Aarushi Lakhi
Bharatanatyam and Kathak Dancer
13
years Bharatanatyam
4
years Kathak
8
years Carnatic music
2
years Nattuvangam
Aarushi is a Bharatanatyam dancer from Houston, TX, and has been a student of Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan at Silambam Houston since 2012. She completed her arangetram in 2019, and since then has also been learning Kathak from Mrs. Kalpana Subbarao. Aarushi has been part of the Silambam Houston Dance Company since 2016 and teaches beginner and intermediate classes at the Silambam Houston Dance Academy.
A YUVA 2021 alumna, she was selected to be part of a cohort of ten Indian classical dancers across North America to choreograph and perform a collaborative Indian classical dance work. In 2022, she was named a Texas Young Master and awarded a grant from the Texas Commission on the Arts. Through this grant, she studied under Kalaimamani Priya Murle and had the opportunity to dance for Padma Shri Professor Sudharani Ragupathy. In 2023, she studied under Mrs. Preethi Ramaprasad in San Francisco. She is also a National YoungArts Foundation winner.
training & experience
Training
Silambam Houston Dance Academy
Bharatanatyam & Kathak
Aug 2012 - present
Shri Silambam Academy of Fine Arts
Bharatanatyam
Jan 2021 - present
RASA Summer Dance Camp
Bharatanatyam
Summers 2015 - 2021
Summer intensive in Chennai, India
Under Kalaimamani Priya Murle; danced for Padma Shri Professor Sudharani Ragupathy
Jul - Aug 2022
Summer intensive in San Francisco, CA
Under Mrs. Preethi Ramaprasad
Jun 2023
Experience
Silambam Houston Dance Company
Lead Dancer and Student Instructor
Aug 2015 - present
Texas Cultural Trust
Invited Performer, Future of Fine Arts Education Conference
Nov 2024
The YUVA Festival
Selected cohort of 10 across North America to choreograph a collaborative Indian classical dance work
2020 - 2021
Dancing into STEM
Conceptualized grade-level STEM concepts through dance, integrated into K-5 curricula
2020 - 2021
Storytime with Silambam
Scripted, choreographed, recorded, and edited short videos presenting stories from Indian mythology
2020 - 2021
recognition
2022
Texas Young Masters Award and Grant
Awarded a two-year education grant ($5,000/year) by the Texas Commission on the Arts and Texas Cultural Trust to further dance training.
2022
National YoungArts Foundation Winner
Recognized for strong technique and a clear artistic vision by the National Foundation for the Advancement of Artists.
2022
Puranava Dance Competition - Judge
Invited to judge Bharatanatyam and Kathak categories at the Puranava Dance Competition.
2026
CBS Austin: We Are Austin Feature
Featured in CBS Austin's "We Are Austin" segment highlighting the Texas Cultural Trust's 2026 Butler Texas Young Masters program.
read feature →videos
Ardhanareeswartakam
Lyrics: Shri Adi Shankaracharya • Music: Shri O S Arun • Choreography: Lavanya Rajagopalan and Aarushi Lakhi
Excerpts from Dhanyasi Varnam
Composed by Papanasam Sivan • Recorded at Silambam Houston Cultural Arts Center
Silambam Houston: Chakravyuh (Abhimanyu)
Music and Choreography: Silambam Houston • Performed at Miller Outdoor Theater
Storytime with Silambam: Abhimanyu
Scripted, choreographed, recorded, and edited • Music: Silambam Houston
Dancing Into STEM: The Water Cycle
Conceptualizing grade-level STEM through Bharatanatyam and Kathak
gallery
testimonials
Aarushi has steadily worked on her dance technique in a quiet but determined manner, and high praise for her debut solo performance in summer 2019 still echoes around Houston... Her dance technique is naturally effortless, clean, and crisp, and the hard work she puts in has only built on this intrinsic potential. In 2016, she passed her first milestone with flying colors, receiving the traditional ankle bells (salangai) at just ten years old. She continued to grow as an artist and hone her skills, particularly her emotive prowess, and her impressive solo debut performance (arangetram) stands testament of both her innate talent and her work ethic. Aarushi's dedication, commitment, and impeccable technique have garnered her a spot in all of our dance company productions since 2016.
Dr. Lavanya Rajagopalan
Teacher, Silambam Houston