Not every child who wants to learn gets the opportunity.
In many families, daily priorities leave little room for activities like the arts. Yet, these are often the very spaces where children discover confidence, expression, and a sense of belonging.
At the same time, there is a growing need for meaningful outlets that support emotional well-being — especially among young individuals.
And somewhere along the way, our classical art forms risk becoming distant from everyday life.
Shivang Foundation creates access to Indian classical and regional art forms as meaningful, living practices — extending beyond performance into everyday experience. While Bharatanatyam remains a strong foundation of the work, the larger vision embraces the richness of diverse Indian art traditions, each carrying its own language of rhythm, expression, and storytelling. Through structured training and community-based initiatives, the foundation creates spaces where individuals — especially children and young people —can learn, explore, and grow through these art forms.
Read moreThe foundation’s work today comes together through a few focused initiatives:
By bringing together art, learning, and community, the foundation creates spaces where individuals grow with confidence, expression, and a strong sense of self —— beyond performance alone.
The journey began in 2010 with a small Bharatanatyam institution in Guwahati.
Over the years, it grew steadily — shaped by the students who came in, the challenges they faced, and the need to make this learning accessible to more people.
Many who wanted to learn could not, simply because of financial limitations. In response, the initiative opened its doors wider — offering free and subsidised training wherever needed.
As the work expanded and reached more people, it became important to give it a formal structure.
In 2025, Shivang Foundation was established as a Section 8 organization — not as a beginning, but as a natural step forward in a journey that had already been underway for years.
Namrata Tiwari Talukdar begins teaching Bharatanatyam in Guwahati with a small group of passionate students, laying the foundation for a larger cultural movement.
With a vision to make classical arts accessible to all, free and subsidised dance training is introduced for children from underserved and economically challenged backgrounds.
The initiative gains wider recognition through performances, workshops, and outreach programmes focused on culture, wellness, and youth empowerment.
Therapeutic movement and mental wellness programmes are introduced, combining classical arts with emotional well-being and holistic healing practices.
Shivang Foundation is officially registered as a Section 8 non-profit organisation, formalising its mission to preserve culture, empower communities, and create social impact through the arts.
The official Shivang Foundation website is launched, expanding digital outreach, increasing accessibility, and helping the organisation connect with supporters, students, and collaborators worldwide.
The foundation continues to expand its cultural and social initiatives, supporting hundreds of students through dance education, wellness programmes, and community engagement.
The aim is not only to train performers, but to support individuals in their overall growth.
Explore Our WorkIt is a discipline that builds:
Namrata Tiwari Talukdar is a versatile dancer and Therapeutic Movement Practitioner with over two decades of experience in the classical dance forms of Bharatanatyam and Manipuri. Trained under Professor M. R. Krishnamurthy, a devoted disciple of the legendary Rukmini Devi Arundale, she has established herself as a respected performer, educator, and advocate for the arts and holistic wellness. Namrata has been a panellist at the Women Economic Forum North East (2018) and was honoured by the All-Ladies League, Delhi (2019), for excellence in dance and women’s leadership. Her performances and contributions have also been featured in programmes organised by the Kannada & Cultural Department of Karnataka and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
Her artistic journey has taken her to several prestigious stages across India, where she has captivated audiences with grace, discipline, and emotional depth. She has performed at renowned cultural festivals including the Natyanjali Festival of Chidambaram and the Hampi Festival of Karnataka, earning appreciation for her expressive storytelling and command over classical traditions.
Her work bridges performance, pedagogy, and healing, using movement as a medium for self-expression and emotional well-being. Namrata has facilitated therapeutic dance movement sessions for institutions such as the National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD), All India Institute of Medical Sciences – College of Nursing (AIIMS-CON), FICCI Flo (North East), Assam Downtown University, Asian Institute of Nursing Education (AINE), Delhi Public School, and Assam Downtown School. Through workshops and guided sessions, she continues to help individuals discover balance, confidence, and inner harmony through movement.
Her academic journey reflects equal distinction. Namrata Tiwari Talukdar holds a degree in B.A. LL.B. and an M.F.A. in Bharatanatyam from Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli. She is also a certified Therapeutic Movement Practitioner, trained under the Creative Movement Therapy Association of India and accredited by CID-UNESCO France, combining artistic excellence with therapeutic practice in a unique and impactful way.
The NGO and the Academy serve different purposes — and together they create a self-sustaining ecosystem of impact.
Every contribution — large or small — extends access to a child who deserves it.
