Reviews

“Guru Srimathi Shanthi Ashok” the loved member of our family, has not just been Priya & Priyanka’s Bharathanatyam Guru, she has been a “Maargam” in our lives too! The beautiful details of the “Maargam” – Alarippu, ,Jatiswaram, Shabdam, Varnam, Padam, Ashtapadi, Kirtanam, Javali, Tillana, Shlokam, Mangalam was not only imbibed in Priya and Priyanka’s dance journey thru the 12 years of the learning, but has been inscribed in their lives too! Shanthi taught them the essence of Nritta, Nritya and Natya and filled it in their lives forever. If not for Srimathi Shanthi and the beautiful Baratham, understanding the importance of Invocation, Melody, Rhythm, Salutation, Expression, Devotion, and Benediction would have remained a dream in this far away land we made our home! Everything I said or would say would be very small when compared to what she has given us in the form of dance to our twins in the past 12 wonderful years. Shanthi, a wonderful friend and family, is a treasure! Our journey started with a small class in her home, with a beautiful annual day at Durga Mandir, to various competitions, performance, choreographies, dressing up, makeup and snacks, Sweet Frogs in the costumes, to tons and tons of wonderful experiences! I can’t stop smiling as I walk thru the memory lane of our wonderful journey! Thankyou Shanthi for everything you have done for us and the girls! We will always cherish & celebrate it it thru our lives. Guru Shrimathi Shanthi Ashok, beautiful, hardworking, impartial, loving…teacher! A heavenly GURU in a graceful Angika (body) with melodious Vachika (voice) & beautiful Aharya (costume), in a calm Satvika (state).”

“Nrityanjali LLC is one of the best dance schools around the Northern Virginia region. The founder and the artistic director of the dance school Shanthi Ashok is an accomplished, sincere, dedicated and passionate teacher for the dance forms. She not only teaches Bharatanatyam but also teaches folk dances from different regions in India. Her vision and expertise and of dance form show in her choreography which brings out the beauty of the dance. May it be the dance steps or the costume, everything is done with so much attention to the details that the final display is mind-blowing. She imparts all her skills, knowledge and expertise to her students with so much dedication and commitment. Every time you watch her students perform, you end up yearning for more. She is very meticulous and organized with her lesson plans for the kids. She is the kind of teacher who brings out the strength of each and every kid. My daughter has been under her tutelage for the past 5 years. I have seen my daughter grow in leaps and bounds learning the art. I owe it to Shanthi Ashok, her teacher, the growth that my daughter has made over these years. Her positive encouragement to my daughter has made my daughter enjoy her dance classes. I am amazed at how much my daughter has accomplished in the art form and on a personal level since the day she started her classes with Shanthi.  All the credits go to the committed mentoring of Shanthi Ashok. We are very lucky to have her as my daughter’s dance teacher.”

“I have had the immense honor of having my daughter learn Bhartanatyam from Shanthi Ashok for many years. My daughter is 22 years old now. Even today she fondly remembers her time at Nrityanjali. Shanthi is an extremely creative and talented teacher. She connects with her students on a different level. Everyone loves Shanthi aunty. She is a teacher, friend and mentor to them. She is a positive and encouraging influence in their lives. I have also had the pleasure to attend the various cultural shows, fundraisers and arangetrams at this school. There is a beautiful energy at Nrityanjali dance school which is evident in the students and their breathtaking performances. Be it the choreography, costume design, song choices, everything is par excellence. Highly recommend this wonderful, passionate teacher and her vision.”

“I took classes at Nrityanjali for 10 years, from 2nd to 12th grade. The classmates and friends I made at Nrityanjali have always been a part of my family and contributed very much to my discipline and excitement to be a dancer. While teaching me proper skills and technique, Nrityanjali taught me more than just an excellent foundation in Bharatanatyam, it also taught me to love and appreciate dance as an art form and a lifelong skill. Shanthi Aunty’s dedication to the art form is unparalleled. She is not afraid to face challenges or take chances with her choreography and vision and in doing so provides wonderful opportunities for students to grow and build their skills outside of their comfort zone. Her nurturing but methodical approach gave me the confidence I needed to believe in myself as a dancer, even after I had moved away to college. She has been a reason of our grace & success by teaching us discipline & hard work as a life lesson! She is the best!”

“My daughter Gowri is a disciple of Shanthi Ashok. Shanthi ‘s dance  school ‘Nrityanjali‘ offers not just an  Indian classical dance class but teaches different forms of Indian dance. She brings the perfect amount  of discipline and energy to motivate her students to become better dancers. My daughter adores her and is very excited to go to dance class every time. She is really blessed to have Shanthi as her teacher.”

“Going into arangetram training, I did not know how big of an accomplishment this would be. 12 years into the process of learning numerous dances, nuances of foot work, hand gestures, and facial expressions, it was important to pay attention to the intricate details. The last few months of training all we did was dance, dance, and more dance. The passion and dedication that Shanthi Aunty poured into our journey as dancer’s is something that I hope to parallel in my professional, artistic and personal career. As a Guru, Shanthi aunty knew me as a dancer more so than I knew myself. She nurtured my strengths and pushed me to transform my shortcomings into strengths. She ensured that every practice session ended with takeaways both on and off the stage. As this was the first step of becoming a dancer, there were lots of physical and mental challenges that I needed to overcome. Her perspective and approach to the entire process rescued me every time. Learning from Shanthi Aunty, watching her teach and choreograph is an absolute treat. Seeing the concepts take form, come to life and evolve is an illuminating and magical process. Having her undivided attention is addictive and the recital itself was too short lived. What I miss most from the entire process is the journey itself – one that I would do again hundred times if I could.”

“Rewinding 12 years back when my daughter, Tanushri was just 5 is when we enrolled her in Nrityanjali. Tanu had a flair for dance from the beginning but we had no clue of the various aspects of Bharatanatyam. Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok who is just not Tanu’s teacher but also our friend and family, brought the best out of my daughter and the pinnacle was her Arangetram in 2019. Needless to say, Shanthi is a complete package of Creativity, Discipline, Talent, Hard work and more than anything Originality be it choreography or costume design. She is highly committed and dedicated and will easily identify every child’s strength and will bring it out beautifully. Her connection with the students is totally at a different level. Be it footwork, expressions or perseverance, Shanthi teaches them skillfully to her students. Every performance is a treasure and a treat to watch. Tanu has had wonderful performance opportunities to grow and build her skills under Shanthi’s tutelage. We are blessed to have Shanthi as her teacher.”

Both my daughters have been learning dance under the tutelage of Smt.Shanthi Ashok for the past 10 years. We enrolled them with the intent to introduce them to the dance form but have come to a point where both of them absolutely love dance and can’t imagine their life without it. We are extremely glad we found Nrityanjali. Shanthis’ unique way of teaching the kids not only the dance but also the meaning of the songs and the stories behind helps them connect with the subject and the culture and bring out the appropriate expressions and emotions. Her attention to detail on the choreography, costume, and every little aspect of the dance makes every piece so unique. My older daughter has been part of multiple Nrityanjali Company productions, and it has been a unique learning experience for her learning not only bharatnatyam but also getting introduced to other dance forms across India. She had her arrangetram in the summer of 2024 and enjoyed every bit of the journey and is looking forward to continuing the classes this fall. I would definitely recommend Nrityanjali to all my friends who would like to enroll their kids in Indian Classical Dance or would like to explore their own classical journey as an adult.”

My daughter, Megha, is truly blessed to be trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok. Her dedication and expertise have been pivotal in shaping Megha’s journey in this divine dance art. Just as a polished diamond gains its luster in the hands of a specialist, we have witnessed Megha’s remarkable progression under her guidance. Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok is the guiding, ever-shining light behind Megha’s passion and growth in her classical dance journey.
Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok’s teachings have not only imparted exceptional dance skills but have also deepened Megha’s understanding and mastery of both nritta and abhinaya. Through nritta, the pure, rhythmic movements of Bharatanatyam, Megha has learned to express intricate patterns and rhythms with grace and precision. Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok’s meticulous attention to detail and her ability to convey the subtleties of this form have helped Megha achieve a level of finesse and elegance in her dance.
In addition to nritta, Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok has cultivated Megha’s skills in abhinaya, the art of expressive dance. Under her guidance, Megha has developed the ability to convey profound emotions and stories through her expressions and gestures, bringing characters and narratives to life with depth and sensitivity.
We are especially thankful for Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok’s invaluable role in Megha’s arangetram, which was a significant milestone in her Bharatanatyam journey. Her unwavering support and encouragement were instrumental in preparing Megha for this momentous event, showcasing not only her technical prowess but also her deep emotional connection to the art.
Guru Smt. Shanthi Ashok preserves our cultural heritage with grace while elevating it to new heights that resonate with audiences. Her commitment to both the art of dance and her students is truly extraordinary.
We are deeply grateful for the countless hours she has invested in Megha, her patience, hard work, and relentless pursuit of excellence. She has also instilled discipline, patience, and a profound appreciation for our cultural heritage. Through her guidance, Megha has gained confidence that shines not only in her dance but also in her other endeavors.”

Our family had the honor and pleasure of traveling the dance journey with Nrityanjali for 10 years. Through these years of learning with Smt. Shanthi Ashok my daughter has grown by leaps and bounds on her commitment to dance. The arangetram training and the cultivation of discipline, work ethics and talent that Smt. Shanthi Ashok has imparted is a value for life that my daughter cherishes. Smt. Shanthi Ashok is an extremely creative choregrapher, encouraging mentor and a guru that nurtures every student to bring out their talents beyond what a parent can perceive. There is an amaging level of peace, positive energy, discipline at Nrityanjali that transpires to the student through uncompromising efforts to bring the best possible. Smt. Shanthi truly knows the student strengths and is like another parent, educator and mentor not only through the dance journey but also teach life lessons. Be it the unique choregraphy, perfect foot work, strong foundation, positive attitude of the sishya to 100% surrender for the dance and abhinayam, the commitment is evident at Nrityanjali par excellence at different levels. My daughter has not only grown to adapt the challenges that came with arangetram preparation but love dance as a lifelong skill to continue in future and adores her guru.
It was the first ever arangetram for our extended families and the performance under pillar of guidance from Smt. Shanthi Ashok, with each song given atten1tion to detail and captivating movements was a remarkable culmination and lasting memory for our family.”

We are blessed to be associated with Nrityanjali Dance School for the past 10 years. Both me and my daughter are learning Bharatanatyam under Guru Shrimati Shanthi Ashok. Joining Nrityanjali was one of the best decisions we made. Shanthi truly believes in “Teaching is an art of love”. Her creativity, hard work, perseverance and passion for dance has transformed Nrityanjali into a well known dance school in the DMV area. She is very encouraging and extremely patient with kids and older students alike. All the past Nrityanjali recitals, Arengetrams and dance shows have been a visual bonanza. We have seen over the years many of her dance school alumni return and perform or help in Nrityanjali events. This is a true testament to Shanthi’s nurturing bond with students. Whether its an ear for music, an eye for costume, the creativity in props or the beautiful choreography – Shanthi has it all covered. She is a beautiful person and we look forward to many more happy years of association with Nrityanjali.”

Shanthi auntie is not only my teacher, she is truly family. She is a wonderful teacher who helped me overcome challenges. She has encouraged me to explore different aspects of dance. I am so honoured to be part of her dance school.”

To me, dance class at Nrityanjali is a sacred space. It’s the place where I started my journey with dance after my mom caught me dancing in front of the mirror as a little kid, where I’ve received hours of careful guidance from Shanthi aunty, where I learned that hard work and perseverance really does pay off. It’s the place where each week, I get to leave the rest of my life at the door and become completely absorbed in the present. Although I often leave class with sore muscles, I always walk away with a clear mind—which is why, over the years, I’ve fallen in love with dance. I’ve been at Nrityanjali so long that I can no longer imagine what my life would look like without it—the friends I’ve made, the kids I’ve worked with, and Shanthi aunty’s unwavering support have all made me into who I am. As I practice in front of the mirror after all these years, I will forever be grateful that I had the privilege to learn Bharathanatyam at Nrityanjali, and I’m so excited to share the stage with my favorite people for one last Annual Day!
From Akshita Balaji-
Dance has always been a part of my life ever since I was 6 years old. Whether it’s bharatanatyam, bollywood, or bhangra, i love getting lost in the music and focusing on the beat. I cant imagine my life without dance and I plan to carry it on in the future as well. However, more than the art, the community that I’ve found through dance is so precious to me. The friends ive found make hours of practice seem like minutes and shanthi aunty has been not only a great mentor, but has become almost like another mom to me. I am so grateful to be part of the nrityanjali family, its something il carry with me forever.”

Learning dance with Guru Shanthi Ashok has been a family affair. My daughters learnt from Shanthi with my younger one still under her able tutelage for almost a decade now. I am also privileged to learn from her in her adult class. Shanthi teaches with utmost passion and dedication. She has the unique ability to innovate while staying true to the ancient roots of Bharatanatyam. She intuitively taps into the strengths of each dancer bringing out the very best in them, while, at the same time methodically pushing each dancer out of their comfort zone so they can blossom even further. 
Shanthi’s recitals and productions are captivating – the music, choreography and costumes are a complete treat for the eyes, heart and soul. Learning Bharatanatyam from Guru Smt Shanthi Ashok has been a very fulfilling journey building skills beyond Bharatanatyam. We are privileged to learn from her and wholeheartedly recommend Nrityanjali to anyone wanting to explore the beautiful and intriguing world of Bharatanatyam and beyond.”

Growing up I have been surrounded by the arts, whether it’s dance, music, or playing the veena. Out of all the classes amma signed me up for, dance has always been my favorite. I had a hard time in the beginning of my journey in dance with a love- hate relationship. But ever since I started learning dance under Shanthi aunty at Nrityanjali, I am happy to say now with my whole heart: I love dance. Dancing has taught me the importance of practice, perseverance, and it has served as an outlet for me to express myself in different ways. I can’t imagine my life without dance as I have grown up learning it and it now plays a huge role in my life. Whenever someone asks me: What are your hobbies? The first thing that pops into my mind is dance. I may forget all the other activities I participate in, but never my favorite. I have spent my whole life surrounded by dance and I will spend the rest of my life loving dance the way I love it now.”

Dance has always been a part of my life ever since I was 6 years old. Whether it’s bharatanatyam, bollywood, or bhangra, I love getting lost in the music and focusing on the beat. I cant imagine my life without dance and I plan to carry it on in the future as well. However, more than the art, the community that I’ve found through dance is so precious to me. The friends I have found make hours of practice seem like minutes and Shanthi Aunty has been not only a great mentor, but has become almost like another mom to me. I am so grateful to be part of the Nrityanjali family, it’s something I will carry with me forever.”