Join WhatsApp Channel
Padma Shri and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awardee Guru Geeta Chandran, founder-president of NATYA VRIKSHA, presented the Bharatanatyam Arangetram of her disciple, Vidhi Bansal, on July 18, 2026, at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium in New Delhi.
According to a statement, the event was attended by Chief Guests Satish Upadhyay, MLA, and Aarti Upadhyay, along with Guest of Honor Monica Sagar, Director of The Knowledge Habitat Schools and former Director-Principal of Shiv Nadar School, Gurugram. The audience included members of the arts community, educationists, family members, friends, and Bharatanatyam enthusiasts.
The performance was accompanied by a live orchestra featuring Guru Geeta Chandran on nattuvangam, Vidwan Sreeraag Nair (vocal), Vidwan Vignesh Jayaraman (mridangam), Vidwan Varun Rajasekharan (ghatam), and Vidwan V.S.K. Annadorai (violin). The live musical ensemble enhanced the recital and contributed to the classical presentation.
Following the traditional Bharatanatyam margam, Vidhi performed Pushpanjali, Alarippu, Jatiswaram (Ragamalika), the Varnam in Nattaikuranji Ragam, the Surdas Padam “Sundar Shyam,” Tillana in Ragam Brindavani, and concluded with Mangalam.
According to the statement, Vidhi’s performance showcased technical precision, expressive abhinaya, and poised stage presence, drawing sustained applause and a standing ovation from the audience.
The Arangetram reflected Vidhi’s years of rigorous training under Guru Geeta Chandran and highlighted the continuing Guru-Shishya tradition upheld by NATYA VRIKSHA. Rooted in the Gurukul system, the institution provides personalized Bharatanatyam instruction, incorporates live music into training, and promotes a holistic understanding of the classical dance form within the broader framework of the Indian Knowledge System.
Speaking on the occasion, Guru Geeta Chandran said, “An Arangetram marks the beginning of a dancer’s lifelong journey of learning and artistic exploration. Vidhi has demonstrated unwavering dedication, humility, and commitment throughout her years of training. It has been deeply fulfilling to present her before rasikas as she embarks on this new chapter of her artistic life. I am confident she will continue to uphold the values and traditions of Bharatanatyam with sincerity and excellence.”
Vidhi, who has trained under Guru Geeta Chandran since childhood, described the Arangetram as an important milestone in her artistic journey. A recent graduate of Shiv Nadar School, Gurugram, she will soon begin her undergraduate studies at FLAME University in Pune, carrying forward the artistic values and discipline cultivated through years of mentorship.
