Jayanthi Sivakumar
Born and brought up in Chennai, India, Jayanthi had an opportunity to learn the Indian Classical dance – Bharatanatyam from her Late Guru Uma Sundaram who is an alumni of Kalakshetra, Chennai. Alternating between dance and completing her Masters in Medical Microbiology, She became a free-lance artist, performing with many eminent dance professionals & dance companies in India and abroad,
Jayanthi obtained a PGCE from Edge Hill University, Lancashire in 2003 to qualify as a teacher and taught secondary science in many schools as a supply teacher for 7 years. Taking teaching as her professional career, allowed her the flexibility to pursue her dance teaching. Having taught dance for more than 15 years and along the way, choreographed dance for competition in National dance for Elizabeth school of dance, St Helens, Merseyside, the passion for dance took the primary position in teaching.
Jayanthi successfully runs her own dance school in Manchester called “Tejas Dance”. She is a member of ISTD (Imperial Society for Teachers of Dance) for Classical Indian Dance -Bharatanatyam and now train students for ISTD grade exams. She also involves them to participate locally in shows and workshops to motivate themselves to boost their self confidence. Jayanthi is now associated with Yuva Gati at DanceXchange, Birmingham where she assists in training talented young dancers from all over UK giving them an opportunity to realise their full dancing potentials and to become an excellent performing artists. She has completed a certificate course on “Safe Dance Practice” conducted by Trinity College in 2012. She is also a member of “Peoples Dancing” to be in touch with the community. Jayanthi continues with her professional development by attending masterclasses in UK & India and continues to do dance research.