About Me
I grew up in a small village in Tamil Nadu, India, where the classical South Indian dance form called Bharatanatyam originates.
My love for dance grew from a very early age and originally was focused on the cinematic style of dance. This affection for dance then drew me to Kalakshetra, the world-renowed institute for South Indian classical dance and music in Chennai. In Kalakshetra I received my professional training in Bharata Natyam and was able to acquire stage experience in many performances and dance dramas.
After graduating with the Diploma of Fine Arts from the Kalakshetra Foundation, Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts in Chennai, India, I started my professional dance career.
I have worked with many dance companies in South India, like Arangham, Thejas, Anusham, Avigna, Vipanchee. I also worked with senior artists like Sri Narasimhachari, Krishnaveni Lakshmanan, Lakshmi Vishvanathan, Madurai R. Muralidharan, Vyjayanthimala Bali. In these projects I performed not only classical but also contemporary dance as well as folk-dances.
I was teaching Bharata Natyam and dance theory in my own dance school (Nritya Abharana) as well as some other well known dance schools in Chennai, India.
Settling in Europe in 2006, I have worked with the western contemporary choreographer Felix Ruckert and his dance company in Germany (Betwixt & Between). Furthermore I participated as a dancer in the exhibition "India - Guest in the Giant" in the Swarovski Crystal Worlds in Wattens, Austria. Since then, many performances have followed (see Shows).
I give dance training in Bharatanatyam for professionals and amateurs as well as for children. In connection with that I also teach dance theory, choreographing, nattuvangam and carnatic vocal music.
Furthermore I give classes in folk dances, Indian filmdance and Silambam (martial and folk art of Tamil Nadu with stick).
Classes/Workshops upon request, please Contact Me.
FACTS:
Qualification (Dance):
- Diploma in Fine Arts (D.F.A.) in
Kalakshetra Foundation, Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts, in Chennai, India.
Four years specialization in Bharatanatyam (Classical South Indian dance).
Other dances:
- Silambam – a traditional martial and folk art of Tamil Nadu
- Kalari Payattu – a martial art
(one year training in Chennai under Saaji)
- Indian Folk Dances
(education in Kalakshetra)
- Fire Dance – (playing with the fire)
- Contemporary Modern Dance
Additional Qualifications:
- Training in Indian classical music (carnatic vocal music) in Kalakshetra, four years
- Yoga-training in Kalakshetra, three years
- Two months yoga training in the International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Chennai, India.
- One and a half year advanced yoga training under Sri. Srivatsa Ramaswami in Chennai, India.
- Yoga Siromani – yoga teacher´s training in the
International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Kerala, India.
- Yoga Acharya, Master of Yoga M.Y. - Advanced yoga teacher training at International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Kerala, India.
- Ayurvedic Massage and Panchakarma Therapy and Advanced Feet Massage Technique (Chavitti Uzhichil) an der School of Ayurveda & Panchakarma in Kannur, Kerala
Stage experience:
Took part in many different dance dramas, folk and bharatanatyam shows in Kalakshetra and other places all over India.
Performed with following Indian dance companies:
- ARANGHAM – Smt. Anita Rathnam( Contemporary, www.arangham.com), Productions: Marali – the spiral of Time, Talking Drums, Suvadu, Vinayaga, Nachiyaar, Padmanabha
- THEJAS – Smt. Sreekala Bharath (Classical), Productions: Arupadi Veedu, Shrirama Vaibhavam
- ANUSHAM – Sri. L. Narendra Kumar (Classical and Contemporary), Productions: Kaalinga Nardhanam, Ashtaruchi, Vasthraakrithi, Gayatri, Pancha Bootham, Bharatham Bhanam Jananam, Coolkrish, Mrutha Sanjeevini
- NATYA NAVANITHAM – Smt. Veena C.S. (Classical and Folk), Production: Siddhartha
- AVIGNA Performing art – G. Narendra (Contemporary and Folk e), many performances over a period of two years
- SRI MAHALAKSHMI NATYALAYA (Classical), many dance production
- RAMYASHREE PERFORMING ART TROUPE (Folk), six performances
- VIPANCHEE – Smt. Saraswathi Sundaresan (Classical), Productions: Bharathi, Om Namashivaya.
Other performances with the following senior dancers:
- VYJAYANTHIMALA BALI Production: Sarva Soukhya Pradayi
- NARTHAKI NATRAJ Production: Sakthi dharisanam
- MADURAI R. MURALIDHARAN Production: Kuraloviyam
- KRISHNAVENI LAKSHMANAN Production: Ashoka
- LAKSHMI VISHVANATHAN Production: Thyaga Raja Ramayanam
Western contemporary dance:
Teaching experience:
- Since 2004 own institute in Chennai, India: Nritya Abharana - Institution of Dance, Music and Yoga
- Three years bharatanatyam and dance theory classes for Indians and foreigners at the Bharata Choodamani Academy of Fine Arts in Chennai, India.
- Two years dance and yoga classes at the Saraswathi Kalakendra Nrithya Vruksha Institution of Fine Arts in Chennai, India.
- Since 2008 regular teaching in Vienna.
Various Dance- and Yogaworkshops in India, Denmark, Norway and Austria.
|
|
