Hillsborough Classical Indian Dancer Earns Youngarts Award

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A Hillsborough student earned a Youngarts award in Dance for the second year in a row.

Swathi Jaisankar earned the 2017 award and also earned the same award in 2016 in the same category - Classical Indian Dance.

“It’s really great to win two times in a row,” Jaisankar told Patch. “Wow.”

Jaisankar began dancing at the age of four. She tried all types of dancing such as ballet and transitioned to classical Indian at seven years old.

“It really helped keep me in touch with my Indian roots,” Jaisankar said.

Now as a college freshman at Boston University, Jaisankar participates in a Bollywood Fusion Dance team. It’s a mix of contemporary, hip hop and lots of other styles of dance.

“Because I have a strong foundation in Classical Indian dance, I can pick up on other forms of dance much easier,” Jaisankar said.

As part of her award, Jaisankar will receive a cash prize, a medal, a letter of recognition and a plaque for the school.

Jaisankar is currently majoring in Computer Engineering and is happy to have dancing as a way to unwind.

“After a long day of classes I look for forward to dance practice,” Jaisankar said.

Additionally, Jaisankar will be returning back to her home country, India, to perform. She won another competition in the summer where she won the trip. It will be her first time performing in India.

“I was born there and moved here when I was two,” Jaisankar said. “I am really excited to go and see my family and have them be there to watch me dance.”

(Images and video via Jaisankar)

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