Anika Iyer, a sophomore at the Baldwin School, combined her passion for the arts and her desire to help the community by raising more than $5,000 for Cradles to Crayons at her Bharatanatyam Arangetram (classical Indian dance solo debut).
Anika has studied Bharatanatyam, a highly expressive dance form consisting of rhythmic footwork and stylized hand movements, often choreographed to tell a story, for the past nine years. An Arangetram (solo debut) is performed when the student gains proficiency after years of rigorous training. This milestone marks the beginning of the dancer’s journey into becoming an accomplished artist.
On July 19, 2014, Anika celebrated her Indian classical dance debut in front of an audience of around 400 guests at the beautiful Upper Dublin High School Performing Arts Center. She dedicated her performance toward humanitarian effort. In lieu of gifts, she requested donations to Cradles to Crayons, the West Conshohocken nonprofit that provides children from birth through age 12, living in homeless or low-income situations, with the essential items they need.
Thanks to the generous contributions from the guests, she was able to raise more than $5,000 for Cradles to Crayons, where she regularly volunteers.
“I believe in giving back to my community first and I am so glad that my humble attempt to raise awareness and funds for Cradles to Crayons was successful,” said Anika. “Since I volunteer there, I know and love what they do and I am thrilled that I can make a difference in someone’s life.”
In addition to her love for the arts, Anika is an honors student, the MVP and captain of her JV volleyball team and has represented the Baldwin School in Model UN, Model Congress, at girls’ leadership conferences, in math competitions and swim teams. She credits her family and her school for empowering her to think big and beyond herself.