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| December 2012 |
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 Ranee Ramaswamy is a 2012 US Artist FellowEach year, United States Artists honors 50 of America's finest artists with individual fellowship awards of $50,000 each. In Dec 2012, at the Getty Center in the hills of Los Angeles, these artists of many diverse disciplines and locales were celebrated. Amongst them was Ragamala Dance's founder and co-Artistic Director Ranee Ramaswamy, who was recognized for her groundbreaking work within the classical Indian dance form of Bharatanatyam. Ranee and her daughter Aparna were invited to Los Angeles to perform at the opening celebration. Ranee, who began teaching and performing Bharatanatyam in the Twin Cities in 1978, founded Ragamala in 1992. She was recently nominated to be on the National Council on the Arts by President Barack Obama. |
|
The Trinity Arts Festival of India 2012 was inaugurated by Governor of West Bengal MK Narayanan on December 29, 2012 at the Russian Cultural Centre auditorium, Chennai. Bharatanatyam dancer Alarmel Valli was given the TRINITY LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and conferred the title BHARAT KALA RATNA. |
|
 Nepathya conferred the D APPUKUTTAN NAIR MEMORIAL AWARD on Ammanoor Rajaneesh Chakyar on December 25, 2012 at Nepathya, Aluva, Kerala. |
|
Kalingayana
Touryatrikam bestowed the 5TH BHARAT MUNI SAMMAN upon Hema Malini, cine
actress, Bharatanatyam dancer and choreographer on December 18, 2012 at
Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. The award carries a purse of Rs.25,000
besides a citation, plaque and shawl. |
|
On December 17, 2012, the Indian Fine Arts Society conferred NATYA KALA SIKHAMANI title on Bharatanatyam exponent Nandini Ramani on the inaugural day of its 80th South Indian Music Conference and Festival at the Balamandir German Hall, Chennai. |
|
 On December 14, 2012 on the inaugural day of Narada Gana Sabha's art festival in Chennai, the Dhananjayans received this year's NAADA BRAHMAM title and honour. This award carries a purse of Rs.50,000 and gold medals. |
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On December 9, 2012 on the inaugural day of its 33rd music festival, Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha honored Kuchipudi exponent Deepika Reddy with VANI KALA SUDHAKARA. The award carries a purse of Rs.1 lakh. |
|
 Kathak and Odissi dancer Yogini Gandhi received the TOP MANAGEMENT CONSORTIUM AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in the field of Art and Culture from the Honorable Governor of Maharashtra on 8th December 2012. |
|
On December 8, Sri
Krishna Gana Sabha conferred NRITYA CHOODAMANI on Kathak exponent
Saswati Sen and ACHARYA CHOODAMANI award on Dr. Ambika Kameshwar
(Bharatanatyam exponent & Director, Rasa) at Dr. Nalli Gana Vihar,
Chennai. Bharatanatyam dancer Bhavajan Kumar received the PANDIT DURGA
LAL ENDOWMENT AWARD and Arun Gopinath got MRS. NIRMALA RAMACHANDRAN
ENDOWMENT AWARD 2012 for the best vocalist. |
|
Chennai Cultural
Academy Trust presented NRITHYA KALA JYOTHI award to Bharatanatyam Guru
Krishnakumari Narendran on December 6, 2012 at Rama Rao Kala Mandap,
Chennai. |
|
Kartik Fine Arts conferred NADANAMAMANI on Bharatanatyam dancer Dr. Jyotsna Jagannathan on
Dec 1, 2012 on the inaugural day of their 38th year Art Festival at
Narada Gana Sabha. The NATYA CHUDAR award for Deepika Potarazu and
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for Kathak Guru Dr, Maya Rao will be
conferred on Dec 23, 2012 on the concluding day of the Natya Darshan
seminar at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai. |
|
On the inauguration day
of December 1, 2012 of 26th Margazhi Mahotsavam, Bharat Kalachar
honored the following awardees at its YGP Auditorium, Chennai.
VISWA KALA
BHARATHI: Lakshmi Viswanathan (Bharatanatyam), ACHARYA KALA BHARATHI:
M.V. Narasimhachari and Vasanthalakshmi, KALA SEVA BHARATHI: Ramya
Harishankar and Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala (Bharatanatyam), SPECIAL
COMMENDATION AWARD: Uma Sriram (Bharatanatyam), SPECIAL COMMENDATION
AWARDS FOR NAATYA SANGEETHAM: Hariprasad (vocal), Sikamani (violin),
Nellai D Kannan (mridangam), Swamimalai Suresh (vocal, nattuvangam &
choreography), YUVA KALA BHARATHI: Sudharma Vaidyanathan, Parvathi
Sheejith and Sai Santhosh (Bharatanatyam). |
|
Ashish Mohan Khokhar's
Attendance annual dance awards took place on December 1, 2012 at
Alliance Francaise de Bangalore. Dr. Karan Singh conferred
the awards. RAMGOPAL BEST DANCER AWARD to Dr. Sanjay Shantaram, MOHAN
KHOKAR OVERALL EXCELLANCE AWARD to Navtej Singh Johar, UDAY SHANKAR
CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD to Syed Sallaudin Pasha, U.S. KRISHNA
RAO-CHANDRABHAGA DEVI DANCE COUPLE AWARD to Shridhar and Anuradha
Shridhar, RUKMINI DEVI ARUNDALE AWARD for significant contribution to
Kalakshetra bani to Prof. M.R. Krishnamurthy (Kittu saar), and
ATTENDANCE LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to Kathak Guru Dr. Maya Rao. |
| November 2012 |
|
Karnataka Sangeeta
Nritya Academy under the chairmanship of Vyjayanthi Kashi and other
members presented the prestigious KALASREE AWARD for 2011-12 and 2012-13
on November 24, 2012 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore. The awards
are based on seniority, merit and contribution to
the field. Among the 36 awards for 2 years, 17 awards have been
conferred on women and 19 awards for men with a justful distribution of
awards to various districts of Karnataka. For 2011-12: DANCE: Minal Prabhu (Udupi, Bharatanatyam), Sujatha Rajgopal (Hubli, Bharatanatyam), Nayana S Morey (Dharwad, Kathak), Kanakraj (Bangalore, make-up), Kinkini (Bangalore, organisation) KARNATAKA SANGEETA: GS Kamala and GS Rajalakshmi , Mysore (vocal), S Shanthalakshmi Nagendranath, Hassan (vocal), Dr. Suma Sudhindra (Bangalore, veena), C Chaluvaraj (Mandya, mridangam) HINDUSTANI SANGEETA: HR Badiger (Bhagalkot, vocal), Jayashree Ramesh Patnekar (Belgaum, vocal), Kasimsab L Jamadar (Belgaum, tabla) SUGAMA SANGEETA: Dr. Sulabhadhatta neeralagi (Dharwad), SL Venugopal (Shimoga) KATHAKEERTHANA: GR Keshava Murthy (Chikkamagalur) GAMAKA: KB Haimavatamma (Tumkur) SPECIAL AWARD: Lalith J Rao (Bangalore, Hindustani vocal), ML Chennakeshava Shastri (Shimoga, Gamaka) For 2012-13: DANCE: K Chandrashekhar Navada (Suratkal, Bharatanatyam), Ramakrishna Bhat (Davangere, Bharatanatyam), Rashmi Hegde Gopi (Bangalore, Kuchipudi and Mohiniattam), Nataraj Murthy (Bangalore, violin for dance) KARNATAKA SANGEETA: TS Satyavati (Bangalore, vocal), KU Raghavendra Rao (Dakshina Kannada, flute), HK Narasimha Murthy (Bangalore, violin) HINDUSTANI SANGEETA: Shyama Alur (Bijapura, vocal), Virupakshaswami Gorata (Bidara, vocal), Shivanna Desai Kallur (Gulbarga, table), Dr. Rachaiah Hiremath (Dharwad, table) SUGAMA SANGEETA: Kikkeri Krishnamurthy ( Mandya), M Thotappa Uttangi (Chitradurga) KATHAKEERTHANA: Siddeshwara Shastri Thelluru (Gadag) GAMAKA: Tumkur Sunanda (Tumkur) Out of Station Kannada Artist: Uma Nagabhushan (Mumbai) SPECIAL AWARD: BV Narayan Ital (Udupi, Carnatic music), Kamala Rajeeva Purandare (Hubli, Sugama Sangeeta) For further details: www.karnatakasangeetanrityaacademy.org |
|
 On
August 28, 2012 the Canada Council for the Arts announced that the
winner of the $30,000 prize of the 2012 WALTER CARSEN PRIZE FOR
EXCELLENCE IN THE PERFORMING ARTS is Toronto-based classical dancer/
choreographer Menaka Thakkar. She is founder of Nrtyakala Academy of
Indian Dance (1972) and artistic director of Menaka Thakkar Dance
Company (founded in 1978). Named after Toronto businessman and
philanthropist Walter Carsen, the Walter Carsen Prize recognizes
artistic excellence and distinguished career achievement by Canadian
artists who have spent the major part of their career in Canada in
dance, theatre or music. Among the Carsen prize's seven dance winners,
Thakkar is the first to come from a non-Western heritage. The award was
presented on November 20, 2012 before the premiere of Menaka Thakkar's
new production 'In search of the other Ganesh' at Flato Markham Theatre,
Markham. |
|
On November 14, 2012 at
the 25th anniversary celebrations of ABHAI at Narada Gana Sabha,
Chennai, NATYA KALANIDHI was conferred on Gurus K. Kalyanasundaram
Pillai, Kalanidhi Narayanan and Ranganayaki Jayaraman. GANDHARVA NIPUNAA
- USHA SRINIVASAN ENDOWMENT AWARD was conferred on Adyar K. Gopinath.
NIRMALA RAMACHANDRAN ENDOWMENT AWARD FOR BEST MALE DANCER went to N.
Srikanth. |
|
'Joined in Dance'
Nartaka Dance Festival Malaysia conferred its first NARTAKA AWARD 2012 on
Dr. Chandrabhanu for his contribution to Indian classical dance in
Malaysia on November 7, 2012 at Kuala Lumpur. |
| October 2012 |
|
Bharatanatyam Guru
Lalitha Srinivasan was chosen for this year's SHANTALA AWARD.
She is the founder/director of Nupura in Bangalore. |
|
Bharatanatyam guru
Padma Subrahmanyam was presented with the title NRITYA KALA TAPASWINI by
Sridevi Nritya Kendra of Guru Jayalakshmi Alva on October 25, 2012 in
Mangalore. |
|
 Bharatanatyam dancer Shashikala Ravi was conferred with the ROTARY LEADERSHIP EXCELLENCE AWARD on October 21, 2012 at Pune for her contribution to art and culture. |
|
 Sruti
entered its 30th year on 16th October and the 80th birthday of Sruti's
Founder-Editor the late N Pattabhi Raman was on 24th October. The Sruti
Foundation celebrated with a three-day event from 19 to 21 October. The prestigious E KRISHNA IYER MEDAL was presented to 80-year old Bharatanatyam Guru K Kalyanasundaram of Mumbai and VELLORE GOPALACHARIAR MEMORIAL AWARD to eminent vocalist Suguna Purushothaman on October 20, 2012 at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai. |
|
 Kuchipudi Art Academy conferred the first DR. VEMPATI CHINNA SATYAM PURASKAR on Patrayani Sangeetha Rao for his lifetime contribution to Kuchipudi music on October 15, 2012 at Kalabharati Auditorium, Visakhapatnam. |
|
'Samhara' performed by
the Nrityagram Dance Ensemble at the Joyce, was nominated as one of the
finalists for the annual BESSIE AWARDS for outstanding production for a
work performed in a theater of 400 or more seats. The award function
took place on Oct. 15, 2012 at the Apollo Theater, NYC. The 2012 Bessie
Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dance went to Paul Taylor. |
|
The MAYOR'S ARTS AWARDS FOR 2012, Vancouver  2012 Emerging Artist Kiruthika Rathanaswami Kiruthika Rathanaswami is a Bharatanatyam dancer who has been training for the past 14 years under Jai Govinda, artistic director of Mandala Arts and Culture in Vancouver, Canada. She completed her arangetram at the Jai Govinda Dance Academy in 2004, and has since been part of many Mandala productions. Rathanaswami is the 2010-2011 recipient of the Shastri India Studies Arts Fellowship by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute. For seven months she trained under gurus B Bhanumati and Sheela Chandrasekhar of Nrityakalamandiram in Bangalore. She premiered her new repertoire for Mandala Arts and Culture's annual dance festival 'Gait to the Spirit' in October 2011. Recent performances include International Dance Day 2012 at Scotiabank Dance Centre and for the Multicultural Heritage (Kalaa Mela 2012) at the CBC in Vancouver. Rathanaswami is currently attending McGill University in a Master's program in Physical and Health Education Pedagogy. 2012 Honouree Artist Rosario Ancer Rosario Ancer co-founded the school Centro Flamenco, The Flamenco Rosario Arts Society, Flamenco Rosario, and its professional training program after moving to Vancouver from Spain with her husband in 1989. Called the “The Mother of Flamenco in Vancouver” through her work Ancer has created a platform where flamenco and a new generation of flamenco artists flourish in Vancouver. |
| September 2012 |
|
 Naadanam
Academy of Performing Arts, Pune, won the AWARD FOR EXCELLENT
PERFORMANCE in the Luoyang Cultural Festival 2012, held in Luoyang,
China in September 2012. Naadanam was invited to represent India in the
Shanghai Tourism Festival and Luoyang Cultural Festival. Founder-
Director Ketaki Kale, along with her 9 students performed in the opening
ceremony and parade in both the festivals, as well as in various public
shows in Shanghai and Luoyang like the famous Oriental Pearl Tower,
Nanjing Road in Shanghai. The troupe performed traditional dances like
Maharashtrian folk, garba-dandiya, and Indian classical dance. The
Indian classical choreography won the Award for Excellent Performance. |
|
On September 26, 2012
Devdasi Nrutya Mandir conferred this year's DEVDASI NATIONAL AWARD for
dance on Kathakali dancer Haripriya Nambudiri from Kerala, on the final
day of the annual Devdasi National Dance Festival at Rabindra Mandap,
Bhubaneswar. |
|
 Kuchipudi dancer Dr. Saraswathi Rajathesh, Director of Natyasaraswathi academy, was honoured with KALPASHREE AWARD by Kalpashree Performing Arts (Karnataka) on September 22, 2012 at Seva Sadan, Bangalore. |
|
Dr. Ileana Citaristi
was conferred with ODISHA WOMEN LEADERSHIP AWARD on September 4, 2012 at
Puri by OYSS Women and World Women, India Chapter. A book titled
TRADITIONAL MARTIAL PRACTICES IN ODISHA authored by her and published by
Subhi Publications, New Delhi, was released on September 12, 2012 at
Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, during Sangam Festival hosted by Art
Vision. |
|
 The GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD for 2012 was conferred on Guru Birabara Sahoo (Gotipua dance) and Rama Chandra Pratihari (Odiya theatre and cinema) by the Odisha Chief Minister, Shri Naveen Patnaik on September 9, 2012 on the concluding evening of the 18th Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival in Bhubaneswar. The award carries a purse of Rs.50,000 with a memento and citation. |
|
On September 1, 2012
Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha conferred the title VANI KALA NIPUNA and
cash award on Bharatanatyam exponent A Zakir Hussain, during its third
Sri Jayanthi Music Festival. |
| August 2012 |
|
On August 19, 2012 on
the inaugural evening of Natyarangam's Baandhava Bharatham festival at
Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, Prof. A Janardhanan was honored with the
NATYARANGAM AWARD for his contribution to dance, SUDHARANI RAGHUPATHY
ENDOWMENT AWARD went to Girija Ramaswamy (vocalist for dance), OBUL
REDDY AWARD for senior dancer to Urmila Sathyanarayanan, VASANTHALAKSHMI
NARASIMHACHARI ENDOWMENT AWARD for talent promotion to Aishwarya N
Balasubramanian, SPECIAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE to K Sethumadhavan (make-up
artiste). |
|
On August 8, 2012 the
Madras High Court allowed a writ petition challenging Leela Samson's
re-entry and declared that she cannot continue as the Director of the
Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai. It's final: HC says Samson cannot continue http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3743219.ece |
|
 On August 7, 2012 Anita Ratnam was honored for her contribution to dance at Natya Pravaha festival by International Dance Alliance at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai. |
| July 2012 |
|
 In July 2012, President Barack Obama announced his plans to nominate Ragamala's Artistic Director, Ranee Ramaswamy, to the National Council on the Arts. Ranee will be an important new voice within the Council, drawing upon over 30 years of experience as an artist of East Indian origins working within the American contemporary dance landscape. |
|
 Bharatanatyam dancer Dr. Janaki Rangarajan received the YAGNARAMAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in Chennai on July 8, 2012. |
| June 2012 |
|
 Leela
Samson resumes responsibility as Director of the Kalakshetra
Foundation, Chennai, on June 30, 2012 after a gap since her resignation
in April. Narthakionline's online petition helped reach thousands across
the cyber globe and numerous petitions seeking her reinstatement helped
the governing board of Kalakshetra and perhaps the Ministry of Culture
in New Delhi to expedite the process. |
|
 A
festival committed to promoting Indian classical arts, the GeeVA
Heritage Festival held on June 29 and 30, 2012 presented the GeeVA
LIFETIME SERVICE AWARD to Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy, of Vasundhara
Performing Arts, at Ursuline Arts Center in Louisville, KY, for her
continued commitment and dedication to the promotion of Bharatanatyam.
Dr. Doraswamy has been a frequent visitor to Louisville, KY for the last
ten years and during her stay, has conducted workshops and training in
Yoga, Kalaripayattu and Bharatanatyam. She has several students
who have performed their Rangapravesha under her tutelage. For her
dedication and affection towards Louisville and for making a difference
in the lives of Louisvillans, the City of Louisville, Mayor's Office,
presented her with an HONORARY CITIZEN OF LOUISVILLE AWARD in the
presence of the Mayor of Kentucky. |
|
June 24, 2012 was officially proclaimed as INDIAN CLASSICAL ARTS DAY by the City of
Ottawa at the Harold Shenkman Hall, Shenkman Arts Centre, on the final
day of the Canadian Gharana Festival. |
|
International Dance
Congress (IDC - for India-International cultural promotion, peace and
friendship) organized by Devdasi Nrutya Mandir in association with
Odisha Tourism and Samskritiki (Bhubaneswar) and dedicated to Guru
Gangadhar Pradhan took place at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, from 20 -
22 June, 2012. Award winners on June 20, 2012 Dr. Sunil Kothari was awarded with NRUTYA BIDWAN for dance scholarship, Durga Charan Ranbir (Odissi, Bhubaneswar) with NRUTYAVACHASPATI, Dr. Ileana Citaristi with 'IDC Award of Excellence-2012' for her lifetime dedication to Indian classical dance as a foreigner, Ratikant Mohapatra (Bhubaneswar), Samar Sharma (Guwahati) and Bathina Vikram Goud (Vishakhapatnam) with 'IDC Award of Excellence-2012' for dance promotion. NRUTYA BIDWAN award winners on June 22, 2012 Dr. Priyambada Mohanty Hejmadi (Odissi, Bhubaneswar), Kalavati Devi (Manipuri, Kolkata), Uma Dogra (Kathak, Mumbai), Dr. Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry (Kuchipudi - Kuchipudi Village, Andhra), Girija Chandran (Mohiniattam, Trivandrum), Sheela Unnikrishnan (Bharatanatyam, Chennai), Prof. TS Vasunni (Kathakali, Shanti Niketan, Kolkata), Anita Sharma (Sattriya, Assam) There were also other awards like NRUTYA PATIYASHI (seniors) and NRUTYA PRAVEENA for young dancers. |
|
 On
June 18, 2012 Lata Pada, Artistic Director for Sampradaya Dance
Creations, was honoured with the QUEEN ELIZABETH II DIAMOND JUBILEE
MEDAL for her outstanding contributions to the community as a Canadian
citizen, at the Diamond Jubilee Gala at Roy Thomson Hall in Toronto.The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal was created to mark the 60th anniversary celebration of Queen Elizabeth's coronation. Inspired by the Queen's service to Commonwealth nations, this commemorative medal will be awarded throughout the course of the year to 60,000 exceptional Canadians across the nation. To be eligible, nominees must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident, have made significant contribution to a particular province, territory, region or community in Canada or an achievement abroad that has brought credit to the country, and have been alive Feb 6, 2012, the 60th anniversary of Queen Elizabeth's accession to the throne. “It is a significant moment for me to be recognized among this group of honourees. We are all most proud to be Canadian, and it is our responsibility to continue to be advocates and voices that rise above the crowd for the issues and causes we believe in, particularly within our own communities,” says Lata Pada, who is also the Founder-Director of Sampradaya Dance Academy, a premiere professional dance training organization. |
|
The Canada Council
for the Arts announced the seven award-winning and internationally
renowned artists who will receive the 2012 Victor Martyn Lynch-Staunton
Awards. Contemporary dancer Nova Bhattacharya; sculptor Valérie
Blass; poet Sylvia Legris; interdisciplinary artist Manon De Pauw;
playwright, actor and director Denis Lavalou; composer and conductor
Brian Current; and filmmaker and multimedia artist Graeme Patterson are
this year's winners. The annual awards, worth $15,000 each, recognize
outstanding mid-career artists in the seven disciplines funded by the
Canada Council: visual arts, dance, integrated arts, theatre, music,
writing and publishing, and media arts. The prizes were created using
funds from a generous bequest made by the late Victor Martyn
Lynch‑Staunton to the Canada Council. The winners were chosen from the
pool of applicants from the Grants to Professional Artists programs
during the 2010‑11 fiscal year. |
| May 2012 |
|
Kalasagar conferred
the KALASAGAR PURASKARAM 2012 constituted in memory of legendary
Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval on May 28, 2012 on
the occasion of the celebration of his 88th birth anniversary at Rohini
Kalyana Mandapam, Guruvayur.
     
Kathakali: Vesham/Actor - Kalamandalam Ramachandranunnithan, Pattu/Music
- Madambi Subramanian Namboothiri, Chenda/Percussion - Kalamandalam
Prabhakaran, Maddalam/Percussion - Kalamandalam Hari Narayanan,
Chutty/Makeup - Kalamandalam Sivaraman
Ottenthullal: Kalamandalam Devaki, Chakyarkoothu: Pothiyil Narayana Chakyar, Koodiyattam: Kalamandalam Girija, Mohiniattam: Sreedevi Rajan, Bharatanatyam: Kalamandalam Saraswathi, Kuchupudi: Kalamandalam Rajalakshmi, Thayambaka: Kalamandalam Balaraman Panchavadyam: Thimila - Chottanikara Vijayan, Maddalam - Kunisseri Chandran, Edakka - Pallasana Sudha, Thalam - Chelakara Unnikrishnan, Kombu - Machadu Ramakrishnan |
|
Kathak Guru Rani Karnaa received the Akademi Award from the West Bengal
State Akademi of Dance, Drama, Music and Visual Arts in appreciation of
her outstanding contribution in the field of dance. The award ceremony
took place on May 15, 2012 at the 37th annual convocation of Rabindra
Bharati University held at the Jorashanko Thakurbari.
|
|
 On
May 10, 2012 Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim, Information Communication and
Culture Minister of Malaysia, declared 24 sites, 10 tangible objects,
111 intangible objects and 9 distinguished individuals as the country's
national heritage. He presented national heritage certificates to the
nine personalities who had helped nurture national heritage values,
namely Ramli Ibrahim (Indian classical dance, classical ballet and
modern dance), Kumaresan Karthigesu (Sitar music), Tan Sri Ahmad Othman
Merican (music), Mek Jah Deris (Mak Yong), Jati anak Ju (Pua Kumbu),
Datuk Mohd Nor Khalid aka Lat (cartoonist), Intan Sulga KK Tiring (Bajau
Laut traditional dance), Eyo Hock Seng (Wayang Kulit), and Nyonya Tan
Abdullah (Dondang Sayang) |
|
The KERALA SANGEETHA NATAKA AKADEMI AWARDS for 2011 were given away on May 8, 2012: Inchakkattu Ramachandran Pillai (Kathakali); Sunanda Nair (Mohiniattam), Girija Chandran (Bharatanatyam) for dance; Margi Madhu (Koothu, Koodiyattom) and Kelathu Aravindaksha Marar (chenda) from the traditional arts; Thampi Payyappalli (Chavittu Natakam) and Sreedharan Asan (Kakkarissi Natakam) for folk arts. Pandit Ramesh Narayanan (vocal), Kavalam Sreekumar (vocal), Guruvayoor Gopi (Nadaswaram) and Sreenarayanapuram Appu Marar (chenda) for classical music; Selma George for light music. From the drama section, K G Ramu (costume), Meenampalam Santhosh and Deepan Sivaraman (direction); In the Popular Arts category, magician R K Malayath; Poochakkal Shahul for drama lyrics. The awards carry a cash prize of Rs. 25,000 each, citation and a memento. |
|
Chitra Visweswaran
took over from Padma Subrahmanyam on May 1, 2012 as the President of
ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India) for the next
three years. The new set of office bearers: Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala is
Secretary, Revathi Ramachandran and S Janaki are the two
Vice-Presidents, Priya Dixit is Treasurer and S Shivakumar is the Jt.
Secy. Chitra plans to add an academic thrust to the activities in ABHAI
that is now entering its 25th year. |
| April 2012 |
|
Message of the 30th anniversary of International Dance Day by the Flemish Moroccan choreographer Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui! |
|
Samila Bhattacharya,
senior disciple of Guru Rani Karnaa, stood first in Kathak Marathon
2012 organised in April by Padatik Dance Centre in Delhi. She was
privileged to receive the honour from Kathak Guru Pandit Birju Maharaj. |
|
 On 29th April 2012, Sai Arts International presented SAI AWARDS to Shakuntala Raghavendra Prabhat and Padmini Shreedhar in celebration of World Dance Day at Seva Sadan, Bangalore. |
|
 On April 28, 2012 Dr. AV Satyanarayana of Shristi Center of Performing Arts and institute of dance therapy, and Dr. Manu Baligar, Commissioner Director of Kannada and Culture, Govt. of Karnataka, conferred the SHRISTI NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR DANCE on Sonal Mansingh at Bangalore. |
|
 Dancer Geeta Chandran has been invited to serve as a Member on the Board of Management of Springdales School as a nominee of the Springdales Education Society. The institution is a very prestigious school in Delhi. |
|
 Ashish Khokar, Shri Chiranjiv Singh, Dr. Suresh Goel, art patron and educationist Vimala Rangachar The Attendance issue 2012 on ASHTANAYIKAS was released at Alliance Francaise, Bangalore, on April 10, 2012 by Dr. Suresh Goel, Director General of ICCR. Chief Secty Shri Chiranjiv Singh received the first copy. |
| March 2012 |
|
 For Gati's new community space for dance coming up in Delhi, Anita Ratnam has donated 3 bricks in the name of her children. These are a few pictures of the new building which is in the process of becoming a very exciting space for dancers! You can track the campaign on www.facebook/gatidance |
|
In total 109 Padma
Awards for 2012 - 5 Padma Vibhushan, 27 Padma Bhushan and 77 Padma Shri -
were conferred at formal functions in March 2012 at Delhi. Padma Vibhushan: Late (Dr.) Bhupen Hazarika Padma Bhushan: Dr. TV Gopalakrishnan, MS Gopalakrishnan, Prof. Vidya Dehejia Padma Shri: Ramachandra Subraya Hegde Chittani - Yakshagana, Dr. Minati Mishra - Odissi, Na Muthuswamy - Koothu-P-Pattarai, R Nagarathnamma - Theatre, Kalamandalam Sivan Namboodiri - Koodiyattam, Pandit Gopal Prasad Dubey - Chhau |
|
Sarada Ramakrishna,
one of the senior most disciples of Andhra Natyam Guru Nataraja
Ramakrishna, was honoured by Vijayawada Cultural Academy on the occasion
of the sixth anniversary of the Academy in March 2012 at GVR Government
College of Music and Dance, Vijayawada. |
|
At the 3rd Annual Indradhanush Festival on March 11, 2012, Tejas Foundation, Mumbai, honored Dr. Padma Sharma for Kathak (Mumbai), Guru Smita Shastri for Kuchipudi (Ahmedabad) and Dr. Vinod Hasal for Kathak (South Africa) with the title NRITYAVID in appreciation of the arts and artistes who have taken their respective art forms and Indian culture beyond borders and enhanced it to an entirely new level. |
|
Bharatanatyam dancer Janaki Rangarajan was a winner at the MetroDC Dance Awards held on March 9, 2012. |
|
Anita Ratnam was honoured by Neyveli Lignite Corporation on International Women's Day
at company headquarters in Neyveli on March 8, 2012 for her contribution
to dance. |
|
Guru Shanta Dhananjayan received the MEGA WOMEN ACHIEVER AWARD 2012 from
MEGA TV for her contribution to Indian classical dance on 8th March
2012 (International Women's Day) in Chennai.
|
|
 Dancer Narthaki Nataraj received the WOMEN ACHIEVER AWARD 2012 from Raj TV for her contribution to Indian classical dance on March 8, 2012 (International Women's Day) in Chennai. |
|
 At Delhi University's Cultural Fest Antardhwani on March 5, 2012, R Amrita Sruthi of Gargi College, disciple of Geeta Chandran, won First Prize as OUTSTANDING DANCER. |
|
Odisha Tourism got
the BEST EMERGING DESTINATION award given by Travel + Leisure, India and
South Asia, a world's leading travel and lifestyle magazine. Odisha got
this recognition for its innovative tourism related activities.   Travel + Leisure, India and South Asia has given 49 awards in 29 categories like best country, best hotel, best emerging destination in India and across the world, luxury train, destination spa, honeymoon destination etc. These awards were chosen through a pool through the magazine and online. The award was received by Sri M.R. Patnaik, G.M, OTDC Ltd. for Odisha Tourism from the union Secretary, Tourism Mr. R.H. Khwaja. Due to relentless and sincere effort of Hon'ble Minister Tourism Sri Prafulla Kumar Samal and Sri A.K. Tripathy, Principal Secretary, Tourism Department and their team, Odisha Tourism could get this award for the first time from the world's leading travel and lifestyle magazine. |
| February 2012 |
|
On February 26, 2012
at the ninth anniversary celebration and commemoration of the sixth
year of 'Kala Poshakam' concerts, Sri Sumukhi Rajasekharan Memorial
Foundation conferred NRITHYA SARASWATHI on Radhika Shurajit and NRITHYA
MAADHAVI on Narthaki Nataraj, at Narada Gana Sabha (Mini Hall), Chennai. |
|
At the 27th Konark Festival of Music and Dance conducted by Guru
Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation from Feb 19 - 23, 2012, the 2nd GURU
GANGADHAR PRADHAN LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was conferred on tabla
maestro Ustad Zakir Hussain on Feb 23 and the SANJKUTA BIRLA AWARD was
given to Bharatanatyam dancer Alarmel Valli on Feb 20.
|
|
 On behalf of Purva School of Bharatanatyam, Guru Sharad Pandya conferred the PURVA SHREE Award for 2012 on Ramesh Kadam for his immense contribution in the field of lights design for dance and drama productions and his sincere dedication to productions of Purva for over 20 years, on Feb 2, 2012 at Mahatma Gandhinagar Gruh Auditorium, Vadodara. |
| January 2012 |
|
 At
the D Appukuttan Nair Memorial Award ceremony conducted by Nepathya on
January 26, 2012 at Nepathya's koothambalam in Aluva, Sooraj Nambiar was
honored with the D APPUKUTTAN NAIR MEMORIAL AWARD by Guru Kidangoor
Ramachakyar. The award recognizes upcoming talent in Koodiyattam and
Kathakali. Koodiyattam and Kathakali scholar D Appukuttan Nair is the
founder of Margi and architect of the koothambalam at Kerala
Kalamandalam. |
|
Headed by Guru Gajendra Panda,
Tridhara awarded the 5TH GURU DEBAPRASAD AWARD to Odissi exponent Dr.
Minati Mishra on January 23, 2012 at Bhubaneswar. |
|
TAPAS Cultural Foundation presented
NRITYA SRESHTA on Bharatanatyam dancer P T Narendran on January 14, 2012
at T N Rajarathinam Pillai Muthamizh Peravai Hall, Chennai. |
|
The Global Indian Association (GIA)
awarded the GIA INTERNATIONAL EXCELLENCE AWARD 2012 on Mohiniattam
dancer Sunanda Nair at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2012 held at New Delhi
YMCA, on January 10, 2012 in the presence of national and international
dignitaries. |
|
 Lasyakala presented AEKALAVYA SAMMAN 2012 to Kuchipudi dancer Luise Tschabuschnig (USA) and Odissi dancer Adrien Meszaros (Hungary) on January 7, 2012 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. |
|
Mridangam maestro Trichy Sankaran
received the SANGITA KALANIDHI title from the Music Academy on January
1, 2012. The newly instituted NATYA KALA ACHARYA award for dance was
conferred on Bharatanrityam exponent Padma Subrahmanyam on January 3,
2012. |
