"TAPASYA" - pray for a soul

Tanmayi Pai

Tanmayi Pai is a senior at the International Baccalaureate program at Campbell High School in Smyrna, Georgia. She began her Bharathanatyam training when she was eight under the tutelage of Dina Sheth of Kruti Dance Academy. In 2005, Tanmayi started training under Guru Preeti Vinayak Shah at The Narasimha Academy of the Arts. Tanmayi has participated in several dance programs hosted by local organizations under the auspices of the Academy. She frequently performs for the Konkani Association of Georgia.

For the past year she has been under rigorous training towards her Arangetram. Under Guru Preeti Shah’s guidance, she will complete her Arangetram (debut performance) in October this year. Her command over rhythm and facial expressions have been honed under Preeti’s meticulous training. 

Apart from dance, Tanmayi is an active participant in several school organizations, among which are math team, quiz bowl, and Earth club. She has also played first violin in the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra’s Philharmonia for the past two years. This past year, she was a state nominee and participant in the Governor’s Honors Program in the area of Communicative Arts. In her free time, Tanmayi enjoys spending time with friends, reading, and listening to music.

Tanmayi regularly volunteers with her high school’s Interact club, recycling program, and National Honor Society. In the past, she has volunteered for the Kool Kidz Foundation, the Latin American Association, Raksha, and the Konkani Association of Georgia. She especially enjoys working towards causes that help children.          

A few words from Tanmayi:

“Dancing and preparing for the Tapasya show has been a truly rewarding, one-of-a-kind experience. We have been working towards this goal since January, and I am amazed by all the hard work that each and every one of the dancers has put in. Rehearsals have been intensive and rigorous, but I know that we have enjoyed each one. It is great to be a part of such a committed group under an inspiring teacher and dancing for a worthy cause. I can’t wait for the show!”

“For me, Bharathanatyam has been a steadying influence. After a hectic, stressful week of school, I love going to dance classes, which always bring me back to my Indian roots, and rehearsals, where I have a large and wonderful support network in my fellow dancers. My teacher, Ms. Preeti, is an especially encouraging and motivating figure in my life. Thanks to her, I have learned to meet challenges without fear and to appreciate the value of hard work. Dance has contributed to my personal growth in other ways: if it were not for dance, I doubt that I would have been able to learn as much as I have about my religion and my heritage.”