from being in her dance school!"
JILMIL das
LEARNED KATHAK 13+ YEARS
"To describe Shiva Aunty in just words is a nearly impossible task. Through her teachings in Kathak, she has nurtured and grown me into the person I am today. I came into her classes as a 5 year old little girl that was practically scared of her own shadow, but she quickly became the anchor in my life that taught me what it meant to be inspired, confident, and live unapologetically.
Kathak has become such a large part of my life not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Aunty's teachings have given me a work ethic of discipline, time management, and dedication but more importantly Kathak gives me a sense of home. The Guru-shishya bond we share with Shiva aunty is the backbone of my roots to our culture and the fondest moments of my childhood.
Through my Kathak Pranam Ceremony, I gained the confidence and a budding passion for film, which I now study at the School of Cinematic Arts at the University of Southern California. I use Shiva Aunty's teaching everyday and her impact on my life is one I could never fully express, but I know that Kathak is something that will remain with me for the rest of my life."
Saloni Modi
LEARNED KATHAK 8 YEARS
"Coming from a theatre background, I instantly fell in love with Kathak as this was an art form that truly inspired me to be true to my emotions and express myself in a way that I didn't know I was capable of doing. One of the biggest gift was having Shiva aunty as my guru as I have learned from her that you cannot love an art where you don't love your guru. What I loved about Kathak was that it allowed me to be part of a larger artistic community and a means to be closer to my culture. As I was preparing for my Kathak Pranam, I knew that this wasn’t the end of my journey but merely a beginning to learn more. I completed my Kathak Pranam in high school and 10 years later after finishing college & starting my career, I decided that I wanted to continue my passion of learning Kathak as there no "end" to learning an art form."