Known for her strict adherence to tradition while creating her own individuality, Sailaja is an established dancer of both Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. She has been trained under legendary doyens of classical dance: Kalaimamani K.J. Sarasa and Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam. During her multifaceted career, she has been a cultural ambassador and torchbearer of two iconic styles - Vazhuvoor Bani of Bharatanatyam and Vempati style of Kuchipudi.
She is a recipient of several prestigious awards such as Kalaimamani and Yuvakala Bharathi. She is also a globetrotter having delivered over 1000 live performances. She was honoured with Lifetime Achievement Award from Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and is an accredited A grade performer for Doordarshan.