Written by Anusree K COctober 9, 2025 06:55 PM IST 4 min readShijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon have been dancing together for about two decades. (Source: Instagram/@sndancephotography)Trained in the Kalakshetra tradition of Chennai, where their paths crossed, Shijith Nambiar and Parvathy Menon have been dancing together for about two decades. They share a quiet rhythm both on stage and off it. Over the years, the husband-and-wife duo has built a style that blends careful technique with thoughtful expression besides being known for the way small details — a hand gesture, a glance, a step — carry meaning.“We’ve been dancing together for twenty years now,” says Parvathy. “Our chemistry has evolved naturally over time,” adds Shijeeth who will be performing at the 29th Parampara Festival in the Capital on October 10. The two will present a margam, including Nattakurinji varnam, Swami Naan Undan by Papanasam Sivan — a work that has been appreciated in the past.Over the years Shijith and Parvathy have built a rhythm that matches with each other over the years. “Usually we plan the choreography keeping in mind both the shared sections and the individual spaces which are decided according to what the organisers are seeking,” Shijith explains their process of choreography.The duo believe that experimentation must grow from deep roots. “The classical form is limitless. Within the structure, there is immense room to explore new dimensions — ideas, philosophies and ways of presentation. Innovation and tradition go hand in hand. The root gives you strength and innovation gives you wings to fly,” says Parvathy.Parvathy stresses on the importance of the guru-shishya bond in shaping an artist and feel that you need “the right hands to take you forward”. “Nowadays, there are YouTube and Instagram gurus, but classical arts need a guiding hand. You have to trust the process — it’s like slow cooking; it takes time,” adds Shijith. The duo believe that in the classical artform the roots have to go deep down.Their grounded approach fits naturally into the 29th edition of Parampara Series, the annual national festival of dance and music, presented by Natya Tarangini under the guidance of Dr Raja, Radha and Kaushalya Reddy.Curated by Bhavana Reddy, the festival, which began on October 8 with a performance by Ulhas Kashalkar, will conclude on October 10 at the Capital’s Kamani Auditorium. The festival brings together senior maestros and emerging artists together. “Raja ji always says that art is like a river – the flow will change, but the banks must stay intact,” says Kaushalya Reddy, Kuchipudi exponent and artistic director of Natya Tarangini. “The younger generation has a different energy, new ideas, and global exposure that bring fresh beauty to traditional forms,” she adds.Story continues below this adThe festival’s opening night on October 8 featured Pt. Ulhas Kashalkar, one of Hindustani classical music’s foremost vocalists who has received training in the Gwalior, Jaipur and Agra gharana, followed by the performance of the Raja Radha Reddy Kuchipudi troupe, led by the dancing duo themselves. The second evening, October 9, will stage the jugalbandi of Patri Satish Kumar on mridangam and Satyajit Talwalkar on tabla, followed by Rahul Acharya’s Odissi recital. The final evening on October 10, will showcase the popular violin duet of Ganesh and Kumaresh, which will be followed by Bharatanatyam performance of the duo Shijijth and Parvathy.In keeping with the spirit of inclusion, the organisers have opened the tickets to the festival student audiences at a discounted rate. Dance and music students can avail 50 percent off on tickets by presenting a valid ID. “Earlier, Parampara was an invite-only event. But since the past few years, we have made it a ticketed event, which makes people value the experience more,” says Kaushalya Reddy.© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:Bharatnatyam