Aanika first started learning dance at the age of 5 with the Triveni School in Brookline.  She has been studying with the Vidyanjali School for the last 7 years. During this time, she has had the opportunity to perform at various Holi, Diwali, and Independence Day festivals in the area as well as at invited performances with the Mateo School of Ballet in Cambridge.  She is carrying on the tradition of dance in the family, as her mother, Namita, completed her arangetram in 1991 in NJ under the guidance of Guru Padmini Ramakrishnan, a friend to the Chandra Sekhar family. 

Aanika is a sophomore in high school at BB&N in Cambridge.  She lives in Newton with her parents and two younger brothers, Ayaan and Vihaan.  When asked to describe herself, Aanika says, “I would call myself caring, intuitive, and calm. Outside of school, I am passionate about classical Bharatanatyam. This, and my culture as a whole, mean a lot to me.  I participate in many different groups (IAYG and IFNET) committed to sharing that passion with the community.  Whenever I get a chance, I love to read, and often devour books within a few hours.”

At school, Aanika’s favorite subjects are history and Latin. In addition to dance, Aanika plays soccer for the NEFC club and BB&N teams, volunteers at the food pantry, and plays the drums.

As a family, the Seth Mohta’s enjoy outdoor activities like hiking, visiting national parks, and skiing. On Friday nights, they eat pasta, enjoying Ayaan’s baked goods, and watching Marvel movies.