About Us
Shishya School Of Performing Arts was founded by Guru 'Kalashree' Sukanya Mahadevan. Its sole purpose is to educate and qualify students in the art of Indian Classical dance, music, mythology and dance theater. The word ‘Shishya’ is of Sanskrit origin and means ‘the student’. Every year her students participate in talent shows, competitions, Poojas and the schools’ own annual production. The school’s other notable performances are Rotary club, AIA’s Gandhi Jayanthi Celebration, Grounds of Sculpture, local senior centers, TCNJ Arts Festival, NJ Tamil Sangham Dance festivals, Raritan and Mercer Community College festival, cultural festival conducted by the Department Of Transportation, the Lawrenceville Main Street Jubilee, , Dishaa conducted by NAAMI, Sofkin,the local libraries, Mercer County Heritage Festival, Nrithyotsav at Krishna mandir, AIM Thyagaraja festival, Bridgewater temple, Chinmaya Mission and TRIVENI. Every year the school conducts an annual day production with varied themes and on this occasion, the students dance for a cause and donate funds to charity. The recipients of this have been organizations such as NAMI, MANAVI and AIA, the , Embrace Kids Foundation, Operation Smile and the American Red Cross. Shishya students also have placed in competitions like Natyanajali and Naach Utsav. Guru Sukanya and her advanced students performed in the prestigious music and dance festivals in Chennai and Bangalore and were also at the prestigious Carnegie Hall in New York City. Guru Sukanya, besides being a visiting faculty at Rider University's World dance program, also led her students to Rome in July 2024 for an International Summer Stages Concert. Besides the curriculum including some neo-classical items and folk dances, we also offer dance drama classes. Shishya also has a resident classical music teacher.