Vedic Chanting
Pandit Ravichandran
Pandit Ravichandran is a vedic scholar and obtained his certification with the Kanchikamakoti Sri Paramacharya in 1967. After that, he completed the Mimamsa & Tarkam for the entrance exam for Veda Bhashyam and studied for 4yrs Siromani course at Madras Sanskrith College. He previously served for over 9yrs as a Veda Parayanam at TTD in Rishikesh and Tirumala. He was awarded a certificate at an all India Vedic competition at the Ambaji Mandir in Gujarat. He also served as a chief priest at Meenakshi temple Port Louis Mauritius Island. For 2 years, he served as chief priest in Flint Michigan and from 1983-88, he served as chief priest at Livermore Temple. Currently serving the Bay Area Hindu communities and all over USA, he conducts pujas, classes in puja vidhi and vedic chanting. He has trained over 25 students that regularly accompany him to perform functions for devotees like Shastiabtapurthi, Upanayanam, and more. He is an officiated pandit for the Chinmaya Mission Bay Area. Pandit has been at Kalaikoil since 1994! You can reach Pandit at email: panditravi@comcast.net
Carnatic Vocals
Smt Vasudha Prasad
Smt Vasudha Prasad studied Carnatic Classical vocals under Sri Belakawadi Srinivasa Iyengar for over 12yrs and completed her junior & senior level, & 1 year of training at profiency level. Smt Vasudha has directed & taught music at Kalaikoil for the past 8yrs. As such many students were able to reach advanced levels and even participate at Livermore Temple events including the Children's Day and more.
Smt Maala Kaundinya
Smt Maala began teaching at Kalaikoil in 2009 and has been active teaching and encouraging new beginners and helping many of our students participate in temple programs.
Bharatanatyam
Smt Swetha Dixit
Swetha trained in Bharatanatyam under Guru Smt Vasanthi Gopinath Jayaswal (daughter of Guru Gopinath/Thankamani of Kerala). In Chennai, she continued learning under Late Guru Sri Kalaimamani VS Muthuswamy Pillai (Swetha's parameshti 3rd generation guru in this Tanjore style of Bharatanatyam), and also studied theory under Late Sri TS Parthasarathy of Music Academy for two years. She also took special courses in abhinaya under Smt Kalanidhi Narayanan. Swetha previously performed Bharatanatyam professionally with Young Audiences of Northern California and has independently performed over 500 programs throughout USA, India and Asia. She has been teaching and promoting Bharatanatyam for the past 16 years. As artistic director and founder of Kalaikoil, she annually provides around 50 free community programs. This not only showcases her student's talents and encourages their individual cultural awareness but also presents this dance art tradition to the local community. She has contributed to many Bay Area theatrical productions with her original choreography and as such, was awarded the Lucas Performing Arts award and a Rotary Scholarship. Her students have received first place in numerous competitions including the Ohlone Theater Festival in World Dance, Rotary, Pleasanton Arts council, India Waves Competition. She is proud that 6 of her students completed an arangetram/alagappa degree while at Kalaikoil.
