Tejaswi Varalwar Chinta
Trained in Kuchipudi from a young age under Guru K. Vijaya Sekhar, Tejaswi Varalwar Chinta brings over 15 years of experience to her practice and teaching. She completed her arangetram in 2012 and performed extensively in Hyderabad, including in Kuchipudi village, the birthplace of the dance form.
She has choreographed and performed original Kuchipudi works across India and the United States. She now trains under Guru Vaishnavi Manikyala and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Kuchipudi. She is also trained in Kathak under Guru Radhika Arora in the Jaipur gharana.
By profession, Tejaswi works as a Statistical Analyst at Hoag Hospital, reflecting a life where rigorous analytical work and deep artistic practice go hand in hand.
Tejaswi founded Sthira Natyalaya to preserve Indian classical dance, make it accessible in the US, and build a community where these art forms are passed on to the next generation.
About Kuchipudi
Kuchipudi is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating from the Krishna district of Andhra Pradesh and named after the village of Kuchipudi. With roots stretching back to the 17th century, it was traditionally performed as a devotional art form dedicated to Lord Krishna. In the 20th century, Padma Bhushan Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam transformed Kuchipudi into a full stage art accessible to all — founding the Kuchipudi Art Academy in Chennai, choreographing over 100 compositions, and training thousands of dancers across generations. His vision gave the form its modern structure, and his legacy remains the foundation of how Kuchipudi is taught and performed worldwide today.