Smt. Mythili Kumar (Choreography & Nattuvangam)

See biography here.

Smt. Malavika Kumar Walia (Nattuvangam)

Malavika Kumar Walia is a senior company dancer, choreographer, and teacher, for the Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose. She is the daughter of Artistic Director Mythili Kumar and has performed in many of Abhinaya Dance Company’s productions since 1992, as well as toured with the company to India and around the U.S.A. Malavika has been performing nattuvangam for the Abhinaya Dance Company since 2000 for both its Bay Area productions and on tour. In a 2004 performance in Chennai, she was lauded by a critic as ‘the star of the show’ for her ‘precise, well-intoned nattuvangam’. She currently is one of the main nattuvanars for Abhinaya's annual company productions, arangetrams, and Rasika Kumar’s solo performances. She additionally has composed numerous jathis and choreographed items for solo and group performance. In January 2020, she was appointed as the Director of the newly launched Junior Dance Company.

Smt. Asha Ramesh (Vocals)

Asha Ramesh is a renowned Carnatic Music Master Artist, an experienced singer for classical dance, and an accomplished Hindustani bhajan singer. She was trained in India under renowned teachers in India and has won awards throughout her musical career. Asha also earned the Bachelor and Master’s degrees in music from Madras University. Since 1993 she has composed the music for all of Abhinaya’s original concerts. She received the Vijayalakshmi Award for best vocalist from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in 2010 and the title of Isai Arasi by Trinity Arts Festival of India, Chennai in 2013. Asha was a master artist in Alliance for California Traditional arts -ACTA’s Apprenticeship Program in 2000 and 2005.

Sri. N. Narayanan (Mridangam and Kanjira)

N. Narayanan comes from an illustrious family of musicians who, in addition to singing classical Carnatic music, are proficient in Bhajana Sampradaya - the renderings of devotional songs and hymns on festival days. Narayanan had his training in mridangam under his father Sri. P.V. Natarajan and Sri. P.S. Parameswaran of Mumbai. He has accompanied several leading musicians and has won awards for his performances in India and in Bahrain. He is a much sought after mridangist for dance concerts. He has been playing consistently for all Abhinaya productions since 1990, contributing immensely to the company’s several successful productions. Additionally, Narayanan is a gifted vocalist who also plays the harmonium.

Smt. Shanthi Narayanan (Violin)

Shanthi Narayanan had her initial training in violin under Sri. A. Anantharama Bhagavathar. She has accompanied several leading artists both in India and Bahrain. She has played for many dance productions and music concerts in the Bay Area. She has been playing consistently for all Abhinaya productions since 1990, contributing immensely to the company’s several successful productions.