Aarthi’s Story of Giving Veterans Memorial High School dancer donates paycheck to Driscoll patients
High school senior and Driscoll volunteer Aarthi Palaniappan loves to dance.
Aarthi’s parents, Devanayagam Palaniappan and Archana Krishnagiri, brush off the long drives. The lessons helped Aarthi learn about her culture. After years of practice and performance, Aarthi found herself wanting to teach Bharatanatyam. Three years ago, she began instructing children, passing along the movements she had devoted herself to. “They come to our house, which is about a 15-minute drive for them,” mom said of the students. “They come, they dance, and they go. We keep the culture. And it continues.” Aarthi has been volunteering at Driscoll for two years, one of the many activities that keeps her busy, like presiding over the school’s National Honor Society, being Vice President of Chemistry Club, and being one of the top students in her graduating class.
Skilled at Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance, she says the art is a way of conveying a story and a journey of healing. It requires mental and physical discipline to tell that story, as performances can go on for hours. Aarthi saw her first Bharatanatyam performance at the age of four when her parents took her to a dance in San Antonio. “It was just a beautiful art that was eye-opening for me,” Aarthi said.
Inspired and committed to learning, she would make the drive to San Antonio again and again to receive expert lessons.
8
SUMMER 2024 DRISCOLL LIFE
driscollchildrens.org
Made with FlippingBook - Online Brochure Maker