Senior Spotlight 3

Senior Profile: Hasini Thupakula

by Eesha Srinivasan

Hasini started learning Bharatanatyam when she was six, her main motivation being to connect more with her culture and meet others who also loved to dance. From her first classes, she was in awe of the older students, and hoped to dance as confidently as they did. Seeing them perform motivated Hasini to continue improving and helped her realize that with consistent effort, she could reach the skill level she once admired. 

Hasini says the hardest dance she’s learned was Vishmakaara Kanna, because it demanded complex abhinaya. The emotional depth of the character required her to explore new combinations of expression and movement. Hasini’s favorite dance so far is the Dashavatar, as she got to expand her range of facial expressions - playing Narasimha, who’s half-man and half-tiger, challenged her to play a role that was completely different from other pieces.

Hasini’s favorite event was when Shishya performed at Carnegie Hall in 2020 for the 14th Annual Invitational, A Festival of World Dance. Hasini enjoyed bonding with her co-performers and believes that performing pure Bharatanatyam on such an iconic stage and having the opportunity to connect with dancers from across the country is what made it an unforgettable experience for her.

Over the COVID years, Hasini said zoom dance classes felt strange at first, and the audio lags, glitchy video, and unreliable Wi-Fi certainly didn’t help. Over time, zoom classes began feeling more normal, and Hasini felt it reminded her that she wasn’t alone, even if everyone was separated.

Hasini’s favorite aspect of Shishya is our community. To her, it has been more than just a place to learn dance—it has become a second home that’s had a profound impact on her over the years. Whether it was the excitement leading up to performances, the encouragement during long rehearsals, or simply the moments of laughter and connection, Shishya has been a steady, positive presence in her life. Even after graduating from Shishya, Hasini knows the school will continue to play a meaningful role in her life.

In the coming years, Hasini plans to study biology at Case Western Reserve University, pursue medical school, and ultimately become a practicing physician dedicated to improving patient care. She hopes to continue nurturing her love of Bharathnatyam throughout her journey. We wish her the best of luck and look forward to seeing her become Dr. Thupakula!