Today we’d like to introduce you to Sireesha Avadhanam.
Hi Sireesha, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in Andhra Pradesh, India. I immigrated to San Diego in 2001, and since then, I have called this beautiful San Diego, this great country, my home. I currently work as a Director of Program Management for a Cloud Services company in their networking organization. I am married and have two beautiful daughters. I completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sciences in India, with two gold medals in Chemistry and Computer Science. After I moved to San Diego, I started working for an IT company as a Program Manager from 2004. I worked in various roles in Program Management and achieved organic growth in my career. MBA was my long-term dream. In 2014, I completed an MBA from Rady’s School of Management, UCSD San Diego, with a focus in Finance Management and Program Management. After my MBA, I started working for Qualcomm Inc. in their Automotive Division for Program Management. Soon, I achieved multiple promotions in a short span of time. In 2021, I started working as a Principal Technical Program Manager for Oracle Cloud Infrastructure in their networking division.
While Program Management is my professional passion that uses my mind and intellect, the Indian Classical dance is my emotional and artistic passion that uses my heart. I was fortunate to have been deeply immersed in the world of Indian classical dance at a young age. Having started learning Kuchipudi at the age of 5, it became more than just an extracurricular activity for me; it became my passion. This passion led me to explore another ancient dance form called Bharatanatyam. While I excelled in my career, in parallel, I continued my dance journey too.
Even after relocating to the US, I continued to practice both dance forms called Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam on local platforms and cultural organizations.
In 2007, responding to the encouragement from family and friends, I founded a dance school with an intention to train local students in Indian Classical dances. The dance school is called Manjeera Academy of Dances. Since then, the academy has been a hub for training students and showcasing their talent at various events and cultural organizations. I have trained many local students in San Diego in both Dance forms.
In 2018, a significant milestone was achieved. Our dance school was recognized in 2018 and got an affiliation with the University of SiliconAndhra, which is located in the Bay Area California. This affiliation enabled multiple opportunities for our students. Our students can receive WASP Accredited Certification programs, offering structured learning in both practical and theoretical aspects of Kuchipudi. In addition to training students, I registered for a Master’s program in Kuchipudi.
A heartfelt appreciation goes out to the University of SiliconAndhra for their online Master’s program, which allowed me to connect and learn from eminent Kuchipudi exponents and renowned Gurus.
We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It was not easy. Balancing work, academy, family, and learning new skills was not at all easy. Till 2015, I was able to focus on professional work and teaching both dance forms at two different locations. On the work front, I was given higher responsibilities, and I needed to be under the radar all the time. Meanwhile, I also had to focus on incorporating our traditions and rituals to our daughters. It was getting stressful. I did not want to over-commit and underperform. I had to make a tough decision between teaching dance and work. After thoughtful contemplation, I made the difficult decision to stop teaching Bharatanatyam and focused solely on Kuchipudi. The rationale behind this decision was the availability of Bharatanatyam teachers in San Diego, allowing my students to continue their learning, while the presence of Kuchipudi teachers in the region was limited. In 2021, another profound challenge emerged with the loss of my mother. The impact was immense, and I spiraled into a state of depression, unable to concentrate on anything. During the same period, I started working as Principal Technical program manager at Oracle. I was responsible for managing programs for deploying network services in government-owned realms and running security and compliance programs. However, facing this adversity head-on, I had to channel my energy into constructing a positive life. So, I turned towards meditation. I completed the Inner Engineering course offered by Isha Foundation, and became my everyday ritual yoga time. This led me to resume teaching classes, continue pursuing my master’s program, and also started learning the Tala system.
Reflecting on the challenges faced, I realized that the love for one’s passion, coupled with dedication and perseverance, can indeed lead to greater heights. All the turmoil I took resulted in me becoming Director of Program Management for Cloud technologies. Also, I taught an impressive 40 dance pieces; out of them 20 were skillfully showcased by my talented students. In the dance arena, twenty of our students also completed various certification programs, with eight of them achieving the significant milestone of completing the Kuchipudi Margam. Both my girls love to be part of our traditions and enjoy celebrating festivals with much love and joy.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
For all the contributions I made in the Classical dance arena, I have been honored with titles such as Natya Sindhuri, Natya Kala Bhushan, and the prestigious Kuchipudi Excellence Award from the Andhra Pradesh State Cultural Commission. I received an award of recognition from the U.S. House of Representatives, and I have been bestowed with the Distinguished Woman of 2023 award by the American Telugu Association. These honors are not just symbols of achievement; they act as motivating forces, inspiring me to intensify my efforts and reach new heights.
Born into a family of professional teachers and artists, it’s safe to say that constructive teaching is my blood group. Managing tough programs for bigger corporations is always my interest. I want to be a role model for my daughters and students. Every program I undertake or every class I undertake, I approach it as if it was my first class/program. My goal is to guide future generations to grasp core technical concepts and become the torchbearers of this disciplinary art form.
Could you please share a childhood memory?
This sweet memory revolves around the cherished moments of getting ready for a dance performance, where the love and support of my parents shine through. It starts with my mom taking the lead in preparing me for the stage. The anticipation and excitement build up as my dad, armed with his exceptional photography skills, captures these precious moments.
On the day of the performance, the family tradition involves leaving home after lunch. The backstage atmosphere is filled with camaraderie as everyone, including a makeup artist and live musicians, gathers together. Getting ready becomes a delightful experience, marked by laughter and casual conversations.
Amidst this united scene, my mom is the strongest cheerleader and the most discerning critic. Her presence and encouragement provide a comforting anchor. As I take the stage, my parents occupy the front row, watching me with pride as I showcase my talent. Their unwavering support is evident in the constructive feedback they provide after the performance. My dad, in addition to being an audience member, becomes a visual storyteller, capturing the essence of the moment through his lens. Post-performance, my dad transforms these captured memories into artistic shots, adding his creative touch to the already special occasion.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/manjeeraacademyofdances
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/manjeeraacademyofdances
