Sivagami Vanka

Sivagami Vanka is the founder and director of the Kalabharathi School of Dance in Portland. The school was started in 1983 in Cleveland, Ohio and then moved to Portland in 1987.

Sivagami Vanka is a dedicated teacher, with over 30 yrs experience having trained hundreds of students both in Cleveland and Portland.  She is a teacher who focuses on discipline, dedication and determination. She brings out the best in her students through her rigorous /intensive training of this dance so that they maintain the authenticity and integrity that is an essential part of this dance form. She believes in nurturing a love for this art by giving the students several varied varieties of experiencing dance through dance camps with great dancers from India, through interactive dance with other local professional groups and cultures. Sivagami’s dedication to holding and expecting a very high standard is shown by the highly acclaimed repeat performances of her students at various prestigious venues and events throughout the northwest.  Sivagami’s belief that “a great teacher inspires” has resulted in many of her student’s outstanding achievements both in India and here, after completing their arangetrams.

Sivagami has been teaching children and adults for about 18 years, both in Portland and in other parts of the United States. Sivagami has established the reputation of being an exacting and dedicated teacher. Her love of this dance form is portrayed in her teaching and caring for her students. Her students often perform at leading events in the Portland-Vancouver area such as:  India Festival at the Pioneer Square, the Rose Festival, A Taste of Beaverton, Good in the Hood – includes NAP artistes, the Caribbean Festival at PSU, A Multi-cultural evening at the Holt center, Eugene, Gujarati Samaj, GPTM, GPTM and several other local cultural events. Kalabharathi students have about 300 concerts to their credit over the last 15 years. Many have graduated and still continue to perform. Many travel from several US cities to come and learn dance from her. Many of them have returned to continue their learning and to perform with her in her productions. These well acclaimed performances speak of her skill in training and encouraging young performers to achieve new heights in this dance form.