A classical dancer, Titiksha Arya is a first-year BA student who is living her dream of learning Kathak under the Jaipur Gharana at Shruti The School of Music. She is passionately pursuing this classical dance form and expressing herself through every movement. While practicing Kathak, she became certain about her decision to pursue it full-time.

The Initiation

Titiksha was introduced to Kathak by her mother, who herself was fond of the art form and wished to pursue it professionally. Through her mother, she came to know about Shruti The School of Music, where she has been learning Kathak for the past nine years.

Gurus & Role Models

Pandit Narendra Kumar Byawat is Titiksha’s guru and mentor in Kathak. She feels deeply inspired by videos of his performances and finds herself speechless while trying to express the emotions they evoke in her. His grace, speed, and elegance in movement inspire her immensely, and she aspires to achieve that level of excellence someday.

The Talent

The young dancer believes that Kathak has greatly improved her mind-body coordination, helping her perform daily activities with greater flexibility and balance. Although practicing Kathak can be physically demanding and exhausting, it gives her a deep sense of joy, fulfillment, and inner peace that makes every effort worthwhile. She also feels more focused and stress-free because of her dedication to dance. Alongside her passion for Kathak, she has achieved academic excellence by securing 91.6% in Class XII and is currently pursuing the first year of her BA while continuing her Kathak training actively.

Achievements

Titiksha Arya has earned a Prabhakar degree from Prayag Sangeet Samiti and a Visharad degree from Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalaya Mandal. With numerous performances at national and school-level stages, she has also performed at an international festival held in Mumbai, where she was the youngest performer and was honored with the Kalashree Award during the Nritya Tarangini Utsav. She has also completed a degree in classical vocals and enjoys drawing and painting in her spare time. In addition, she performed a Thumri at the Marvelous Mrs. India International Award Ceremony and participated in a group dance performance representing her college at Shilpgram. She has also participated in the National Youth Festival, where she reached the state level.

A Bit More

A message from young star Titiksha to everyone is: “Dance is a profession, and if you truly wish to pursue it, people may often question how dance can become a full-time career. However, one should remain firm in his or her decision and continue practicing consistently.” She also loves the quote, “Jo riyaaz kare, woh raaj kare.” Another quote that inspires her before every performance is, “Practice like you’ve never won; perform like you’ve never lost.”