Maitheli

Maitheli Mohana Sundaram is a dancer from Penang, Malaysia, born and raised on Penang Island. She began her dance journey at the age of five under the guidance of her mother, Mrs. Nageswari Naidu, a former performer who was actively involved in cultural shows and events during the early 1990s. Through her mother’s influence, Maitheli was exposed to various performance settings from a young age, including cultural showcases, charity events, temple performances, and fashion shows.

During her primary school years, she actively participated in cultural performances and award functions. Her journey then took a different turn as she ventured into sports, particularly Taekwondo and athletics, where she competed in long-distance running at both local and national levels. While her involvement in sports gradually slowed by the age of 19, this phase contributed to her resilience.

After completing her secondary education, Maitheli pursued Form 6 at Penang Free School. However, as her results did not align with her aspirations, she made a pivotal decision to follow her passion for dance. This led her to enroll at Universiti Pendidikan Sultan Idris (UPSI), where she pursued a Diploma in Performing Arts (Dance) and graduated in 2022 with a CGPA of 3.7.

She then continued her academic journey at Universiti Malaya, earning a degree in Dance with distinction in 2025 under the guidance of esteemed educators. During her time at university, she founded the Royal Nrityas Dance Crew, bringing together passionate and talented dancers to perform at various events. She also conducted workshops both locally and internationally, including teaching Northern-style Kollattam to students at Yunnan University, China.

Maitheli later joined Jabatan Kebudayaan dan Kesenian Negara (JKKN) Pulau Pinang, where she was involved in numerous performances that strengthened her versatility in Malay folk, traditional, and fusion dance forms. In 2025, she was selected as a performer for a major event, Thalapathy Thiruvizha, an audio launch held at Bukit Jalil Stadium, where she shared the stage with the legendary Prabhu Deva alongside other renowned choreographers.

Currently, Maitheli works as a part-time dancer at The TOP Penang while actively pursuing freelance opportunities. She is also the founder of Mai’s POV Dance Studio, a dance production initiative that aims to explore dance both practically and theoretically, foster meaningful connections within the industry, and provide a space for individuals to grow in skill, knowledge, and artistic expression beyond dance.