Erina Kasai’s journey into Bharatanatyam began in her early twenties, driven by a desire to explore deeper meaning and self-expression. She left behind a fast-paced life as a graphic designer in Tokyo and moved to Chennai, where she immersed herself in the study of dance under the Dhananjayan family.

Following her 2007 Arangetram, she still doubted her expertise and decided to continue her Bharatanatyam studies at the prestigious Kalakshetra Foundation. There, she met her husband, a local artist. The two now live together in Taiwan, where Erina founded the Takadimi Academy. “My policy of teaching dance here, my first priority, is to let students love and enjoy Bharatanatyam,” she says. “It’s not only dance…it’s not only physical movements. There is philosophy behind it; there is abhinaya; there are ancient stories. I want my students to enjoy dance, so I try to teach the beauty of Bharatanatyam.” Erina continues to perform and to inspire others through her devotion to the art.