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Journey

A guru line from Delhi to Kalakshetra and back

Shreyasi Gopinath has trained in Bharatanatyam since the age of seven. Her teachers include Padma Bhushan Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan, the gurus of Kalakshetra Foundation, the late Jamuna Krishnan and Dr. G. Ratheesh Babu.

Shreyasi Gopinath in a leaping pose inside an old stone doorway

Shreyasi Gopinath is a Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher and choreographer from New Delhi. She began her training at the age of seven with Padma Bhushan Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan at Ganesa Natyalaya, and gave her arangetram in 2007.

At fifteen she joined Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai, where she earned a diploma and a post-graduate diploma in Bharatanatyam, and also studied Carnatic vocal music and Kathakali. She completed a BSc in Psychology from the University of Madras at the same time. In Delhi she trained with the late Guru Jamuna Krishnan, and today she learns from Guru Dr. G. Ratheesh Babu.

From October 2022 to September 2023, the Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Ministry of External Affairs deputed her to the Consulate General of India in Réunion Island, France, as head of the cultural centre. In July 2023 she performed at Namasté France in Paris, and gave the opening dance at the Indian community event for the Prime Minister's Bastille Day visit.

Her productions include The Wheel of Choices, The Kalidasa Edit and Illusion of the Enchantress. She is a Ministry of Culture scholar, a graded artiste of Doordarshan, and empanelled with IRCEN and SPIC MACAY. Her honours include the Gopi Krishna Award for National Excellence, the Nritya Mani and Nritya Bhushan titles, and the Rukmini Devi Smriti Samman.

In 2014 she founded the Shreyasi Gopinath Dance Academy, which today teaches children, adults and professionals in Vasant Kunj, Gurugram and online.

Close-up of a dancer's feet with ghungroo bells on a stone floor
Ghungroo, the dancer's ankle bells.

The path

From the first adavu to the world stage

  1. Age 7

    Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan

    Begins training at Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi, under the Padma Bhushan guru.

  2. 29 April 2007

    Arangetram

    Solo debut at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium, New Delhi, at the age of 14.

  3. 2008 – 2014

    Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai

    Diploma (2008–12) and post-graduate diploma (2012–14). Carnatic vocal, and Kathakali under Sadanam Balakrishnan. Teaches part-time while still a student.

  4. 2011 – 2014

    University of Madras

    BSc in Psychology, alongside the dance training.

  5. New Delhi

    Guru Jamuna Krishnan

    Continues her training with the late guru, and dances her choreographies on stage.

  6. 2014

    The academy

    Founds the Shreyasi Gopinath Dance Academy, and premieres her first dance drama, Krishna Madhuryam.

  7. Oct 2022 – Sep 2023

    Réunion Island, France

    Deputed by ICCR and the Ministry of External Affairs to the Consulate General of India as head of the cultural centre and ICCR teacher-cum-performer.

  8. July 2023

    Paris

    Performs a margam and leads workshops at Namasté France, La Seine Musicale. Gives the opening dance at the Indian community event for the Prime Minister's Bastille Day visit.

  9. Today

    Guru Dr. G. Ratheesh Babu

    Continues to learn from her present guru, while she performs, choreographs and teaches.

Shreyasi Gopinath in red costume, a gesture framing her face

Réunion Island · 2022 – 2023

Leading the Indian cultural centre in France

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the Ministry of External Affairs deputed Shreyasi to the Consulate General of India in Réunion Island as head of the cultural centre and ICCR teacher-cum-performer.

  • Curated and organised cultural events for the consulateDiwali, Republic Day, Hindi Diwas
  • Choreographed productionsPanna Dhai (2023), Gandhi (2023)
  • Grew the dance school and its student baseSaint-Denis
  • Collaborated with the government of Réunion on the artsSaint-Paul, Saint-Gilles
  • Lectures and workshopsUniversité de La Réunion, schools

The link continues: dancers from Réunion performed at Saadhana 2024, and The Wheel of Choices toured Réunion in 2025.

Honours & standing

Recognition

  • Gopi Krishna Award for National ExcellenceNrithyathi Festival, Bhilai
  • Nritya Mani and Nritya BhushanCuttack Mahotsav, Utkal Yuva Sanskrutik Sangh
  • Rukmini Devi Smriti SammanAida Nrithyathi Kalakshetram, Chhattisgarh
  • Kunwar Viyogi Art Innovation AwardKunwar Viyogi Memorial Trust, Jammu, 2018
  • ScholarshipMinistry of Culture, Government of India
  • Graded artiste (B High)Doordarshan
  • Empanelled artistIRCEN and SPIC MACAY

In her words

“I dream of establishing a world-class dance school that serves as a hub for artistic excellence and personal development.”

“My dance career is marked by growth, exploring and pushing boundaries, and sharing the joy of dance with people from all walks of life.”

Black and white photograph of Shreyasi Gopinath on stage