Arya Kunnothmannur
Arya started learning Bharatanatyam at age 6 at Arpana School of Dance. She feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to learn this art form that has been passed down from generations and helps connect to her roots in India.
Arya is a junior at Portola High School in Irvine. Along with being an active member of the school council and several clubs, she is the treasurer and head of fund raising of a volunteering club at school and also teaches English to students in Ukraine. She is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award.
Apart from dancing, she enjoys playing volleyball, reading, and spending time with her friends and family – especially her cat Rumplestiltskin.
Message from Arya –
When I first started learning dance over 10 years ago it was just another activity that my parents encouraged me to explore. It turned out to be the only activity I stuck with till today. I grew to love dance under the guidance and encouragement of my gurus and am excited and grateful for this opportunity to perform today.
I’ve been extremely lucky to have Vini Akka as my mentor and guru on this pradarshana journey. It was not only fun, but she encouraged me to think and explore dance on my own terms all the whilst guiding me to hone my skills. Whether it was exploring new choreography or challenging me with a difficult abhinaya piece, her faith in me pushed me to not only be a better dancer but also gave me the confidence to tackle any challenges that came my way.
With this performance today, I hope to showcase my love and joy for dance. I am extremely grateful to you all for being here to support me, it means the world to me.
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