Anisha Vaidya
Shishyaa
Anisha has thoroughly enjoyed a decade of learning under the tutelage of her guru Monalisa Dhobley.
Anisha embarked on her Bharatanatyam journey at the age of 8. As each year passed by, she developed a strong liking to the art form and became more rhythmic and expressive. After passing 5 levels of exams spread across 5 years, she obtained a diploma at the age of 14 from the Samved Conservatory of Indian Classical Music & Dance (North America) which enhanced her knowledge about Bharatanatyam and created a profound connection to her culture.
Anisha has been an excellent student throughout her school years. She was recognized as the 2026 National Merit Scholarship Program Commended Student. She was awarded the prestigious Anandi Gopal Scholarship 2026 for outstanding academic excellence by Marathi Vishwa, a non-profit cultural, educational, and service organization in New Jersey.
She has also been committed to volunteering. Of all the organizations she has volunteered, Asha for Education (Princeton chapter) has been close to her heart. As an Indian American teen, she feels a responsibility to give back to kids in India who share the same ethnicity but do not get the same opportunities. She worked with friends in the South Asian community to pass on the gift of education to children of the indigenous Adivasi community in India. She has received the President's Bronze Volunteer Service Award for her volunteer work with Asha for Education.
Navarasa
Anisha has graduated from high school with honors and will be pursuing a major in Physics and Astronomy at University of Maryland in the fall. She hopes to stay connected to Bharatanatyam and garner appreciation for the art form in college and beyond.