The echo of cymbals, the jingle of bells, the sound of music, are the rhythms of joy in this dancer’s world…

Ms. Sandhya Sree has inherited the interest in performing arts from her guide & mentor, her mother, Smt. Indira Devi.   An award-winning performer, choreographer and teacher, Ms. Sandhya Sree Athmakuri, is an exponent of two leading dance traditions of South India, Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi, having trained, in all authenticity, under eminent Gurus in India.   

In BharataNatyam, Sandhya belongs to the renowned Vazhuvoor school, having trained under eminent Gurus of the Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai lineage, Kum. Padma and ‘Kalaimamani’ Swamimalai Rajarathnam Pillai.  She also learnt briefly under Guru Bangalore B. Bhanumathi.

As a Kuchipudi artiste, she initially trained under Smt. Bala and the senior staff, in, ‘Padmabhushan’ Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam’s Kuchipudi Kalakshetra, Visakhapatnam(a branch of the Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai) and later became one of the privileged disciples of the great Guru himself at Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai.

Smt. Sandhya Sree is the founder and director of “Natya Dharmi” foundation for performing arts, and resides in Rochester Hills, MI, where she shares her skills with artistes in various fields and also trains aspirants in the field of Dance. 

Through her school, the artistes have to their credit a number of productions like Kumara Sambhavam, Avishkarana, Natya Ragam, Chandalika, Sri Krishna Parijatham, Rithu Raagam, Kuchipudi Natya Saurabham at Chicago Tyagaraja Utsavam, that have won acclaim from discerning critics.   Sandhya’s students have achieved awards in the prestigious Cleveland Tyagaraja Aradhana dance competitions.  

Since the year 2006- current, Sandhya has lead about 35 dance aspirants to perform their Arangetrams/Rangapravesams, successfully.  

The school humbly acknowledges the various ‘outstanding achievement awards’ that were bestowed upon the director and students, by the various organizations in the U.S. 

SOME MILESTONES…

• Sandhya Sree received her first gold medal at the age of 10 and went on to receive many more awards over a span of years.
• She is the recipient of the National scholarship from the Ministry of Human Resources, Govt. of India for Kuchipudi. 
• National Award winner for choreography in Bharata Natyam.  
• Sandhya has performed extensively not only in India but internationally as well –Festival of India in Germany, World Theater Opera Fest., in the Netherlands, the United States of America and Canada, with both her gurus, and adorned important parts in their dance productions. 
• In Kuchipudi, Sandhya was blessed to be hand-picked by Guru Vempati Chinna Satyamgaru, to adorn the role of Satyabhama in Sree Krishna Parijatham, Dakshayani in Haravilasam, Lakshmi and Padmavathi in Sreenivasa Kalayanam, YerukaSani, Vakula, Saraswathi, Parvathi in Sreenivasa Kalyanam, Court Dancer and Rukmini in Rukmini Kalyanam, Priyamvada in Sakunthalam, GowriDevi and Celestial dancer in Ardha Nareeswaram.  In addition Sandhya has also performed Chandalika and Bhamakalapam-Yakshaganam under the auspices of Kuchipudi Art Acadamy(vizag branch) and under her own school banner. Sandhya was also selected to be a part of the documentary ‘Temple and the Swan’ directed by Mastergaru. 
• Besides her wide range of performances, she has also conducted Lec. Dems. and workshops, under the auspices of the ICCR(Indian council for cultural relations) and the Central Sangeeta Natak Academy Nrtiya Utsavs, that were held in various places in India.   Likewise, she has shared her expertise with many educational institutions including Universities in the United States.
• A ‘Natya Visharada’(A Diploma awarded by Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai)
• ‘Singaramani’ award for Kuchipudi, by the prestigious organization Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai.
• ICCR Paneled artiste

• Since the year 1996, In her cultural endeavor, Smt. Sandhya has contributed to prestigious organizations such as DTA, TTA, TANA, ATA and many other Telugu organizations within the United States.  Recognizing her efforts, DTA honored Sandhya with the Vadlamudi VenkataRathnam Memorial award, amongst all the other outstanding community service awards and recognitions that were bestowed upon Sandhya, for her   contributions through Art and culture, to the community in the Metro Detroit Area. 

Academically, SandhyaSree holds a Baccalaureate degree in Law from Andhra University, AP, India.

Sandhya remains, an eternal disciple to the ‘Adi Guru’, Lord Nataraja.