Information - Highlights 2018

December 2018

Mayura and Hamsa Balagurunathan, granddaughters of Late Krishnaveni Lakshmanan of Kalakshetra, received the GURU MEENAKSHI SUNDARAM PILLAI ENDOWMENT AWARD from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha in December 2018 for their merit worthy performance during the 62nd Art Festival 2017.

Edakka artiste Kalanilayam Rajan received the APPUKUTTAN NAIR AWARD on Dec 30, 2018 at Nepathya's Koodiyattam Festival in Aluva, Kerala.

On the 29th of December 2018, Bharatanatyam exponent Bala Devi Chandrashekar received the NATYA CHOODAMANI award from the Andhra Pradesh Deputy Speaker Mandali Budhha Prasad awarded by the Andhra Pradesh creativity and culture commission, AP govt, at Vijayawada.

Kuchipudi Art Academy presented KUCHIPUDI MOUKTHIKAM award on A. Bala Kondala Rao, Sasikala Penumarthi, Kamala Reddy, Sandhyasree Athmakuri, Jaikishore Mosalikanti and Srimayi Vempati on Dec 25, 2018 at the inuguration of the annual Vempati Margazhi Utsav at Chennai.

Natyanjali Trust presented MUTHIRAI PATHITHA VITHAGAR award to Prof A Janardhanan and Dr. Sunanda Nair on Dec 24, 2018 at the Natyanjali Festival, Karur.

On Dec 21, 2018 Kartik Fine Arts presented MADURA KALA MANI AWARD to Srekala Bharath, NRITHYA PEROLI title on Alarmel Valli, NRITYAJYOTI AWARD of Excellence in Bharatanatyam to Priya Dixit, NATYA CHUDAR title on Akhila Balasubramaniam, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan Hall, Chennai.

The Indian Fine Arts Society presented Guru T.K. Kalyanasundaram with the title NATYA KALASIKHAMANI on Dec 16, 2018, Chennai.

Mohiniattam exponent Dr. Kanak Rele, founder-principal of the Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalaya in Mumbai, received the first GURU GOPINATH NATIONAL NATYA PURASKAR by Natanagramam to honour the lifetime achievements of eminent exponents of Indian dance forms, on Dec 15, 2018 at Delhi. The award carries a purse of Rs. 3 lakhs, a statuette designed by sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman and citation.

Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts & Sangeetha Sabha presented SHANMUKHA SANGEETHA SHIROMANI award to Bharatanatyam dancer Pavitra Bhat on Dec 15, 2018 at Mumbai.

Krishna Gana Sabha presented NRITYA CHOODAMANI to Vyjayanthi Kashi (Kuchipudi) and ACHARYA CHOODAMANI to Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan (Kathakali) on Dec 13, 2018 at Chennai. PT DURGALAL ENDOWMENT AWARD was given to Kathak dancer Laxminarayan Jena.

The National Selection Committee (NSC) under the Scheme Component of TAGORE NATIONAL FELLOWSHIP FOR CULTURAL RESEARCH (TNFCR) announced the names of Fellowship and Scholarship awardees on Dec 10, 2018 for a period of 2 years.
- Geeta Chandran (Fellowship)
Nodal institution: SNA, New Delhi
Title: Reimagining pedagogy for classical indian dance choreography
- Jayant Prakash Kastuar (Fellowship)
Nodal institution: SNA, New Delhi
Title: The evolution of the Akademi mind: Examining the formation and growth of the academic and artistic thoughts, trends, concepts, definitions, policies and strategies in the Sangeet Natak Akademi since its inception
- Lakshmi Viswanathan (Fellowship)
Nodal institution: Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
Title: Thanjavur (Tanjore), the source, support and centre of dance for a thousand years.
- Usha RK (Scholarship)
Nodal institution: SNA, New Delhi
Title: Saint Tyagaraja, the Singing Minstrel and his reformatory zeal - an analysis through his kritisangraha / compositions
- Vijay Madhavan (Scholarship)
Nodal institution: Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
Title: Encode dance movements in Jatiswarams and Thillanas choreographed by Rukmini Devi Arundale
- Dr. Gayatri Kannan (Scholarship)
Nodal institution: Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
Title: Reconstruction of Angaharas of Bharata Muni's Natyasastra

Mylapore Fine Arts presented NRITHYA KALA NIPUNA on Bharatanatyam dancer Urmila Sathyanarayanan, on Dec 9, 2018 at Chennai.

On Dec 9, 2018 Bharatanatyam guru Anitha Guha received VANI KALA SUDHAKARA from Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha in Chennai.

On December 3, 2018, Malavika Sarukkai received NAATYA PADHMAM from Brahma Gana Sabha at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, Chennai.

"The Mylapore Trio" - Amarnath, Surendranath, Aparna - were honoured with NALLOR VIRUDU Award for their contribution towards the development of Indian culture, by YACD - Sri Krishna Sweets during the popular music and dance season, on 2nd December 2018 at Sri Kapaleeswarar Temple, Chennai.

From December 2018, S Janaki took over as Editor-in-Chief of Sruti magazine.

November 2018

Conde Nast Traveller India presented Astad Deboo THE CONDE NAST TRAVELLER EXCELLENCE AWARD on November 29, 2018 at the Lodhi Hotel, Delhi, in recognition of his contribution to contemporary dance for 5 decades using the medium of contemporary dance to promote inclusivity.

The Attendance annual awards were given on November 25, 2018 at ADA Rangamandira, Bangalore.
RAM GOPAL BEST MALE DANCER AWARD to Parshwanath Upadhye, MOHAN KHOKAR DANCE ACADEMICS AWARD to Dr.B.M. Sundaram, UDAY SHANKAR CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD to Daksha Sheth, RUKMINI DEVI SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTION TO BN AWARD to Sucheta Chapekar, MAYA RAO LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD to Dr.Sonal Mansingh.

As part of the festival on 'Dhimahi - Dynamic Meditations on Laya' in November 2018 in Chennai, there was the Dhimahi Choreography Contest, a social media contest, that saw many dancers from around the world present their choreographies to the Sadashiva Kavuthvam composed by Madurai R Muralidaran. Subhashri Sasidharan and Shabin Bright, both disciples of Divyasena, were the winners in the female and male categories respectively. The winners won a trip to Singapore and Malaysia respectively, and also had a chance to present their winning choreographies on the final day of the festival on Nov 25, 2018.

Nalanda Dance Research Centre presented NALANDA KANAKA NARTANA PURASKAR to Dr.Sunanda Nair, Dr.Uma Rele and Deepak Mazumdar for 2017 and Jhelum Paranjape (Odissi), Shila Mehta (Kathak), C Gopalakrishnan (Kathakali) and Dr. Ambika Viswanath (BN) for 2018, on November 24 & 25, 2018 at Mumbai.

Classical dancer Vyshnavie Sainath Yagnesh, daughter and disciple of Rajeswari Sainath, was conferred with the award of JASHN-E-YOUNGISTHAN (the young India- new India- Future India) by the Vice President of India, Venkaiah Naidu, on 24 November 2018 at New Delhi along with the other achievers in their respective fields

Dubai based Kalalaya and Kerala based Naadam jointly honoured The Dhananjayans with NATANA KULAPATHI PURASKAR on 17th November 2018 during the Nrithyakalakeli festival at the New World Private School Auditorium, Dubai.

Dr. Kanak Rele received the ADITYA VIKRAM BIRLA KALASHIKHAR PURASKAR 2018 at Nehru Centre, Mumbai, on 17th November 2018.

Tridhara presented the following awards at the 12th Guru Debaprasad Award Festival on November 3, 2018 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.
- NALCO GURU DEBAPRASAD AWARD 2018
Sumina Okada (International Ballet exponent - President, Sumina Okada Ballet Company, Japan), Ranjana Gauhar (Odissi), Anita Sharma (Sattriya), Rama Vaidyanathan (Bharatanatyam)
- GURU DEBAPRASAD YUVA PRATIVA SAMMAN 2018
Odissi dancers Chisato Miura (Japan), Geethika Sree Sasikumar (Malaysia)

Natya Dance Theatre is a 2018 recipient of the MacArthur International Connections Fund Award. With the support of the MacArthur Foundation, Natya's Artistic Director, Hema Rajagopalan will be collaborating with renowned contemporary dancer, Astad Deboo to develop and perform a new theatrical dance work INAI (Connections) to premiere in Chennai, India and Chicago, IL. The work will explore diverse universal connections, and be accompanied by eminent musicians from India.

Madhu Nataraj has been chosen by Anata Aspen centre to be mentored under the aegis of the KAMALNAYAN BAJAJ FELLOWSHIP. The Bajaj Fellowship mobilizes a new class of leaders to find solutions to the nation's most challenging issues and make a sustained impact. All are proven leaders between 35-45, with diverse experience. Bajaj Fellows are at a stage in their lives where, having achieved success, they are ready to apply their creative talents as catalysts for change. Bajaj Fellows embark on the journey through four seminars spread over 18 months, exploring their core values, vision for a 'Good Society', and their desired legacies. Each Fellow launches a social venture that will stretch them to make a positive impact on their communities, society and the nation.
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October 2018

Guru Kalamandalam Saraswathy received this year's MANNARASALA NAGARAJA PURASKARAM from Mannarasala Nagaraja Temple, Kerala, on October 30, 2018.

Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala was conferred with NRITYA RATNA award by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore, on 26th October 2018.

The octogenarian Kathakali maestro Kalamandalam Gopi received Honorary Doctorate from Sri Shankara University, Kalady (Kerala), on October 23, 2018.

On 13 October 2018, Kuchipudi Guru Jayarama Rao was honoured with GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN AWARD by Guru Bimbadhar Das, at Delhi.

The KALA SAMPADA AWARDS were given by Kala Sampada to Shobha Koser (Kathak dancer & Registrar, Pracheen Kala Kendra), Manjari Sinha (musicologist & critic), and HS Venugopal (flautist & director, Gurukulam School of Music, Bangalore) on October 13, 2018 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore.

On October 5, 2018 Kala Pradarshini conferred the KALA PRADARSHINI GHANTASALA PURASKAR on Gurus CV Chandrasekhar, Leela Samson, Dr.Vyjayanthimala Bali, Saroja Vaidyanathan, The Dhananjayans and Sobha Naidu at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.

On October 4, 2018 at the 12th Nartaka Festival held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai, Bharatanatyam dancer Vaibhav Arekar received the NARTAKA AWARD.

The Canadian chapter of GURU MAYA RAO AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE in Kathak, research and choreography went to diaspora pioneer Rina Singh on October 2, 2018.

September 2018

On September 28, 2018 the LALIT ARPAN LIFETIME SAMMAN was bestowed on Pt Birju Maharaj at the Lalit Arpan Festival in New Delhi.

Non-Fiction Film VAIKHARI made on the concept of Abstract Utterances which revolves around the artistic exploration of Parwati Dutta was selected for Pondicherry International Film Festival (26-30 Sept 2018). Film maker Lubdhak Chatterjee's Vaikhari focuses on 'padhant', the art of reciting mnemonic syllables in Indian classical percussion and dance, through the journey of dancer Parwati Dutta. The film is shot in the scenic Mahagami Campus and Ellora caves. It was also included in the official selection of Open Frame Festival at India International Center (18 Sept), and Woodpecker International Film Festival (23-25 Nov 2018), Delhi.

Derana Media Network felicitated Vajira Chithrasena as SRILANKAN OF THE YEAR 2018 on September 20, 2018 at a national awards ceremony, Colombo, in recognition of “Srilankans who have defied convention and raised the bar of excellence.”

USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR for 2017 were given away in Shillong, Meghalaya, on Sept 14, 2018
Parshwanath Upadhye (Bharatanatyam), Vidha Lal (Kathak), C.M. Unnikrishnan (Kathakali), Adhikarimayum Radhamanbi Devi (Manipuri), Bhavana Reddy (Kuchipudi), Janhabi Behera (Odissi), Sudesh Adhana (Contemporary Dance), Sai Shravanam (Music for Dance)
Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs. 25,000.
http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/home.php

Sangeet Natak Akademi conferred Bhavana Reddy with USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR for the year 2017 at Shillong, Meghalaya on 14th September 2018.

On Sept 9, 2018 at the OMC Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival, the following artistes were honored at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.
NALCO GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD: Dr. Satchi Das for Theatre, Guru Lingaraj Behera for Dance.
NALCO GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD YUVA PRATIVA SAMMAN:
Sonali Mohapatra, Bhubaneswar, for Odissi dance; Subikash Mukherjee, Kolkata, for Odissi dance; Swati Sinha, Delhi, for Kathak dance; Rohan Dahale, Mumbai for Odissi mardala

On September 1, 2018, Kathakali actor Prabal Gupta received this citation from the New York City Council. The citation reads thus…
“Whereas, a great city is only as great as those persons who give exemplary service to their communities, whether through unique personal achievement in their professional or other endeavours or simply through a lifetime of philanthropy and community service; and Whereas, such service, which is truly the lifeblood of the community and the city, so often goes unrecognised and unrewarded; now therefore be it Resolved, that as a duly elected member of the New York City Council, I recognize that in Shri Prabal Gupta We have an outstanding citizen, one whom is worthy of the esteem of both our community and the great city of New York."
- Barry S Grodenchik

Anuradha Vikranth, director of Drishti Art Centre, received NADAPRABHU KEMPEGOWDA STATE AWARD at Bengaluru on 1st September 2018, in recognition of her contribution to classical dance.

August 2018

Dr. Sonal Mansingh is nominated Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament by the President.

Odissi Guru Mayadhar Raut received the GURUSHREE SAMMAN-2018 from Pragnya Nrutyayan on August 27, 2018 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. Guru Mayadhar Raut is one of the pioneering spirits who codified, redefined and restructured Odissi dance to bring it to the level of a classical dance form in the 1950s.

Utsav-Ranjana's Odissi Dance Academy presented UTSAV SAMMAN Award to Nandini Ramani (Bharatanatyam), Bharati Shivaji (Mohiniattam), Alka Raghuvanshi (art curator) and Prafulla Mangaraj (Odissi mardal) on August 16, 2018 at Stein Auditorium, New Delhi.

Aatmalaya Academy of Art and Culture Trust presented the following awards on August 15, 2018 at Bangalore.
CHAKYAR KOOTHU SRI RAJAN MEMORIAL AWARD to Pallassana Chandran Marar, Kerala
JUSTICE JAGANNATH SHETTY AND SMT SHANTHA MEMORIAL AWARD to Pasumarthi Ratthayya Sarma, Andhra Pradesh
SMT PADMAVATHAMMA MEMORIAL AWARD to Tulasamma in lieu of Dasi Venkatalaxmama, Karnataka
GURU T.K.MAHALINGAM PILLAI AWARD to Guru Sudha Doraiswamy Chandrashekar, Michigan

Badari Divya Bhushan, Bhushans' Academy of Performing Arts & Visual Presentation, Mysore, received NATYA KALAI CHOODAR award from Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam, on 10th of August at KKG auditorium, Pollachi during its 33rd annual dance festival.

July 2018

Dr.Sunil Kothari received the RASESWAR SAIKIA AWARD for his contribution to Sattriya Dance from the Governor of Assam, Prof Jagdish Mukhi, at Shankarananda Kalakshetra, Guwahati, on July 8, 2018.

The YAGNARAMAN LIVING LEGEND AWARD was given by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha to Astad Deboo on July 1, 2018 at Chennai. “I am both humbled and honoured by the award given to me by an Indian classical dance foundation. More than me, its a great recognition for Contemporary Dance,” says Astad Deboo who has been in this profession for 50 years now.

At the annual Bhaskareeyam Festival conducted by Bhaskar's Arts Academy, Maalika Girish Panicker received NATYA KALA NIPUNA AWARD on June 28, TV Sajith received SANGITHA KALA NIPUNA AWARD on June 29, Shanta Ratii received NATYA KALA NIPUNA AWARD on June 30 and Rajandran Sallagri received NATYA KALA UPASANA AWARD on July 1, 2018, at Goodman Arts Centre, Singapore.

June 2018

Geeta Chandran received the YOGYATA SAMMAN from the Rotary Club of Delhi Central for her “sparkling career spanning four decades” on June 15, 2018 at New Delhi.

Gurus Kiran Subramanyam and Sandhya Kiran received KALAAVATAMSA AWARD at the Kalaarnava celebrations for their yeoman service in the field of Bharatanatyam, on the 10th of June at Dayanandsagar Engineering College Auditorium, Bangalore.

For the second year in a row, Akademi's Director Mira Kaushik is featured amongst 100 most influential people in UK India relationship compiled by India Incorporated. The '100 Most Influential in UK-India Relations' is an exclusive list of key influencers within business, politics, diplomacy, media, arts and culture.

Preeti Vasudevan has been selected as one of the recipients of the 2018 Jerome Robbins Dance Research Fellowships at the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

May 2018

Kalasagar celebrated the 94th birth anniversary of its founder Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval on 28 May 2018 at Edapally in Kerala where the following artistes were honored with the KALASAGAR AWARD.
-Kathakali: Kalamandalam Prasanth (Vesham/Actor), Kalanilayam Unnikrishnan (Paattu/Music), Kalamandalam Raman Nambudiri (Chenda/Percussion), Kalamandalam Rajnarayanan (Maddalam/Percussion), Kalamandalam Satheesan (Chutty/Make-Up)
-Vechoor Remadevi (Ottenthullal), Dr. Edanad Rajan Nambiar (Chakyarkoothu), Kalamandalam Rajeev (Mizhavu-Koodiyattam), Dr. Kalamandalam Rachitha Ravi (Mohiniattam), Mattanoor Sreekanth (Thayambika)
- Panchavadyam: Pallassana Murali Marar (Thimila), Sadanam Bharatharajan (Maddalam), Chalakudy Ravi (thalam), Varavoor Manikandan (kombu)

Leela School of Dance, based out of Cary, North Carolina, of which Asha Bala is the director, has been recognized by The North Carolina Arts Council with the 2018 NORTH CAROLINA HERITAGE AWARD that was conferred on May 23, 2018 at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh. This is a Lifetime Achievement Award and the highest award given by the state to artists for their outstanding contribution to the cultural heritage of the state.

Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri, exponent of Thidambu nritham (a temple dance), received the first KERALA STATE AWARD by Kerala Kshethra Kala Akademi on May 14, 2018.
Thidambu nritham is a 700 year old temple dance and involves mainly four rhythms - thakilati, atantha, chempata, panchari followed by ekathaalam. Puthumana Govindan Namboothiri has redefined, rejuvenated and innovated on thidambu nritham and has been active in the field for more than fifty years.
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On 13 May 2018 at the India International Centre Auditorium in Delhi, dancers Bharati Shivaji, Madhavi Mudgal and Geeta Chandran received the DEBADHARA GURU SHISHYA SANMAN bestowed by the Debadhara Nritya Academy led by Guru Binayak Panda.

On 9th May 2018, Geeta Chandran and Dr.Ileana Citaristi received MUTTHIRAI PATHITHA VITHAKAR GOLD MEDAL from the Karur Natyanjali Trust at Karur Pasupathiswar Temple, Tamil Nadu.

The Tamil Nadu Urdu Literary Association awarded Dr.Swarnamalya Ganesh on May 7, 2018 in recognition of her research and reconstruction of Jakkini repertoire discovering its Persian connection and her presenting of Sufi poetry in Urdu by poets of the 17th century from Tamil Nadu.

On the eve of Shrishti Golden Jubilee, A V. Satyanarayana's Shristi Center presented SHRISHTI NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for dance to Guru Kalamandalam Gopi on May 3, 2018 at Bangalore.

On the occasion of ABHAI's 30th annual day, the following awards were given at Vani Mahal on May 1, 2018, Chennai. NATYA KALANIDHI to Dr.Padma Subrahmanyam & Prof. Sudharani Raghupathy, NRITYA PERUNJOTHI to Jayanthi Subramaniam, NARTHAKA NIPUNA to J Suryanarayana Murthy, GANDHARVA NIPUNA to Mudikondan SN Ramesh

Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts is now a partner at the Asian Network for Dance (AND+) setup by West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Hongkong. The network comprises some of the world's most prestigious dance organisations coming together to connect, empower and facilitate the contemporary dance practice in Asia. Jayachandran Palazhy, Artistic Director, Attakkalari Centre for Movement Arts was invited to be part of the launch event and promised to ensure wider representation from across India.

Hemabharathy Palani, rehearsal director for Attakkalari Dance Company, has been offered the prestigious Leverhume fellowship from the Rambert Dance School, UK. Hema is the first Indian national to be part of this fellowship programme. She will be a resident artist at Rambert, developing new works and collaborating with multidisciplinary partners from different cultures.

April 2018

On the 42nd Foundation Day of Dr. Sonal Mansingh's Centre for Indian Classical Dances, the 5th JIWAN RATNA SANMAN was conferred on Kathak Guru Pt. Birju Maharaj, on April 30, 2018 at Kamani Auditorium, Delhi.

Utsav awarded the annual UTSAV SAMMAN 2018 to Guru Jamuna Krishnan (Bharatanatyam, Delhi), Sangita Gosain (Odissi vocal music, Bhubaneswar), Sharon Lowen (Odissi dance, Delhi), and Pandit Rama Chandra Sahu (Odissi vocal, Delhi), on April 29, 2018 at Azad Bhawan, Delhi.

Dancer Revathi Ramachandran is to be the new Kalakshetra director for a term of 3 years. She succeeds Priyadarsini Govind to the post that has been vacant for the past 10 months. Trained in the Melattur style of Bharatanatyam by Mangudi Dorairaj Iyer, Revathi is the director of Kala Sadhanalaya in Chennai.

The NATYA VRIKSHA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was given to ace photographer Avinash Pasricha by Geeta Chandran's Natya Vriksha on April 28, 2018 during the World Dance Day celebrations at India International Centre, New Delhi. The award includes a cash purse of rupees one lakh.

Rupashree Kala Mandira of Puri presented the SASHIMANI MAHARI SAMMAN to Odissi dancers Rahul Acharya, Madhusmita Mohanty, Ramesh Chandra Jena, Srinibas Ghatuary, Punyashree Rout and Kathak dancer Tarit Sarkar on April 12, 2018 at the 10th Shree Mandira Mahari Parampara at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.

Ranee A Ramaswamy and Aparna Ramaswamy of Ragamala Dance, Minneapolis, have won the prestigious GUGGENHEIM FELLOWSHIP for Choreography, which will be used towards the development of their latest production Sacred Fire: Bone within Ash. In a rare instance, the mother-daughter have won it as a duo with a purse of $30,000 each.
New York based Nandini Sikand (dancer-choreographer, author, cultural anthropologist, and filmmaker), associate professor of film and media studies (FAMS), has received the Guggenheim Fellowship for Film/Video, to complete a documentary about women and the prison system. She will use the funds to complete Inside/Outside, a feature-length documentary film about women and mass incarceration in the United States as they struggle with the challenges of sexual assault, substance disorder, and motherhood.

The Dhananjayans were honoured with the SHRESTA KALA PRACHAARAK award by Ganesha Natyalaya of Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan on April 9, 2018 at Delhi Tamil Sangam, New Delhi. Other awardees are gurus Yamini Krishnamurthy, B. Bhanumathi, Radha Sridhar and journalist BR Vikram Kumar.

Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Datuk Ramli Ibrahim from Malaysia received the PADMA SHRI on April 2, 2018 at Rashtrapati Bhawan, Delhi, from Shri Ram Nath Kovind, the President of India.

March 2018

Indira Kadambi received the NRITHYA KALA SAGARAM award, Nandini Ramani the T BALASARASWATI MEMORIAL AWARD, Sushmita Arunkumar the NRITHYA SEVA MANI at Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival on March 31, 2018.

Supriya Hariprasad, Director of Kalamshu Cultural Trust, was awarded NRITYA KALA SHRESHTA title by Sri Ramamandira Trust, Bangalore, on 29th March 2018, as part of 80th Sri Ramanavami celebrations.

The 32nd annual Isadora Duncan Dance Awards honored local dance artists by acknowledging their outstanding achievements in an IZZIES ceremony and celebration on March 26, 2018 at Brava Theater Center in San Francisco. Abhinaya's 2016 fall production 'Vaanara Leela - Monkeys in the Ramayana' (Artistic Direction: Mythili Kumar and Rasika Kumar) won for Outstanding Achievement in Performance - Company. This was the first time an Indian dance company has won an Izzie in this category.
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Madras Craft Foundation and Friends of Dakshina Chitra presented the DAKSHINA CHITRA VIRUDHU to R Muthukannammal, Sadir dancer from Viralimalai, Trichy, for excellence and lifetime contribution to Sadir dance, the mother of Bharatanatyam, at Dakshina Chitra, Chennai, on March 17, 2018.

Guru Pankaj Charan Odissi Research Foundation in association with NALCO presented ADI GURU PANKAJ CHARAN DAS PARAMPARA SANMAN 2018 to Dr. Ratna Roy on March 17, 2018 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. Titles for outstanding contributions: Guru Niranjan Biswal - BINAKARA for Odissi music, Guru Bijay Kumar Barik - MADELI for Odissi mardal, Harapriya Swain - GAUNI SAMPRADA for Odissi vocal, Amrita Das - SHASHIMANI NACHUNI SAMPRADA for Odissi dance. Odissi dancer Sanchita Bhattacharya received the MAHARI AWARD.

On 3rd March 2018, Ileana Citaristi received BHAVAN'S SAMMAN of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Odisha, for contribution to Indian culture and dance of Odisha, from the Governor of Odisha.

Preeti Vasudevan was the first Indian choreographer to be awarded the 2018 LINCOLN CENTER AWARD FOR EMERGING ARTISTS on March 1, 2018 at Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, NYC. The evening featured live performances and the award show honoring the outstanding artistry and promising future of artists from the 11 Lincoln Center constituent organizations. Each recipient was honored with the Award and a check for $7,500 to be used for career advancement and to support future study.

February 2018

The prestigious KALIDAS SAMMAN bestowed by the Government of Madhya Pradesh honours artistes annually for their exemplary contribution to the performing arts. This year the dance awards were given to Lakshmi Viswanathan for Bharatanatyam, Darshana Jhaveri for Manipuri, Pt Jitendra Maharaj for Kathak, Radha and Raja Reddy for Kuchipudi on February 20, 2018 at the Khajuraho Dance Festival celebrations.

VIDHYA TAPASVI title by Tapas Cultural Foundation for 2018 was awarded to ghatam exponent and music composer Dr. 'Ghatam' Karthick and Bharatanatyam exponent Indira Kadambi for their dedicated service towards bhakthi oriented classical Fine Arts, in a ceremony held at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai, on 18th February 2018.

The Mayura Natyanjali organisation (Mayiladuthurai) honoured Guru VP Dhananjayan with the title MAYURA NRITYA SAAGARAM on Feb 10, 2018.

On Feb 10, 2018, Dr Sunil Kothari received the ANJALI MERH LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD for his outstanding contribution to dance from Rajmata Shubhangini Devi Gaekwad, Chancellor of MS University, Baroda. Dr Kothari earned his Ph.D in Dance from MS University in 1977.

The GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN SMRUTI SAMMAN 2018 was presented to Guru Dhaneswar Swain, eminent Odissi mardal exponent and Bhagirathi Das, renowned Odissi Basta Karigara for their valuable contribution to Odissi at the 14th Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav on Feb 9, 2018. On Feb 11, RUCHI BUDDHA SAMMAN was presented to Dr. Sonal Mansingh.

Kalamshu Cultural Trust concluded its 3 month long Jhenkar Utsava on 4th Feb 2018, by awarding SS MADY MEMORIAL 'KALAMSHU ART AWARD' to Viralimalai R Muthukannammal, 88 year old Sadhir artist. She is a last surviving dancer of 32 membered Viralimalai Sadhir Mela. Unlike in Bharatanatyam, the Sadhir artist sings along with dancing. Muthukannammal is noted for a whole night recital of Viralimalai Kuravanji, modi and Viralimalai nottuswara (different from Dikshitar's nottuswara).

January 2018

Shanta Dhananjayan & V.P.Dhananjayan received the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from Rotary Club-Mitra on 30th January 2018.

Bharatanatyam dancer and Queer Studies scholar, Aniruddhan Vasudevan turned down the prestigious Sahitya Akademi Award that he won for his English translation of the controversial Perumal Murugan Tamil novel MATHORUBAGHAM - ONE PART WOMAN. A state wide violence erupted over the novel from some groups claiming that it had insulted the women of their clan. Vasudevan, a student of the University of Texas in Austin, declined the honour saying “an award should not be controversial.”

The Dhananjayans received the Kerala goverment's NISHAGANDHI PURASKAR on 20th January 2018 at Thiruvananthapuram. It includes a citation, Bharatamuni plaque and a cash prize of Rs.1.5 lakhs.

Dr. Sunil Kothari, Dr. Anita Ratnam, Geeta Chandran, Ratikant Mohapatra, Bala Kondala Rao, Jitendra Maharaj, Ramachandran Unnithan, Gopal Prasad Dubey, Avinash Pasricha, Leela Sayi, Lakshmi Mangatayaru

General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi conferred the following awards in the field of dance on January 17, 2018 at New Delhi.
- SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI FELLOW (Akademi Ratna): Dr. Sunil Kothari
- AKADEMI AWARD (Akademi Puraskar) for 2016: Dr. Anita Ratnam (contemporary dance), Geeta Chandran (BN), Ratikant Mohapatra (Odissi), Jitendra Maharaj (Kathak), AB Bala Kondala Rao (Kuchipudi), Kalamandalam Ramachandran Unnithan (Kathakali), Maisnam Kaminikumar Singh (Manipuri), Haricharan Bhuyan Borbayan (Sattriya), Pt Gopal Prasad Dubey (Chhau).
Annabattula Lakshmi Mangatayaru & Leela Sayi (joint award, traditional theatre Kalavantulu), Prabhitangsu Das & Dattatreya Aralikatte (puppetry) and Avinash Pasricha for overall contribution
- USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR: Jyotsna Jagannathan (BN), Sanjukta Sinha (Kathak), Sanjenbam Karuna Devi (Manipuri), Mruthyunjaya Keshava Prasad (Kuchipudi), Shashwati Garai Ghosh (Odissi), Usharani Baishya (Sattriya), Kalamandalam Rachita Devi (Mohiniattam), KJ Krishnendu (Koodiyattam)
Gurumayum Biseshwor Sharma (Thang-ta), Ravi Kumar (traditional theater Oggukatha, Telangana), P Thilagavathi (traditional theater, Kattaikoothu, Tamilnadu), Dushyant Kumar Dwivedi (Pandavani, Chattisgarh), S. Gopi & Rajeev Pulavar (puppetry)
The honor of Akademi Fellow carries a purse of Rs. 3 lakhs, Akademi Award carries a purse of Rs. 1 lakh, with tamrapatra and angavastram. The Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar carries a purse of Rs.25,000.
Watch the ceremony

Guru Prof. C V Chandrasekar from Chennai and Dr. Sunil Kothari from New Delhi were felicitated with DRISHTI PURASKAR for their contributions to the field of dance during the 13th Drishti National Dance Festival at Chowdiah Memorial Hall on January 13, 2018, Bangalore.

Film 'Nilima' featuring Mohiniattam dancer Ayswaria Wariar has won a SPECIAL JURY AWARD at Eastern Global Film Awards on 10th January 2018 at Kochi, Kerala.

Divya Devaguptapu, Bharatakalanjali alumni and a prime disciple of The Dhananjayans was adjudged the outstanding dancer in the Music Academy Mid Year Dance Festival 2017. She was awarded BEST BHARATANATYAM ARTISTE of the year 2017 on the inaugural day of the Academy's Natya festival on 3rd January 2018.

Prof S. Rajeswari, retired Principal of Tamilnadu Govt Music College, was awarded the title of ISAI SUDAROLI on 7th January 2018 by Sahana Fine Arts, Chennai. The chief guests Dhananjayans paid high tributes to Rajeswari as an all rounder - concert singer, excellent teacher, musicologist, composer and over and above, that she could handle with aplomb singing and conducting Bharatanatyam performances. In the golden days of Kumari Kamala, connoisseurs used to throng to listen to her music accompanying Kamala's naatyam.

On 6 January 2018, at the gala international NRI Summit in Manama, Bahrain, dancer Geeta Chandran was among the galaxy of Indian Women Achievers who were honoured with the international INDIAN WOMEN ACHIEVERS SAMMAN.The award was bestowed on her by Minister Alfonse Joseph Kannanthanam, India's Union Minister of State for Culture and Tourism.

On 6th January 2018, Vyjayanthi Kashi received the NATYANJALI AWARD from the legendary Guru Ullal Mohan Kumar at Suratkal, Karnataka.

On Jan 6, 2018 D. Keshava received the SAMBRAHMA PURASKAR at Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bangalore.

The Music Academy, Chennai, honored Bharatanatyam exponent Lakshmi Vishwanathan with NRITHYA KALANIDHI (previously Natya Kalacharya) on Jan 3, 2018.

K.Sarveshan (from South Africa), a disciple of the Dhananjayans, got the BEST DANCER AWARD for his performance at the 29th SPIRIT OF YOUTH festival of Madras Music Academy in August 2017. S Bhagyalakshmi got the award for second best dancer. DANCE GURU AWARD (for Guru of Best Dancer in Spirit of Youth) went to Guru VP Dhananjayan. The awards were given on 3rd January 2018 during Music Academy's annual Natya festival.

Dr.Sunil Kothari received the Karur Natyanjali Trust Award on January 2, 2018 at Karur, Tamilnadu.

On January 2, 2018 Bala Devi Chandrashekar received the title of THALAIKOLLI from Rajah S Babaji Rajah Bhonsle, senior prince of Tanjore Hereditary Trust, Thanjavur Palace Devasthanam for her production 'Brihadeeswara - form to formless.'and contribution to dance. According to historians in Thanjavur, this was the title given by Chola king to dancer Madhavi.

The Endowment Awards of Brahma Gana Sabha were given to Roja Kannan (Bharatanatyam guru), Sumitra Subramanian (young Bharatanatyam artiste) and Dr. S Rajeshwari (artiste in Bharatanatyam orchestra) on January 1, 2018 at Sivagami Pethachi Auditorium, Chennai.

Mayuri Upadhya has won the BROADWAY WORLD INDIA AWARDS 2017 for Best Original Choreography for Feroz Khan's stage rendition of Mughal-e-Azam.

Sapphire Creations Dance Company's co-director Paramita Saha was chosen as a Global Fellow of the International Society of Performing Arts (ISPA), New York and was invited to attend the Global Conference in New York in January.

Natya student Rekha Iyer, disciple of Hema Rajagopalan, received an Honorable Mention, the second highest distinction, from the National YoungArts Foundation. The winners were selected from a competitive pool of over 10,000 applicants representing artists from across forty-seven states. Selected through a blind adjudication process conducted by an independent panel of highly accomplished artists, the 2018 winners represent the top 10 percent of applications. YoungArts winners gain access to one of the most comprehensive programs for emerging artists in the U.S., offering professional and artistic development opportunities over the course of their careers.

They will receive cash prizes of up to $10,000; opportunities to share their work with the public at renowned institutions such as the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, Sotheby's in New York, and New World Center in Miami. They will also gain access to mentors, including Academy Award-winning director, producer, editor, writer and cinematographer Doug Blush; award-winning photographer Corinne May Botz; three-time New York Dance and Performance awardee Nora Chipaumire; Grammy-award winning vocalist and songwriter Lisa Fischer, and best-selling authors Michael Grunwald and Kristen Simmons, among others.

Highlights - Yearwise listing