Bengaluru Twins Win Hearts Worldwide with Dance
New Delhi, January 22, 2026 : 39-year-old Archana and Chetana are established Bharatnatyam dancers now with their own institution, Nrithyarpanam School of Dance. However, that was not always the case. What sounds like a dream to many dancers in India, had a humble beginning and took sacrifices and overcoming bumpy roads along the way for these women to be who they are today.
Archana and Chetana, twin sisters from Bengaluru, faced a life-altering loss at the tender age of three, when they lost their mother. Their father, unable to shoulder the sudden mammoth responsibility of raising two toddlers all by himself, turned to SOS Children’s Villages India. The girls soon found a home in SOS Children’s Villages Bengaluru and they were brought under the care of an SOS Mother, which eventually became the foundation of the lives they lead and their career today.
Sumanta Kar, CEO, SOS Children’s Villages India says, “From an early age, SOS Children’s Villages India recognised not only their academic potential but also their artistic inclination. Alongside formal schooling, the twins were enrolled in Bharatanatyam classes, a decision that eventually shaped their life’s purpose. We ensured that Archana and Chetana grew up in a secure, nurturing family environment that prioritised education, values, and emotional well-being.”
With consistent support from SOS India, both sisters successfully completed their bachelor’s degrees in engineering. Soon after graduation, they entered the corporate sector. However, driven by a deep passion for dance nurtured since childhood, they took the brave decision to follow their hearts and left their corporate careers to pursue Bharatanatyam professionally. Their decision was met with encouragement and support from SOS Children’s Villages India as they helped the twins transition into this next phase of their lives. Archana and Chetana eventually went on to become accomplished Bharatanatyam professionals, nationally and internationally recognised for their artistry.
Their achievements include being Cultural Ambassadors of India, a critically acclaimed Arangetram, debut performance in 2004, empanelment as Indian Council for Cultural Relations artists, and multiple prestigious honours such as the Natya Mayuri Award from Chennai, the US Krishna Rao and Chandra Bhagadevi Endowment Award from Karnataka, the Akka Award from Chicago, USA, and Rotary Nachaley 2017. They are also graded artistes of Doordarshan.
Archana said, “We wanted to give back to the dance community that has done so much for us and helped shape who we are. Our childhood would have been incomplete without dance. It is the art that helped us cope with being away from our father, losing our mother, and leaving our house. We don’t know where we would be if we didn’t have dance in our lives. We opened Nrithyarpanam School of Dance with this thought in mind. If we can even change one life for the better through dance, our work would be successful. We want to be for today’s kids what dance was to us, growing up.”
“We will be ever grateful to our SOS Mother who brought dance into our lives and insisted that we give it a shot. She could see how difficult it was for us when we initially came to SOS Bengaluru. As we started taking dance lessons, it would be the highlight of our days and we would eagerly look forward to it,” added Chetana.
As the eldest children in their SOS family, Archana and Chetana also grew into natural leaders, sharing responsibilities at home and forming strong bonds with their SOS siblings, values of care, responsibility, and togetherness that continue to guide their lives.
Their journey is a powerful testament to how family-like care, holistic education, and sustained emotional support can transform adversity into achievement. Archana and Chetana’s story reflect the enduring impact of SOS Children’s Villages India in enabling children to not just survive but truly thrive.
