Shishya School Of Performing Arts is a dance company founded by Mrs. Its sole purpose is to educate and qualify students in the art of Indian performing arts such as dance, music, mythology and theater. The word Shishya is of Sanskrit origin and means the student. As the name, suggests, we focus on the students and what is most important to them to understand and cultivate the Indian art. She, her assistant teachers and her students give lecture demonstrations for various prestigious organizations. Every year the students participate in talent shows, competitions, Poojas, fundraisers and the schools own annual production. The school, in their productions demonstrate and perform both traditional items and fusion items which include Kathak-Bharathanatyam Jugalbandhis for several productions. Every year the school conducts an annual day production with themes such as Nritya Rasaa – the essence of dance, Sthree – the Woman and Kaavyanjali – a dedication to poetry. On this occasion, the students dance for a cause and donate funds to charity. The recepients of this have been organizations such as NAMI, MANAVI and AIA, the Institute for children with Cancer and other Blood disorders American RED Cross and Operation Smile. The school and the founder were recently written up in the Lawrence MarketPlace newspaper. The school was also selected to perform for a state dept. function in front of the consulate general of India. Some of the more recent performances include ones for the Rotary club and Tamil Sangham. Shishya, is without doubt, one of the leading institutions of its kind in the South-Central Jersey area. Students have not only proudly graduated from here but also have used their dance portfolios built here, successfully in college applications for recognition and scholarships.
