When Angeline Sheril (24), steps onto a stage, the world seems to hold its breath. From the lanes of Cuddalore to record-marked stages across Tamil Nadu, she moves with a rare combination of grace, courage, and generosity. Founder of Natiya Siragugal, her dance school is not just a place to learn steps — it is a sanctuary for children, especially those from underprivileged backgrounds, where traditional Tamil folk arts come alive under her guidance.
Her achievements are nothing short of astonishing. Angeline holds over 20 national and regional records, from performing 20 traditional Tamil dances in an hour, to balancing karagams (traditional Tamil rhythmic pot-balancing dance props placed on the head while dancing) and marakkal (folk dance involving the rhythmic use of wooden sticks as props) for hours, and even executing Bharatanatyam on broken glass and stilts. One of her most personal and moving records came just three months after a C-section, when she balanced a karagam on a wooden leg for one and a half hours — a triumph that was as much about motherhood, resilience, and determination as it was about skill.
“I basically had an interest in wearing makeup and lipsticks,” Angeline laughs. “When my mother enrolled me in dance, I thought, okay, I too will wear this makeup and dance. But when I got applause from the audience and recognition, that’s when I decided to make it my career.”
Her journey was never easy. “When a girl from a basic middle-class family enters this field, it is challenging,” she says. “Without any background in dance, I just wanted my name to be established so the upcoming generation could find inspiration. I was ready to take any risk, and I still am.”
Angeline is deeply committed to preserving Tamil folk arts. “We have around a thousand varieties of folk arts, but very few are still performed. Some artists don’t teach them because they focus on the commercial side. I wanted to make sure the next generation receives pure knowledge of our traditional arts,” she explains.
Her dedication extends beyond the stage. Even while working as a contract employee in the Education Department of the Cuddalore District (Tamil Nadu), she balanced her artistic ambitions with academics. “Dance helped me focus on my studies. I received scholarships and completed my master’s. I teach my students that studies and dance are equally important — one should never neglect either.”
