NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Johns Creek, GA, September 2025: For many women, motherhood brings with it sacrifices—careers paused, hobbies abandoned, passions shelved until “later.” But for Sweta Shetty of Johns Creek, “later” never meant letting go. Instead, it meant reclaiming an old dream, step by step, alongside her daughter.
On July 27, 2025, the stage of Gas South Theater became a testament not only to years of discipline in Bharatanatyam but also to the unbreakable bond between a mother and her daughter. Sweta and her 16-year-old daughter, Sharanya, performed their Arangetram together—a milestone that marks a dancer’s first full-length solo performance after years of rigorous training.
A Shared Beginning
Ten years ago, when Sharanya was just seven, Sweta enrolled her in classical dance lessons. Instead of watching from the sidelines, she decided to lace up her own anklets and learn alongside her daughter. “It wasn’t just about dance,” Sweta reflects. “It was about walking the same journey—sharing every adavu, every struggle, every triumph.”
What began as parallel training soon grew into a partnership. Sweta choreographed competition pieces for Sharanya, guiding her through performances at Dance Fever, ATA, and IACA events. Sharanya went on to win top prizes—including first place at the Pujari Association’s Atlanta Icon competition in 2023—each time presenting dances shaped by her mother’s creativity.
Dance as Family Culture
Beyond Bharatanatyam, Sweta built her own Bollywood dance academy, Natyasharanam, in 2016. From one student, it has grown into a thriving community in Johns Creek and Cumming, with students of all ages performing at local cultural events. Yet, the Shetty family’s weekends were often consumed by rehearsals, competitions, and practice sessions. “It takes away family time, but none of us see it as a sacrifice,” says Sweta’s husband, Pradeep. Their son, Agastya, became as much a supporter of the journey as an observer.
The Discipline Behind the Stage Lights
Preparing for an Arangetram is not for the faint-hearted. It requires a decade of dedication, strict routines, diet control, and endless repetition. For Sweta, this discipline meant proving that passion can be pursued at any stage of life. For Sharanya, a Johns Creek High School junior juggling AP classes, quizzes, and volunteer work, it was a lesson in resilience. “This year made me stronger,” Sharanya says. “Dance taught me how to balance challenges and still give my best.”
A Celebration of Generations
The July performance drew over 225 guests, including Sweta’s parents, who traveled from India to witness the milestone. The audience marveled not only at their synchronized grace but also at how mother and daughter looked like mirror images on stage—two generations moving in perfect rhythm, indistinguishable in poise and passion.
For Sweta, the Arangetram was not an endpoint but a beginning. “The stage is sacred for an artist,” she says. “An Arangetram isn’t about completing a journey—it’s about starting a lifelong one.” For Sharanya, it was a bridge between childhood and the cusp of adulthood, a memory to carry as she prepares for college.
Mothers Reclaiming Dreams
The Shetty story is part of a larger trend—mothers rediscovering old passions or finding new ones through the lives of their children. Whether it’s dance, art, writing, or entrepreneurship, many women are stepping onto stages—literal or metaphorical—that they once thought they had left behind.
Sweta sums it up best: “I wanted my daughter to love dance, but in the process, I fell in love with it too. And that has been the greatest gift.”
