I am Manaswini , 11 years old.

I study in DAV School, Adambakkam, and reside in Nanganallur, Chennai.

From the age of five, I have been learning Bharatanatyam from my guru Suma akka.

Appreciating my dance performance in school, my mother took great interest and took me to Suma akka who is an expert in training students / children like me.

Since then, my dance school at Nungambakkam has become a place of passion for me. It is a place where my akka keeps me motivated, a place I love.

I dance for at least 15 hours a week: more if we have rehearsals.

I come home from school around four in the evening, and mother takes me to dance class by train travelling from Pazhavanthangal to Nungambakkam in Chennai.

Even though I am spending a large amount of time on dance everyday, I manage to get decent grades in school.

My arangetram took place at Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, Mylapore (Chennai) when I was nine years old. I still remember the day when my father expressed his fear to my teacher ­ he wondered if I could perform a solo for two hours  at this  age.

I had a great arangetram. All because of the coaching given by my guru ­ I had the rare privilege of my guru paying personal attention to me.

The arangetram was on Aug  20, 2004, a Friday. I danced with all my heart.  I had great exponents as guests -  Padmini aunty, ŒJaya TV¹ Radhika akka, Gopika akka  - to watch my performance. I  felt I was in heaven when the great Padmini aunty called me 'Little Shobana' seeing  my performance.

I have been winning dance competitions and given 25 performances in the last two years, including sabha kutcheris for the December season. In the recent Natyanjali dance fest at Thanjavur, I had the rarest opportunity of doing nattuvangam for my guru at this age. I was thrilled when my guru hugged me and appreciated my work.

My dream is to dance, dance, and dance. I love to dance and I love to make a career in dance.

For  December Season 2006, I will present 3 solos. On 31st December, you can watch me performing for the songs (on original track) of  Maharajapuram Sri Santhanam ­ the doyen of Carnatic music.

Please visit my web site www.manaswini.com to know lot more about me.