Click here for all links

Social media links


December 2013

*
Nepathya conferred the D APPUKUTTAN NAIR MEMORIAL AWARD on Sadanam Jyothishbabu on December 29, 2013 at its koothambalam in Aluva, Kerala. Jyothishbabu is working as a Kathakali music teacher in Sadanam since 2008.

*
Master of Arts by Tulsi Badrinath has been named as one of the ten most interesting books of the year in Hindustan Times.

The Bangalore political action committee launched the program BCLIP civic leadership incubator program to train citizens to become corporators. Arts presenter Usha RK is among the 60 top candidates.

*
Sri Potti Sriramulu Telugu University, Hyderabad presented PRATHIBHA KURASKARA AWARD to KV Sathyanarayana in recognition  of his service to Kuchipudi dance on 27th December 2013 at Hyderabad.

* On December 22, 2013 Nupur Zankar presented NUPUR ZANKAR SANMAAN PATRA to Darshana Jhaveri for her contribution to the field of Manipuri dance, at Ravindra Natya Mandir. Mumbai.

Kartik Fine Arts conferred NADANAMAMANI on Bharatanatyam dancer UMA SATHYANARAYANAN on December 1, 2013 at Narada Gana Sabha main hall. NATYA CHUDAR goes to V Soundarya on December 20, 2013 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai.

TAPAS Cultural Foundation presented VIDHYA TAPASVI award to Dr. R. Ganesh and Dr. Ananda Sankar Jayant for their selfless service towards Bhakthi oriented traditional fine arts on December 18, 2013 at Chennai.

On December 13, 2013 on the inaugural day of its 58th December Art and Dance Festival, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha conferredthe NRITYA CHOODAMANI award on Vilasini Natyam exponent Swapna Sundari, and ACHARYA CHOODAMANI award on Kathakali exponent Prof. A. Janardhanan, in Chennai.


Lakshmi Vishwanathan received the VANI KALA SUDHAKARA title and award from Tyaga Brahma Gana Sabha on 9th December 2013 at Chennai.


On December 8, 2013 Sri Kala Sudha Telugu Association presented NATYA SUDHA AWARD to veteran Indian classical dancers Vyjayanthimala Bali (Bharatanatyam), Maya Rao, Uma Sharma (Kathak), Yamini Krishnamurthi, (Kuchipudi),  Darshana Jhaveri (Manipuri), Kanak Rele, (Mohiniattam) Indira P.P Bora (Sattriya) and Uma Rama Rao (Kuchipudi), at Music Academy, Chennai.

Mylapore Fine Arts conferred NRITHYA KALA NIPUNA on Alarmel Valli on December 8, 2013 at its premises in Chennai.

In recognition of exemplary service and outstanding dedication, Brahma Gana Sabha conferred NAATYA PADHMAM on Prof. CV Chandrasekar on December 3, 2013 at Sivagami Pethachi Hall, Chennai.


Bharat Kalachar conferred the following dance awards for dance on Dec 1, 2013 at YGP Auditorium, Chennai.
VISWA KALA BHARATHI: Dr. Anita Ratnam
KALA SEVA BHARATHI: Dr. Sunil Kothari
SPECIAL COMMENDATION AWARD: B K Shafeekuddin
YUVA KALA BHARATHI: Bhavajan Kumar, Pallavi Sriram, TM Sreedevi, TN Saranya.

Attendance has instituted 6 awards, in memory of dance legends, that are unique. The award function took place on Dec 1, 2013 at Alliance Francaise, Bangalore. The awardees for 2013:

Orissi dancer Rahul Acharya for RAM GOPAL Best Male Solo Dancer Award
Jayachandran Pallazhy of Attakalari for UDAY SHANKAR Choreography Award
Dr. Avanthi Meduri for MOHAN KHOKAR award for Academics
Nirupama-Rajendra for U.S. KRISHNA RAO - CHANDRABHAGA DEVI Dance Couple Award
Guru Lalitha Srinivasan for RUKMINI DEVI Significant Contribution Award
Guru Jayalakshmi Alva (Mangalore) for Lifetime Achievement Award.
Madhu Nataraj and Murlimohan Kalva conducted and compered the ceremony which was complemented by short films. Maestro Dr. L. Subramaniam did the honours and educationist Vimala Rangachar felicitated the awardees. Chiranjiv Singh, President, Alliance Francaise, gave the inaugural address. Mon. Phillipe Giaspirani, Director of AF joined the ceremony. Senior most guru Maya Rao blessed the awardees.

November 2013

Bharatanjali presented the following awards on November 23, 2013 at its Sai Festival at Vani Mahal, Chennai: SURA BHARATHI SEVA SUNDARAM to Giriia Krishnamoorthy (Sanskrit teacher), BHAKTHI MARGA NATYACHARYA SUNDARAM to Kanchana Janarthanan (non-performing guru), PANDANALLUR ACHARYA SUNDARAM to Pandanallur Pandian (traditional nattuvanar), KALAKARA SUNDARAM to Udupi Madumathy Prakash (teacher), NRITTA ABINAYA SUNDARAM to Meenakshi Srinivasan (Performer), NRITHYA SUNDARAM to Uma Sathyanarayanan (performer), LAYAJALA SUNDARAM to Venkatakrishnan Mahalingam (nattuvangam), NATANA SUNDARAM to Lavanya Shankar (performer), VENUGANA SUNDARAM to Sruthi Sagar (flautěst).


Guru Gangadhar Pradhan Foundation and Konark Natya Mandap presented the GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN MEMORIAL AWARD 2013 to Odissi guru Durga Charan Ranbir on November 9, 2013 at ADA Rangamandira, Bangalore.


On the inaugural evening of November 8, 2013 of the 7th Nartaka Dance Festival, Natyanjali Trust presented the NARTAKA AWARD 2013 to Guru K. Kalyanasundaram Pillai (Director, Sri Rajarajeswari Bharatha Natya Kala Mandir, Mumbai), at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai.

October 2013


On October 30, 2013 at the 7th Guru Debaprasad Award Festival conducted by Guru Gajendra Panda's Tridhara, the GURU DEBA PRASAD AWARD was given to Dr. Anita Ratnam (Contemporary Dance, the first time a contemporary dance award is being given in this festival), Geeta Chandran (Bharatanatyam), Shashadhar Acharya (Chhau) and Guru Sudhakar Sahu (Odissi) at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.

At its 26th Annual Day Celebrations on October 20, 2013, Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI) conferred the Abhai Awards: NATYA KALANIDHI to Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, USHA SRINIVASAN AWARD and GAANDHARVA NIPUNAA to Ramaiah, NIRMALA RAMACHANDRAN AWARD to R Vijay Madhavan, at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.

Alarmel Valli's Dipasikha Dance Foundation celebrated the centenary year of her guru Pandanallur Subbaraya Pillai and 50 years of her dance career with BAANI, a 2 day festival. Dance musicians Sivasubramaniam (violin), GP Kamala (vocal), Latha Ramchand (vocal), Sakthivel Muruganandan (percussion), Cange Kesavulu Vasudevan (cymbals) were felicitated with the titles GANA VIDYADHARI, LAYA VIDYADHARA and NADA VIDYADHARA on the opening day of Oct 19, 2013 at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, Chennai.

About 75 gurus including Manipuri exponent Darshana Jhaveri from Mumbai and Kalabati Devi from Kolkata were awarded for lifetime contribution with GURU NINGSHING KHUDOL 2013 (award remembering the gurus) organized by Nata Sankirtana singer Guru Lakpati Singh at Gulapi Nata Sankirtan Academy, Imphal on October 17, 2013. Darshana has devoted her life completely to preserve, perpetuate and propagate classical Manipuri dance for 55 years.


Kalasagar honored Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam and Prof. A Janardhanan on October 14, 2013 at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, on the occasion of Gurusmaranadinam in memory of Kalamandalam Krishnan Kutty Poduval.


Kumararani Meena Muthiah College of Arts & Science, Chettinad Kalaikoodam honoured the Dhananjayans, Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam, Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar & Jaya Chandrasekhar, Narasimhachaari and Vasantalakshmi, Ranganayaki Jayaraman and Guru Udupi Laxminarayan with Lifetime Achievement Award carrying a purse of Rs. 10,000 and a plaque of honour on 12th October 2013 at Chennai.


On October 12, 2013 Koodiyattam exponent Margi Madhu received the first annual KALA PURASKAARAM sponsored by Bristol Laboratories, at Centenary Theatre, Berkhamsted School, Kings Campus, Berkhamsted, UK, 3.30pm. The award carries a plaque and a cash award and is instituted to recognize outstanding contributions in the field of arts and literature by people of Malayalee origin all over the world.


The 29th Annual BESSIE AWARDS termed by The New York Times as “the dance world's version of the Academy Awards,” took place on October 7, 2013 at the Apollo Theater in New York City. One of the awardees for Outstanding Performer was Shantala Shivalingappa for 'Shiva Ganga' (Choreographed by Shantala Shivalingappa, at Fall for Dance, City Center). Hari Krishnan had been nominated for 'The Frog Princess' (Choreographed by Hari Krishnan, at La MaMa, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival).


Sudha Raghuram has been awarded the dance fellowship for 2013 by the Alabama State Council on the Arts and has been selected in the Alabama Touring Artist Program to perform Bharatanatyam in different schools across AL in 2013 and 2014.

September 2013

Ileana Citaristi received the DHANESWAR SMRUTI SAMMAN for lifetime achievement in the field of art and culture from DRIEMS (Dhaneswar Rath Institute of Engineering and Management Studies), Cuttack, Odisha, on September 28, 2013.


At the 8th edition of Devdasi National Dance Festival from 24th to 26th September 2013 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar, 8 Indian classical dancers from all over the world, each representing one dance style will be conferred with DEVDASI NATIONAL AWARD. The award was instituted by the city based cultural ogranization Devdasi Nrutya Mandir since 2006 to recognize and honour a young and acclaimed Indian classical dancer who has the dedication like a temple Devdasi towards dance and music. The awardees are:  Sujata Mohapatra for Odissi (Bhubaneswar), Rama Vaidyanathan for Bharatanatyam (New Delhi), Shallu Jindal for Kuchipudi (New Delhi), Jayaprabha Menon for Mohiniattam (New Delhi), Vidha Lal for Kathak (New Delhi), Anita Sharma for Sattriya (Guwahati), Kottakkal Devadas for Kathakali (Kerala), Dr. Sohini Ray for Manipuri (USA), and Rupashree Mohapatra of Puri for Mahari (the temple ritual dance).


Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali and The Dhananjayans were honored with the KALA RATNA by the organizing committee of Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Brindavan (Mathura, UP) on 15th September 2013 on the inaugural day of the festival.

Rasika Kumar and Eesha Khare received the SWAMI VIVEKANANDA YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD at the Dharma & Yoga Fest at Mission College, Santa Clara, CA, on September 14, 2013.


Washington Performing Arts Society in association with the Pola Nirenska Memorial Awards Committee presented the 2013 POLA NIRENSKA MEMORIAL AWARD for Outstanding Contribution to Dance to Daniel Phoenix Singh during the DC Metro Dance awards program at George Washington University's Marvin Center on September 9, 2013. The Pola Nirenska Memorial Awards are given annually to individuals who have demonstrated outstanding contributions, artistic excellence or potential, or devoted service to dance.


The GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD 2013 was given to renowned Odissi singer and composer Pt. Ghanashyam Panda and Mumbai based Odissi dance guru Shankar Behera for their service to Odishi art and cultural heritage of Odisha, on September 9, 2013 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. The award contains a cash prize of Rs. 50,000 each.

The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, the National Academy of music, dance and drama, New Delhi, at its meeting held on 21 December 2012 selected 32 persons for the USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR for 2011. The award carries a purse of Rs. 25,000 besides a tamrapatra and an angavastram. The awards were given on September 7, 2013 in Delhi.
Dance: Meenakshi Srinivasan (Bharatanatyam), Namrata Pamnani (Kathak), Renjini KP (Kathakali), Gurumayum Chandan Devi (Manipuri), Kuravi Venkata Subrahmanya Prasad (Kuchipudi), Sonali Mohapatra (Odissi), Dilip Mahato (Chhau) and Sudha Raghuraman (music for dance)
Music: Jayateerth Mevundi (for Hindustani vocal), Satyajit S Talwalkar (Hindustani instrumental: Tabla), Srinibas Satapathy (Hindustani instrumental: Flute), Rahul Sharma (Hindustani instrumental: Santoor), Abhishek Raghuram (Carnatic vocal), Manda Anantha Krishna (Carnatic instrumental: Flute), Punya Srinivas (Carnatic instrumental: Veena) and H N Bhaskar (Carnatic instrumental: violin).
Theatre: Ramji Bali and S Murugaboopathy (Playwriting), Pravin Kumar, Shankar
Venkateswaran, Pabitra Rabha, and Rashi Bunny (Direction), Rayanti Rabha (Acting), and
Gautam Haldar (Allied Theatre Arts).
Traditional/Folk/Tribal Music/Dance/Theatre & Puppetry: Pathan Parvez Ahmed Ali Khan (Folk Dance: Gujarat), Mahadev Das Baul (Folk Song: West Bengal), Mickma Tshering Lepcha (Lepcha Music: Sikkim), Geetanjali Sharma (Brij Folk Dance: Uttar Pradesh), Krishna Pandurang Musale (Folk Music: Maharashtra), Padi Parambil Rajeev (Kutiyattam: Kerala), Vidya Kolyur (Yakshagana: Karnataka) and Budhram Sori (Folk & Tribal Dance: Chhattisgarh).

Parijat Desai from NYC has been selected for a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar grant to India, hosted in Ahmedabad by Darpana Academy of Performing Arts and its dynamic director Mallika Sarabhai. From Oct/Nov 2013, she will teach contemporary dance at Darpana and at the cutting-edge Gati Forum in Delhi.

August 2013

 
On August 28, 2013 SRI GURUVAYOORAPPAN KALA PURASKARAM was awarded to Kuchipudi dancer Anupama Mohan at Sri Guruvayoorappan Temple, Kerala, for her contribution in promoting Kuchipudi dance.

The Visakha Music and Dance Academy honored Kathak maestro Birju Maharaj with the title NATYA VIDYA BHARATI on August 10, 2013 during its annual festival of music, dance and drama at Visakhapatnam.


Manipuri born playwright and theatre director Ratan Thiyam, director of Chorus Repertory Theatre, has been appointed as the Chairperson of the National School of Drama.


Leela Samson has been appointed as visiting Professor of Dance at Hope University, UK.

At the inaugural AUSTRALIA ARTS IN ASIA AWARDS the Federal Arts Minister, Tony Bourke MP Minister for Immigration, Multicultural Affairs and Citizenship, Minister for the Arts honoured the contribution that Annalouise Paul, Artistic Director of Theatre of Rhythm and Dance, had made to the positioning of its national arts product within the Asian marketplace. Annalouise Paul received the Dance Award for 'Game On' tour at Interface Festival in India in September 2012 for its innovation and excellence and outstanding community engagement with Indian audiences. Theatre of Rhythm and Dance presented its innovative intercultural dance-music work 'Game On' with Aria Award winner Bobby Singh and contemporary dancer Miranda Wheen and is the first Australian dance company to be invited to Interface performing in Kolkata, New Delhi and Bangalore. It is a light-hearted dance work between an Australian dancer and an Indian musician, exploring traditional and contemporary values and deeper communication between cultures using classical Indian tabla and western contemporary dance languages.

July 2013


Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind has been appointed as Director, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai.

On July 28, 2013 on the inaugural evening of the 17th annual Bharatanatyam festival Bhoopaala Bharatham, Natyarangam, the dance wing of Narada Gana Sabha conferred the following awards at its main auditorium in Chennai: SUDHARANI RAGHUPATHY ENDOWMENT AWARD on Karaikudi R Krishnamurthy (laya vidwan for dance), OBUL REDDY AWARD FOR SENIOR DANCER on Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala, VASANTHALAKSHMI NARASIMHACHARI ENDOWMENT AWARD FOR TALENT PROMOTION on Divya Shiva Sundar, SPECIAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE on DS Aiyyelu (costume designing & tailoring).


Bala Devi Chandrashekar was recognized with the award NATYA KALA BHARATHI on July 19, 2013 for her contribution to Bharatanatyam by the Thanjavur Heritage Arts and Cultural Academy under the stewardship of the senior prince of Thanjavur. This was preceded by her performance of Uddhava Gita.


As part of the Yagnaraman July Fest 2013, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha's YAGNARAMAN LIVING LEGEND AWARD was conferred on Kathak exponent Pt. Birju Maharaj on July 6, 2013 at the sabha's auditorium, Chennai. The YAGNARAMAN AWARD OF EXCELLENCE was given to Tiruvarur Vaidhyanathan (mridangam), Embar S Kannan (violin) and Pavitra Srinivasan (Bharatanatyam).

June 2013


Bharatanatyam dancer Sathyanarayana Raju was awarded Karnataka's KEMPEGOWDA AWARD on June 29, 2013 at Bangalore.

Malathi Iyengar is the recipient of 2013 C.O.L.A Fellowship awarded by the City of Los Angeles. She is the choreographer and artistic director of Rangoli Dance Company.  The City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA) has awarded its 2013 City of Los Angeles (C.O.L.A.) Individual Artist Fellowships to eleven exemplary mid-career international artists including nine visual artists, a musician, and a choreographer. The C.O.L.A. Individual Artists Fellowships are awarded to honor a spectrum of the City's most creative artists who: dedicate themselves to an ongoing body of excellent work; represent a relevant progression through their pieces or series; exemplify a generation of core ideas in their field; garner respect from their peers; and serve as role models for other artists. The 2013 C.O.L.A. performances co-sponsored and hosted by Grand Performances took place on June 28, 2013 at the California Plaza, Los Angeles, CA.


Celebrating 11 years, Naadhabrahmam conferred NAADA SEVAKA award on S Rajeswari (vocal), TK Padmanabhan (violin), Nellai D Kannan (mridangam) and NRITYA SEVIKA on Vijaya Mukundan (Bharatanatyam, Trichy) on June 17, 2013 at RK Swamy Hall, Chennai.

Hari Krishnan (Artistic director of Toronto based inDANCE and Professor of Dance at Wesleyan University) was awarded the prestigious BESSIE SCHOENBERG CHOREOGRAPHIC RESIDENCY by The Yard (Martha's Vineyard) where he created a new work for 3 dancers from May 27-June 16. The other two recipients of this award are Deborah Lohse and Donnell Oakley.
http://dancetheyard.org/YardSeasonSchedule.php


Kathak maestro Pandit Birju Maharaj was the first International artiste to be awarded the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD by the San Francisco Ethnic Dance Festival on June 15, 2013 at Yerba Buena Center's Lam Theater, San Francisco.


Priyabrata Panigrahi, dancer-in-training at the Attakkalari Repertory and 2012 graduate of Attakkalari's Diploma in Movement Arts and Mixed Media has been selected to join P.A.R.T.S. Brussels for the three-year Performing Arts Training program. Out of over 1000 candidates who were called for the final audition, only 50 students were selected to join the program and Priyabrata is the only Indian.

May 2013

Andrew Dawes (Violinist and teacher), Daniel Lanois (Record producer, songwriter and musician), Jean Pierre Lefebvre (Independent filmmaker), Viola Léger (Actress and teacher), Eric Peterson (Actor and arts advocate) and Menaka Thakkar (Dancer, choreographer, artistic director, institution builder and teacher) have been named the 2013 laureates of the PRESTIGIOUS GOVERNOR GENERAL'S PERFORMING ARTS AWARDS (GGPAA) for Lifetime Artistic Achievement. Laureate individuals are honored for their outstanding body of work and enduring contribution to the performing arts in Canada. Each laureate received a cash award of $25,000 contributed by the Canada Council for the Arts and a commemorative medallion struck by the Royal Canadian Mint.
In a career spanning 50 years, Menaka Thakkar, the founder of Nrtyakala Academy of Indian Dance (1972) and artistic director of Menaka Thakkar Dance Company (1978), has had a profound effect on the appreciation and popularity of dance from a diversity of cultures and her vision and dedication have paved the way for countless emerging Canadian dance artists and organizations.
On May 31, David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, presented the Awards at a special ceremony and reception at Rideau Hall, Ottawa.

The Sangeet Natak Akademi selected 36 persons from the fields of music, dance, theatre and puppetry for the 2012 awards. The honour of Akademi Fellow carries a purse of Rs. 3 lakh, while Akademi awards carry Rs. 1 lakh, besides Tamrapatra and Angavastram. The awards were given by the President of India, Pranab Mukherjee on 28 May 2013 at a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship (Akademi Ratna): Percussionist T.H. Vinayakram, veteran playwright Ratan Thiyam and violinist N. Rajam.
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for dance: Priyadarsini Govind (Bharatanatyam), Vijay Shankar (Kathak), Vazhengada Vijayan (Kathakali), Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry (Kuchipudi), Sharmila Biswas (Odissi), Jai Narayan Samal (Chhau), Painkulam Damodara Chakyar (Koodiyattam), Jwala Prasad (Music for dance) and Aditi Mangaldas (Creative & Experimental dance).
Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for music: Ilayaraja  (creative and experimental music); Rajashekhar Mansur and Ajay Pohankar  (Hindustani vocal music); Sabir Khan (tabla) and Bahauddin Dagar (Rudra Veena) for Hindustani Instrumental Music; O.S. Thyagarajan (Carnatic vocal music); Mysore M. Nagaraja (violin) and K.V. Prasad (mridangam) for Carnatic Instrumental Music; Bhai Balbir Singh Ragi (Gurbani) for other major traditions of music.
Overall Contribution/Scholarship in Performing Arts: Nandini Ramani and Arun Kakade
Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards for Theatre: Tripurari Sharma and Waman Kendre for Direction, Arjun Deo Charan for Playwriting, Parvesh Sethi, Murari  Roychoudhury for Theatre Music, Nirmal Rishi and Purisai Kannappa Sambandan for Acting, Ghulam Rasool Bhagat for Major Traditions of Theatre (Bhand Pather).
Folk/traditional/dance/tribal music/ theatre and puppetry: Goru Channabasappa for Folk Music (Karnataka), Kinaram Nath Oja for Suknani Ojapali (Assam), Prem Singh Dehati for Folk Theatre (Haryana), Sulochana Chavan for Lavani (Maharashtra), Mattannur Sankaran Kutty Marar for Thayambaka (Kerala), Govind Ram Nirmalkar for Nacha (Chhattisgarh), Heera Das Negi for Mask Making (Himachal Pradesh), Prafulla Karmakar for Traditional Puppetry (West Bengal).

Kalasagar conferred the KALASAGAR PURASKARAM 2013 constituted in memory of legendary Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval on May 28, 2013 on the occasion of the celebration of the maestro's 89th birth anniversary at Kerala Kalamandalam. The awardees are: Kalamandalam Sreekumar (Kathakali Vesham), Kottakkal Madhu (Sangeetham), Kalamandalam Krishnadas (Chenda), Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambeesan (Maddalam), Kottakkal Balakrishnan (Chutty), Kalamandalam Mohanakrishnan (Ottenthullal), Painkulam Narayana Chakyar (Chakyarkoothu), Margi Madhu (Koodiyattam), Kalamandalam Leelamma (Mohiniattam),  Kalamandalam Sujatha (Bharatanatyam), Porur Unnikrishnan (Thayambaka), Kongad Madhu (Panchavadyam Thimila), Pulapetta Balakrishnan (Maddalam), Kakkayur Appukutta Marar (Edakka), Panjal Velukutty (Thalam) and Machad Unni Nair (Kombu).


To commemorate T. Balasaraswati's 95th birth anniversary celebrations, the Balasaraswati Institute of Performing Arts in association with Sri Krishna Gana Sabha presented the T. BALASARASWATI - SAMUEL H SCRIPPS AWARD FOR ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE 2013 to Bharatanatyam guru Adyar K Lakshman on May 17, 2013 at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.


On May 6, 2013, SHRISTI NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR DANCE was conferred on Bharatanatyam dancer and TV personality Sudha Chandran by Dr. AV Sathyanarayana, Director of Shristi Center of Performing Arts and Institute of Dance Therapy, at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore. After having her right leg amputated following an accident in her teen years, she subsequently overcame her disability with the help of a prosthetic 'Jaipur foot.'

Kittappa Natyalaya observed centenary celebration of Thanjavur K.P. Kittappa Pillai on May 5, 2013 at Karanthai Tamil Sangam, Thanjavur. Bahadur Singh (Post Master General, Central region, Trichy) released special postal cover and centenary souvenir. Babaji Raja Bhonsle received first copy of special postal cover. Padmalochana Nagarajan, senior most disciple of Kittappa Pillai, received first copy of Centenary Souvenir. PS Sachu (Member-Secretary, Tamilnadu Iyal Isai Nataka Sangam) released publication THANJAI NALVAR NATYA ISAI SURANGAM and first copy was received by Sudharani Raghupathy, senior disciple of Kittappa Pillai. Artistes felicitated were Guru Kalyanasundaram, Dr. Rama Kausalya (Former Principal, Govt Music College, Thiruvaiyyaru), Prof Sudharani Raghupathy, Nandini Ramani, Dr. Selvaganapathy (Former Principal, Raja's College, Thiruvaiyyaru), AK Palanivel (thavil exponent), S Ramanathan (Secretary, Karanthai Tamil Sangam).


Pandit Birju Maharaj won the National Award for Best Choreography at the 60th National Film Awards for choreographing the song Unnai Kaanadhu Naan, which features Kamal Haasan performing Kathak in his multilingual film 'Vishwaroopam. The award was given on May 3, 2013 by President Pranab Mukerjee.

April 2013


Bharatanatyam dancer Pavitra Bhatt received the NRITYA GAURAV AWARD from the Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh, Pune, on April 29, 2013 on the occasion of World Dance Day for outstanding contribution as young performer and teacher.


Utsav Music conferred the title UTSAV NRITHYA RATNA on The Dhananjayans at the dance day celebrations on April 28, 2013 at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.


The Andhra Pradesh government has conferred the HAMSA AWARD (Kalaratna) on Guru Voleti Rangamani (Abhinaya Darpana Arts Academy) on April 11, 2013 at Hyderabad for her outstanding contribution to Kuchipudi and temple ritual dances. She received the award from N Kiran Kumar Reddy, Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.


At the 1st WOMEN'S PRERNA AWARDS (instituted by Lotus Refinery Oil's Arun Kumar Sharma) which was held on April 9, 2013 in Mumbai, dignitaries from every sphere of life were felicitated with cash prize with Sitara Devi being the artiste honored in dance field.


Bharatanatyam artistes Badari Divya Bhushan & Anjana Bhushan were presented with the title NAATYA DRUMA PURASAKAR on 7th April 2013 by Kerala Sangeeth Natak Academy and Satyanjali School of Dance at the Regional Theatre, Thrissur.

Dr. Kanak Rele (Mohiniattam) and Saroja Vaidyanathan (Bharatanatyam) were awarded the PADMA BHUSHAN on April 5, 2013 by President Pranab Mukherjee at Delhi.

March 2013


Shri Tejas Foundation conferred the title NRITYAVID on Manipuri dancer Darshana Jhaveri for her lifelong dedication to Indian art & culture on March 30, 2013 at Ravindra Natya Mandir, Mumbai.


Janaki Rangarajan received the KALA RATHNA award from Bhairavi Fine Arts Society at the Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival on March 30, 2013.

Ileana Citaristi received SANJUKTA PANIGRAHI SAMMAN from Roop Nagar Maya Nagaree, Film Journalists and Social Cultural Organization, at a function held on March 30, 2013 at Shaheed Nagar, Cuttack.


Lalitha Kalalayam Nambisan received Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi's KALASHRI AWARD on March 27, 2013 from Kerala Cultural Minister K C Joseph at Kanakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram.

Ayswaria Wariar received the PRAVASI KALASHRI AWARD from Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi for her contribution in the field of Mohiniattam on March 27, 2013 at Kanakakunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram.


Rema Shrikant was awarded KALA SHRI by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi for dance on 27th March 2013 at a ceremony held at Kanakakkunu Kottaram, Thiruvananthapuram, by KC Joseph, the Cultural Minister of Kerala, in the presence of other dignitaries and awardees including Soorya Krishnamurthi, Chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.

The Madras Craft Foundation and Friends of Dakshina Chitra presented the annual DAKSHINA CHITRA VIRUDHU for lifetime achievement on March 23, 2013 at Dakshina Chitra, Chennai, in recognition of the artiste's excellence in a folk art and his efforts in sustaining and promoting the art form. This year's awardees are theyyam performer Lakshmanan Peruvannan and Hari Krishnan, a puppeteer from Salem. Apart from performing, Lakshmanan excels in kalarippayyattu and in making the elaborate costumes, head dresses and accessories required for theyyam. Hari Krishnan organises folk festivals all over the country.

Guru Pankaj Charan Odissi Research Foundation conferred MAHARI SAMMAN 2013 on Odissi dancer Jyoti Srivastav on March 19, 2013 at Bhubaneswar on the concluding day of the 19th Guru Pankaj Utsav.


Kiran Subramanyam received the NATYANJALI  PRASHASTHI for his contributions to the field of Bharatanayam by Sri Natyanjali Academy, Mangalore, as part of the Purusha Festival 2013 on March 3, 2013 at Purabhavana, Mangalore.

February 2013


Mallika Sarabhai was felicitated on Feb 22, 2013 with MAHARANA KUMBHA SANGEET PURASKAR, an award instituted by Maharana Kumbha Sangeet Parishad, Udaipur, in recognition of her outstanding contribution to Indian classical dance, and carries a citation, a memento shawl and a cash award.


Geeta Chandran, founder-President of Natya Vriksha received the ART KARAT WOMEN OF SUBSTANCE AWARD on February 19, 2013 at Kamani Auditorium, Delhi, for her contribution in making Bharatanatyam relevant to audiences in the 21st century.


Rotary Club of Chennai Galaxy honored the Dhananjayans on February 5, 2013 with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for cultural excellence at Chennai.

January 2013

Brilliant dancer Aditi Mangaldas turns down the National Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in the category of Creative and Experimental Dance.


UK NATIONAL DANCE AWARD for the Best Male Dancer goes to Akram Khan. The 13th  National Dance Awards winners were announced at The Place in London on 28th January 2013. The awards were decided by the 60 members of the Dance Section of the Critics' Circle after an extensive round of nominations and voting. To be eligible, performances had to take place in the UK between 1st September 2011 and 31st August 2012.


Sadguru Sri Thyagabrahma Aradhana Kainkarya Trust presented the first ever NATARAJA SAMMAN ceremony on January 19, 2013 at The Tamarind Tree, Bangalore. The awards were conferred on five legends from the world of classical dance for their unparalleled contribution in enriching the art form. The awardees are Dr. Vyjayantimala Bali: Bharatanatyam, Pt. Birju Maharaj: Kathak, Dr. Yamini Krishnamurti: Kuchipudi, Dr. Sonal Mansingh: Odissi, Bharati Shivaji: Mohiniattam. The award includes a cash purse of Rs.1,00,000.

As part of its sixth annual award ceremony on January 14, 2013 at Tapovan Auditorium of Chinmaya Heritage Centre, Chennai, TAPAS Cultural Foundation conferred the title of VIDHYA TAPASVI on Mohiniattam dancer Gopika Varma for her contribution towards bhakthi oriented traditional natyam, NATYA BHAKTHI PRACHARA SAMMAN on dance exponents Shobhana Balachandra, Lakshmi Ramaswamy, Suryanaranayanamurthy, Induvadana Malli, Priya Murle, Kavitha Ramu, Mahalakshmi Ashwin and Radhika Vairavel.


Prof. CV Chandrashekar was conferred the M.N. SUBRAMANIAN MEMORIAL AWARD at the Music Academy, Chennai, on January 13, 2013 by N Murali, president of the Academy.


Kathak dancer Alaknanda was honored with NRITYA SHIROMANI Award on January 8, 2013 at the 4th Cuttack Mahotsav in Cuttack, Odisha.

On January 6, 2013, Karur Naatyanjali festival conferred the title MUTHIRAI PATHITHA VITHAGAR (Great Achiever) on the Dhananjayans with cash prize of Rs.25,000, gold medal and plaque of honour.


Department of Journalism and Communication, University of Madras, presented the VETRI AWARD to Bharatanatyam dancer Narthaki Nataraj on January 4, 3013 in Chennai, for her remarkable contribution for the empowerment of the marginalized community of Thirunangais through performing arts.


RUKMINI FELLOWSHIP AWARD 2013 instituted by Vitalspring Technologies (Washington DC) goes to the Dhananjayans.  This was announced by Dr. Sridhar and Jyotsna Potarazu on January 2, 2013 at a special function in Chennai. The fellowship award carries a purse of Rupees two lakhs.

The Music Academy's NATYA KALA ACHARYA AWARD for dance was conferred on Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy on January 1, 2013 in Chennai.


Guru V.P. Dhananjayan is appointed as the Regional Director (Honorary Post) for the NATIONAL LEGAL RIGHTS PROTECTION COUNCIL (NLPC-Delhi) for Tamilnadu and Kerala regions.

Nilima Devi Menski, the founder and Artistic Director of the Centre for Indian Classical Dance (CICD) in Leicester, has been announced as recipient of an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) in the Queen's New Year Honours List 2013 for her services to dance. The award has been granted in recognition of Nilima Devi's sustained commitment to promoting Indian dance for British arts, multicultural education and community cohesion for over 30 years. The MBE is to be presented by the Queen at a special ceremony to be held at Buckingham Palace in London.


Rhythmosaic senior student and Repertory  member Prasanna Saikia is offered Six Month Intensive Full Scholarship, from January - June 2013 from Offjazz Dance Academy, Nice, France organized by Rhythmosaic Dance Company for training with Gianin Loringett and Martine Kassileniere, Directors, Offjazz Dance Academy. Prasanna was trained by Ronnie Shambik Ghose and Dr. Mitul Sengupta.

Highlights - Yearwise listing