by Sukanya Mahadevan

I have to stop and think and pinch myself when I realize that twenty years have flown by since the inception of this lovely school and community. So many folks have had a role to play in its growth and success. I may be the face of it, but the weight of the success is truly carried by the entire Shishya Community, especially the students. When Vyshali and I first thought of this name, we wanted something unique, something that is more than just one human being, more than just the art itself that it fosters. In an artform that is traditionally adulterated by the Guru's ego, I wanted it to be a representative of humility, a symbol of who matters, the 'Shishya' (student), the one who carries the torch forward.

Thanks to some creative thinking and bringing into reality (with my friend Wendy's help), the Shishya logo was born, a symbol of creation and growth.

(Refer to a previous blog called 'Vatapatra' Shishya). This current logo is special one created/modified by Vicki Q Agrawal, our social media coordinator for this special year only.

My initial students and their families from Voorhees and my friends Vyshali and Ghazala were instrumental in pushing me to put my dreams into motion and form Shishya School Of Performing Arts. This baby is now 20 years old!

We not only perform in the US but also in International festivals like India and Rome. We perform at libraries and senior centers but also in unique world class venues and projects like the New York Fashion week and Carnegie Hall. Our students range from the age of 4 to 65. However we bond over - the love for dance, the need for camaraderie and the passion to give back to community . 'Art for Humanity' is our motto and it is this, that is the driving force behind many things we do.

We have moved four times, from my basement to the Manors plaza, to Empower Fitness to YLDP and now to the Honor Yoga Loft. We have gone from basic recitals in school cafeterias with 10 students, to grand recitals in big venues with almost 80 students.

We are now almost 40 Arangetrams strong and having danced both internationally and on world class stages, we have definitely made our presence known.

Here is to many more years of learning, teaching, dancing and giving back and staying true to our logo in creating true artists. Here is to twenty more years....