Lalli Venkat is an Indian classical dancer and choreographer from the San Francisco Bay Area. From an early age, she developed a passion for Indian dance and music that has led to 17 years of rigorous training and performance in bharathanatyam under Smt.  Jayanthi Sridharan (disciple of Sri Adyar K. Lakshman) and carnatic music under Smt. Anuradha Sridhar (disciple of Sri Lalgudi Jayaraman). She also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in South Asian Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. 

 

Lalli is versed in the kalakshethra style of bharatanatyam, and her own choreography aspires to meld an eclectic sense of music with intricate rhythms, lines, and expression. She aspires to communicate this traditional art form to modern audiences.

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Her early career consisted of performances and competitions across the state of California as she honed her craft and completed her arangetram in 2010. While at UC Berkeley she founded the Indian classical dance team Natya at Berkeley, which sparked her interest in choreography and new dance styles. She also received the FLAS Fellowship from the Department of Education for her academic scholarship of Tamil language and culture. Currently, Lalli is pursuing her dance career as a soloist and choreographer. She also recently became a member of the San Francisco-based dance company Nava Dance.