Milestones

Arangetrams

An Arangetram is a Bharatanatyam dancer’s first full solo performance — the day years of training are offered on stage. Here we celebrate each Naatya Pushp student who reaches it.

The tradition

What is an Arangetram?

The word comes from Tamil: arangu, the stage, and etram, to ascend. An Arangetram is a classical dancer’s formal debut — the first time they “ascend the stage” to perform a complete program on their own.

After many years of learning under their guru, the dancer presents a full margam, the traditional sequence of Bharatanatyam pieces, usually with live musicians. It marks their readiness to perform independently, and honors the guru, family, and community who supported the journey.

Celebrating our dancers

Our Arangetrams

Shreya, in a teal costume, strikes a graceful pose with one hand raised, a brass lamp glowing behind her

Photo: Praveen Bonam / Photo Stories

Our first Arangetram

Kum. Shreya Chandi

Sunday, January 4, 2026

Shreya began dancing at the age of seven in India and has been a student at Naatya Pushp since 2019. Her Arangetram, the first in Naatya Pushp’s history, was a proud milestone for her, her family, her guru Smt. Olympia Mannur, and our whole academy.

She prepared for her Arangetram while balancing 11th grade and AP classes — and kept coming to practice even when floods engulfed Snohomish.

View the invitation on Facebook See photos (5)

In her guru’s words

“A milestone to cherish forever”

Over the years, she has been a sincere and dedicated student of this art, with an innate discipline and determination to work towards whatever she sets her mind to.

More than just an Arangetram, Shreya’s journey and performance became an inspiration to our young learners. To see little dancers look up to her and aspire to grow into the dancer she has become is one of the greatest joys a teacher can experience.

A journey of dedication, discipline, perseverance, and love for the art — one that we will cherish forever.

— Guru Smt. Olympia Mannur · Read the full post on Facebook

Photo gallery

Shreya’s Arangetram

Shreya, in a teal and gold Bharatanatyam costume, holds a poised stance on a violet-lit stage

Shreya, in a pink and blue costume, performs an expressive gesture against a deep red backdrop

Shreya, in an orange and cream costume, reclines on the stage with a playful sideways glance

The stage altar: a Nataraja statue garlanded with flowers, brass lamps, and a peacock-feather Krishna idol on yellow silk

Photos: Praveen Bonam / Photo Stories (opens in a new tab)

Questions?

Ask us about Arangetrams at Naatya Pushp

Whether you’re a parent, a student, or a well-wisher, we’re happy to hear from you.