Vani Ganapathy, a distinguished name in Bharatanatyam, is bringing two productions to Bengaluru this weekend. In a conversation with Bangalore Times, she shared the significance of live performance, integrating arts into the school curriculum, and more.
‘Dance made me strong, resilient, and sensitive’
Dance has played a significant part in making me who am I today. In every performance, I pour my heart and soul into it, and in doing so, it has become a part of who I am—both as a dancer and as a person. With conviction, I can say that dance not only shapes one’s artistic identity but also helps in cultivating artistic grace. Dance instills qualities in a person such as sensitivity—because one cannot emote without truly feeling the emotion from within.

‘Social media is good, but it comes with its pitfalls’
Social media platforms, especially Instagram and YouTube, are incredible spaces to showcase one’s artistic skills to a global audience. Undoubtedly, it helps many artists gain recognition. But social media also comes with its pitfalls because what is sent out online is a polished snippet of a performance. The soul of dance lies in its live performance where every move tells a story and every expression holds immense emotions.
‘Integrating arts into school curriculum is Now essential’
In the modern education system, integrating arts can be optional and highly encouraged subject for students to explore their artistic potential. I have seen students across the nation using their debut dance Arangetram to enhance their opportunities abroad. The dedication to any Indian classical art form — music or dance — has helped students to stand out and get admission to prestigious institutions where their artistic achievements were as important as their academic records.