Information - Highlights 2023

December 2023

Sangam Festival, New Jersey, presented the SANGAM FESTIVAL AWARD OF EXCELLENCE to Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam at the Sangam Festival on Dec 31, 2023 at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai

Bala Devi Chandrashekar received the KALA VIPANCHEE award from Vipanchee Trust on December 31, 2023 at Chennai.

IGNCA inaugurated the birth centenary celebrations of Prof. Mohan Khokar on his birthday by screening a short film and releasing a book of tributes titled MOHAN KHOKAR: THE FATHER FIGURE OF INDIAN DANCE HISTORY compiled and edited by Ashish Khokar on December 30, 2023 at Kalakshetra, Chennai. This was apt as Mohan Khokar was the first male dance student of Rukmini Devi. `

Rathna Kumar received the NATYA VISAARADA-HA award from the Krishna Gana Sabha on Dec 26, 2023 on the inaugural day of the Natya Kala Conference, Chennai

94 year old Kathak guru Kumudini Lakhia received the LEGENDS OF INDIA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD on Dec 24, 2023 at New Delhi.

On Dec 23, 2023 Dr.Sunanda Nair received the JWALA AWARD from Mumbai Jwala Vartha at Mumbai.

The DEVDASI NATIONAL AWARD was conferred by Devdasi Nrutya Mandir on Dec 18-20, 2023 at Bhanja Kala Mandap, Bhubaneswar. The recipients are Late Giridhari Nayak (Odissi, Odisha), Uma Rele (Bharatanatyam, Mumbai), Chitra Sukumaran (Mohiniattam, Kerala), Geetha Padmakumar (Kuchipudi, Kerala), Paramita Maitra (Kathak, Kolkata), Rupashree Mohapatra (Odissi & Mahari, Puri), Bhanu Deka (Sattriya, Assam) & T. Gyanapati Devi (Manipuri, Kolkata).

Kuchipudi dancer/teacher Sailaja received the SATKOSIA MAHOTSAV AWARD on December 18, 2023 as the first recipient at the festival held at Angul, Bhubaneswar.

The Indian Fine Arts Society presented NATYA KALASIKHAMANI to Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant on December 17, 2023 at Ethiraja Kalyana Mandapam, Chennai.

The Bharat Kalachar awards were given on December 16, 2023 at the sabha premises in Chennai. The awardees are:
GNANA KALA BHARATHI (Dr Mrs YGP Memorial Award) - Dr. Rajkumar Bharathi
VISWA KALA BHARATHI - Narthaki Nataraj
ACHARYA KALA BHARATHI - Urmila Sathyanarayanan
NATAKA KALA BHARATHI - Bala Sundaram
KALA SEVA BHARATHI - Bhagavatamela Melattur Kumar
YUVA KALA BHARATHI for dance: Bhairavi Venkatesan - BN, Lekha Prasad - BN, Arthi Vasudevan - Kuchipudi, Sharmada Viswanath - BN
RAJAM PUSHPAVANAM MEMORIAL AWARD: Samanvita Sasidharan- All Rounder
K BALACHANDER AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (instituted by Kavithalaya Krishnan): S Sureshwar
Special Commendation Awards: Sai Shravanam - Soundscape, VVS Manian - Konnakkol, Lavanya Venugopal - Theatre

On December 15, 2023 Kartik Fine Arts conferred the following awards at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Mylapore.
NRITHYA PEROLI: Guru Rhadha
NATYA CHUDAR: Madhumitha Sriram
NRITHYA JYOTHI AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: Sushama Ranganathan
NATYA KALAI ARASIL Dr.Lakshmi Ramaswamy
MADURA KALA MANI: G Narendra

ABHAI conferred the first PRAVASI NATYA KALANIDHI award on Rathna Kumar of Anjali Center for the Arts, Houston, on December 15, 2023 at the Natya Darshan conference’s inaugural evening, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai.

Narada Gana Sabha Trust bestowed award on Shobana Balachandra, creative executive director and senior alumnus of Bharata Kalanjali, as a dancer propagating ‘Swati Tirunal’s Works’ under an Endowment instituted by Binfield Trust, Chennai, in memory of the founder H H Radha Devi, consort of H H Marthanda Varma, Maharaja of Travancore, on Dec 15, 2023 at Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.

VR DEVIKA received the LAADLI SOUTH ASIA MEDIA AWARD on Dec 14, 2023 for her book Muthulakshmi Reddy: A trailblazer in Surgery and Women’s Rights, which got chosen for gender sensitivity 2023 in the category of non-fiction.

Dr. Sreelatha Vinod, Bharatanatyam artiste and Founder/Director of Anthara Center for Performing Arts, Chennai, received the NRITYA CHOODAMANI award from Krishna Gana Sabha on Dec 14, 2023 at Chennai.

Mohiniattam dancer Methil Devika received the PADMAJYOTHI PURASKARAM on December 12, 2023 at Koodalmanikyam temple in Irinjalakuda. This award is established in the name of dancer-actor Padmini

Ashish Mohan Khokar’s ATTENDANCE ANNUAL AWARDS 2023 were given on December 9, 2023 at ADA Rangamandira, Bangalore, during the Nadam festival.
RAMGOPAL BEST MALE SOLOIST AWARD: Laxminarayan Jena
MOHAN KHOKAR DANCE DOCUMENTATION AWARD: Lalitha Venkat
UDAY SHANKAR CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD: Guru Shama Bhate
RUKMINI DEVI AWARD FOR BHARATANATYAM: Alarmel Valli
OVERALL CONTRIBUTION: Mysore B Nagaraj
LIFETIME IN ART AWARD: Chiranjiv Singh
The first GURU MK SAROJA AWARD: Vidya Passard (Paris) & Deepa Krishnamurthy

Sri Thyaga Brahma Gana Sabha conferred VANI KALA SUDHAKARA on Meenakshi Chitharanjan on December 9, 2023 at Chennai.

Brahma Gana Sabha conferred the NATYA PADHMAM on Srinidhi Chidambaram on December 7, 2023 at Chennai.

Among the recipients of the 2023 DANCE MAGAZINE AWARDS, this year with a theme of dance and dance education, is BIJAYINI SATPATHY. A ceremony to recognize this year’s honorees was held in New York City at 92nd Street Y on December 4, 2023 with performances and presentations for each recipient.

November 2023

The DR SUNIL KOTHARI AWARD FOR EMERGING ARTIST 2023 supported by Drishtikon invited submissions sent by artists, nominated by Gurus from different genres. These were sent to a prestigious international jury: Anand Bhatt (UK), Aravinth Kumarasamy (Singapore), Uttara Asha Coorlawala (USA), Samar Jodha, Sandhya Raman, Sanjoy Roy, Shveta Arora and Uma Dogra (India). Each jury member sent in their selection and the winners are:
First: Ivana Sarkar (Manipuri) / Grey Matters
Second: Sai Venkata Gangadhar (Kuchipudi) / Maro Prapancham
Third: Kalyani Sharda (Contemporary) / My Voice
Ivana Sarkar received a citation and a cash prize of INR 75,000 on November 30, 2023.

The French government bestowed the award of CHEVALIER DANS L’ORDRE DES PALMES ACADÉMIQUES on Vasumathi Badrinathan, one of their important civilian awards for her contribution to French language and culture. The award ceremony took place at the end of November 2023 in Mumbai.

On November 27, 2023 at the Trinity Arts Festival in Chennai, Chitra Visweswaran received LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD, Radhika Shurajit got BHARATA KALA RATNA Award for 2022, and Padma Subrahmanyam was felicitated on her turning 80.

TARANGA NRUTHYA KALA RATNA 2023 was awarded to Bragha Bessell on Nov 26, 2023 by URise Vedic Sangeetha Academy at Viveka Auditorium, Bangalore.

Urise Vedic Sangeetha Academy gave the NRUTHYA SURABHI awards on November 26, 2023 at Bangalore to the following artistes: Dr.Ananda B Bhavanani, Anupama Kylash, Dr.VR Devika, S Jayachandran, Kiran Subramanyam, Minal Prabhu, R Muralidaran, Padma Murali, Priya Murle, Pulikeshi Kasturi, Raghavendra Prabhat, G Gurumurthy, Sheela Chandrashekar, Ramaa Bharadvaj, Vijaya Marthanda.
Recipients of KALA SURABHI include Akhila Krishnamurthy , Ashwini S Belur, Gayathri Keshavan, Mysore B Nagaraj, Nandini K Mehta, Padma Kalyan, Radhika Shetty, Ramesh Swamy, Sai Venkatesh, S. Shadakshari, V.V. Subramanian, V.V. Sundaram, S.N.R Varadaraj, Yamini Muthanna, Chella Vaithiyanathan and Anuradha Vikranth.

Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra presented the SUMITRA CHARAT RAM AWARD FOR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT (2023) to Shobha Deepak Singh on November 17, 2023 at the Kamani Auditorium, New Delhi.

Roger Sinha's 2M/Solitudes premiered at a film festival on the island-country of Cyprus, on November 5, 2023 for the first edition of the Cyprus Dance Film Festival. The film then headed to Rio de Janeiro for the 20th edition of Dança Em Foco from December 5 to 17.

At Indradhanush Dilli 2023 presented by S.U.N.A.INA, the following awards were given at Triveni Kala Sangam, New Delhi.
Nov 3: GURU SAMMAN for Kuchipudi dancers Pasumarthy Vithal and Bharathi Vithal
PARAS MANI SAMMAN for Sanjay Arya (CEO Shubhi Publications)
Nov 4: GURU SAMMAN for Sharon Lowen (Odissi) & Shashidharan Nair (Indian Ballet)

Sai Arts International conferred lifetime achievement award NRITYA KALA RATNA on Roja Kannan on November 1, 2023 at JSS Rangamandira, Bangalore.

SILAMBAM HOUSTON, one of the leading Indian arts organizations in the city (founded in 2002), has been designated as a ‘HOUSTON CULTURAL TREASURE’. The designation, awarded by the BIPOC Arts Network and Fund, recognizes Silambam’s foundational work and contributions towards equity and access in the BIPOC arts ecosystem in the Houston area. Silambam is one of 11 organizations to be awarded this rare distinction.
“We are deeply honored to have been recognized as a Houston Cultural Treasure”, said Dr.Lavanya Rajagopalan, Artistic Director of Silambam Houston. “We take this responsibility very seriously, and pledge to continue our work as ambassadors of Indian performing arts. Our mission - to improve equity in and access to arts experiences, education, funding, and recognition for students, teachers, performers and audiences - is further strengthened by this award, and we hope to work together with the other organizations in the Houston Cultural Treasures cohort to continue to elevate the BIPOC arts landscape in Houston”.

October 2023

Revathi Ramachandran steps down as director of Kalakshetra, Chennai, on Oct 31, 2023 and Aneish Rajan, Deputy Secretary at the Union Ministry of Culture, takes over as acting director from Nov 1, 2023.

Ileana Citaristi received the 17TH GURU DEBAPRASAD AWARD 2023 on October 30, 2023 during the Guru Debaprasad Award Festival organised by Tridhara from Oct 26 to 30 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.

At the five day 17th Guru Debaprasad Award festival, Tridhara presented the GURU DEBAPRASAD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2023 to Jatin Das, legendary painter, sculptor and muralist, on October 26, 2023 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. GURU DEBAPRASAD AWARD 2023 was given to Ileana Citaristi (Odissi dance), Kamalini Asthana & Nalini Asthana (Kathak), Prathibha Prahlad (Bharatanatyam) and Guru Ramakrishna Talukdar (Sattriya dance) on October 30. GURU DEBAPRASAD YUVA PRATIVA AWARD 2023 was conferred on Sonali Mohapatra (Odissi dance) and Dipika Priyadarsini (Odissi dance).

Urise Vedic Sangeetha Academy honoured Guru G. Venu with the title URISE NRUTHYA PITAMAHA on 28th October 2023, at Natanakairali, Irinjalakuda.

On October 24, 2023, 1038 dancers from the South Zone Cultural Centre in Thanjavur performed Bharatanatyam at the Brihadeeswara Temple to mark the 1038th birth anniversary of Emperor Rajaraja Chola.

ASAMANA ANASUYA, a documentary conceived and directed by daughter Seetha Ratnakar on her mother Vinjamuri Anasuya Devi, singer and music composer, was premiered in October in Chennai (Oct 21, 2023) and Delhi (Oct 24, 2023). Anasuya Devi used her classical music training to elevate and embellish Telugu folk songs.

Hari Hara Fine Arts, Hyderabad, has instituted Lifetime Achievement awards in the names and memory of Rukmini Devi (for Bharatanatyam) and Dr.Vempati Chinna Satyam (for Kuchipudi). The award with a cash prize of Rs.one lakh each was given to the Dhananjayans (for BN) and Rathna Kumar (for Kuchipudi) on October 22, 2023 at Narada Gana Sabha hall, Chennai.

Annamacharya Bhavana Vahini conferred the DHAIRYA AWARD on Ananda Shankar Jayant on October 22, 2023 at Hyderabad.

Kuchipudi dancer MVN Murthy received the DR VEMPATI CHINNA SATYAM LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD on October 15, 2023 at Kuchipudi village. Oct 15 is the birth date of Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam and is celebrated as World Kuchipudi Day.

Kala Pradarshini’s GHANTASALA PURASKAR was awarded to Kuchipudi guru Bala Kondala Rao, Vedantam Ramalinga Sastry and actor/director Meegada Ramalinga Swamy at the Ghantasala 100 centenary celebrations on October 7, 2023 at Vishakapatnam.

Parvathi Ravi Ghantasala received LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD from Sunaada Trust in association with Narada Gana Sabha on 5th October 2023 at Narada Gana Sabha mini hall, Chennai.

A biography of choreographer Alexei Ratmansky by dance writer Marina Harss titled THE BOY FROM KYIV was published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux and released on Oct 3, 2023.

September 2023

Bijayini Satpathy is a 2023-2024 Fellow of the Centre for Ballet and the Arts at New York University. The Fellowship program supports four individuals for the academic year whose projects focus on anthropology, disability arts, classical Indian dance, and performance studies. They will receive financial support, academic resources, and space to create new work and further their research. Bijayini’s project NIRVIKALPA - transconceptual is a new dance in her choreographic journey.

The MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION’S 2023 DISTINGUISHED ARTIST AWARD recipient is Dipankar Mukherjee, theater maker and artistic director of Pangea World Theater, Minneapolis. Every year, the McKnight Foundation awards the $100,000 prize to a “Minnesota artist or culture bearer who has made significant contributions to the state’s cultural life.”

For her "impactful and path-breaking contribution in Dance and Creating Social Consciousness by communicating through your Art Form," dancer Geeta Chandran was conferred with the 2023 MAHATMA AWARD supported by the Aditya Birla Group on 30 September 2023 in New Delhi.

The General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi, has selected artistes, who are above the age of 75 years and haven’t been accorded any national honour in their career so far, from the field of the Performing Arts of India for the one-time SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AMRIT AWARD under Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav (AKAM) commemorating 75 years of India's independence. The SNA Amrit Award carries a purse money of Rs. 1,00,000 (Rupees one lakh), besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram. The awards were given on September 16, 2023 at New Delhi by the Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar.
The dance awardees are:
Mahankali Srimannarayana Murthy (Kuchipudi), Hori Bora Barbayan (Sattriya), Kumkum Lal (Odissi), Charan Girdhar Chand (Kathak), Smita Rajeshbhai Shastri (Kuchipudi), Lalitha Srinivasan (Bharatanatyam), N. Appunni Tharakan (Makeup for Kathakali), Kalakshetra Vilasini (Bharatanatyam), Kalamandalam Prabhakaran (Ottanthullal), Padma Sharma (Kathak), Hijam Tombi Singh (Manipuri), Sidheswar Das (Mayurbhanj Chhau), Gobinda Chandra Pal (Odissi-Gotipua), Girdhari Maharaj (Kathak), V.A.K Ranga Rao (scholar & documentation), Purnima Pande (Kathak), Susmita Misra (Kathak), Thankamani Kutty (Bharatanatyam), Bhagabandas Kumar (Purulia Chhau), H. Bishwaroop Singh (Thang Ta), Guru Prasad Ojha (Sattriya Ojhapali).

Roja Kannan received the DR SAROJA VAIDYANATHAN EXCELLENCE AWARD 2023 on September 15, 2023 at the Vysakhi Nrityotsav in Vishakapatnam

At the 29th OMC-Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award Festival 2023, Srjan presented GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA AWARD 2023 (Rs.1 lakh) to Anant Mahapatra for theatre on September 9, 2023 at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar.
GURU KELUCHARAN MOHAPATRA YUVA PRATIBHA SAMMAN 2023 (Rs.25,000) went to Arup Das for Odissi music (mardala), Siddhi Waikar & Arupa Gayatri Panda for Odissi dance, Vishal Krishna for Kathak

Kathak Guru Kumudini Lakhia received the GUJARAT RATNA SANMAAN 2023 from the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Bhupendra Patel on September 8, 2023.

Ileana Citaristi received the MOHINI NRUTYA AWARD 2023 from Sai Aradhana Dance Academy on September 3, 2023 at Bhubaneswar

Shobana Bhalchandra received the VRINDARANI AWARD from Lasya Academy on 3rd September 2023 at Music Academy, Chennai.

August 2023

PRATIBHA PURASKAR was conferred on S Kumar on August 30, 2023 by PS Telugu University, Hyderabad - Govt.of Telangana in recognition of his services over the last 45 years to Melattur Bhagavata Mela.

The documentary film ADVAN - THE JOURNEY OF MY LIFE is based on the life of Kathakali exponent PRABAL GUPTA. Scripted and directed by Anoop Rajan Thomas, and produced by LV Prasad College of Media Studies, the premiere screening of the film took place on August 26, 2023 at Bangalore

'Tara: The Singing Anklet,' a film by Vinod Mankara on Mohiniattam dancer TARA RAJKUMAR, premiered on August 20, 2023 in Australia at the Indian Film Festival of Melbourne. It traces her journey across 3 continents that wove a magical dance drape linking the lands.

On August 19, 2023 on the occasion of the 150th year of Akhil Bharatiya Gandharva Mahavidyalay Mandal in Mumbai, Dr Vibha Dadheech was conferred with SANGEET MAHAMAHOPADHYAY, Dr Manjiri Deo and Pt Nandkishore Kapote were conferred with SANGEET RATNA while Dr Aparna Bhatt was conferred with SANGEET GAURAV PURASKAAR.

After a gap of a few years, Chennai’s RR Sabha honoured 13 artistes in the Award function held at the Sabha premises on August 18, 2023.
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT: Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam (cash award Rs.1,25,000)
NRUTYA KALA RATNA: Priyadarsini Govind (cash award Rs.1,00,000)
KALA SEVA RATNA: VR Devika (cash award Rs.50,000)
NRUTYA YUVA KALA RATNA: Sudharma Vaithiyanathan (cash award Rs.25,000)

On August 15, 2023 the following awards were given by Sai Arts International at Bangalore.
BEST ARTISTE AWARD to Yamuna Srinidhi and Manasa Pavan Kumar, BEST PROMISING ARTISTE AWARD to NS Smitha, BEST DANCER & NATTUVANGIST AWARD to TS Sharath, BEST DANCE TEACHER & SCHOLAR AWARD to Dr.BV Geetha, BEST SENIOR DANCE TEACHER AWARD to Roopashree Aravind, BEST DANCE TEACHER AWARD to Ranganayakulu

Vaishnavi Natyashala conferred the PADMINI PRIYA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD 2021 in memory of Guru Padmini Ramachandran on Dr Usha RK for her contributions towards the promotion and propagation of Indian Art and Culture on 6th August 2023 at ADA Rangamandira, Bangalore.

In the Madras Music Academy’s ‘Spirit of Youth concerts 2023’ held in August, the best dancer prize went to Gopika Raaj Pillai (disciple of K Nirmala Nagarajan) and second best dancer to Saibrindha Ramachandran (disciple of Indira Kadambi).

Anjana Gonasgi’s film (UN)SEEN has been selected for London International Screen Dance Festival (LISDF) 2023 that is scheduled to take place in October. This will be the second in person screening of the film in London this year and 5th festival selection overall. This film is the only one from India part of this lineup.

July 2023

On July 28, 2023 Silambam Academy of Fine Arts bestowed PRATIKSHA AWARD on Bharatanatyam dancer Janani Murali at JSS auditorium, Bangalore.

Odissi dancer Aloka Kanungo received the GURU SAMARPAN SAMMAN at the 4th Samarpan Samaroh, organised by Odissi dance institutions Nrutyanilaya and Nrutyankita at Rabindra Mandap in Bhubaneswar on July 22, 2023.

The BHARATA KALAA PRAVINYA AWARD was conferred on R. Muthukannamal, hereditary Sadir artiste by ABHAI, at Viralimalai on July 21, 2023. The award is endowed by Dr. Madhumathy Prakash in memory of her father and Guru Udupi Lakshminarayan.

At its 34th anniversary on July 8, 2023 ABHAI presented the following awards in Chennai.
NATYA KALANIDHI: Saroja Vaidyanathan & Rhadha
NRITYA PERUNJYOTI: Meenakshi Chitharanjan
GANDHARVA NIPUNA: G Vijayaraghavan, NARTHAKA NIPUNA: TK Thiruchelwam NAATAR KALAI KON: B Muthuchandran
THANJAI ARUNACHALAM PILLAI ENDOWMENT YOUNG ACHIEVER AWARD: Kavya Muralidharan
BHARATA KALA PRAVINYA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: B Muthukannammal (given at Viralimalai on July 21, 2023)

Odissi dancer Ileana Citaristi received the prestigious award THE GOLDEN NUTCRACKER (LO SCHIACCIANOCI D’ORO) at the concluding gala of the VII International Festival of Dance and the Dances at Castello Forte dei Borgia, Nepi, Rome on July 8, 2023. The award is given every year to outstanding names of the artistic and cultural world and recognises Indian classical dance in the world dance scenario.

Abhinaya Dance Company's artistic director Mythili Kumar was honoured by Navadharshana with the title NRITYA DARSHINI 2023, in recognition of her pioneering work in the field of Bharatanatyam in North America on July 4, 2023 at Cubberley Community Center, Palo Alto, CA.

On July 3, 2023, Kartik Fine Arts presented the KARTIK RAJAGOPAL MEMORIAL AWARD to Nandini Ramani, Bharatanatyam dancer and scholar, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai.

On July 2, 2023 Nupur Cultural Academy conferred the following awards during their Mahapurush Srimanta Sankaradeva and Madhavadeva International Dance Festival at Guwahati.
NARTANA SHIROMANI BHIBUSHAN Lifetime Achievement Award for Sattriya Guru Jatin Goswami (Assam), NARTAN KALANIDHI BHUSHAN AWARD for Sattriya on Ramakrishna Talukdar and Anita Sharma (Assam), NRITYA SAADHIKA AWARD for Bharatanatyam on Reshmi Pathiyath (UAE) and Roopa Kiran (Hong Kong), NRITYA SAADHIKA AWARD for Kuchipudi on Kironmai Bonala (Telangana). NARTANA KALA VIDUSHI AWARDS go to Gayatri Baruah Sarma, Susmita Goswami, Himsikha Keot, Sikha Kalita, Tapash Ghosh, Dimpee Baishya, Purbashri Bania, Swagata Mitra and Tanushree Dutta.

Kerala State’s first exclusive museum for Kathakali is to be established at a cost of ₹1.5 crore under the `Destination Challenge’ of the Kerala government. It will come up on the banks of the Pampa at Ayroor, Pathanamthitta by 2024. The three storey museum will comprise a display of the Kathakali kalaris, facial make up, tapestry, ornaments and various musical instruments.

Kathak dancer RITA MUSTAPHI has been named 2023 McKnight Choreographer Fellow.

Ramya Harishankar, artistic director of Arpana Dance Company in California, was recently recognized as an INDIVIDUAL ‘LEGACY’ ARTIST by the California Arts Council, one of 8 ‘legacy’ artists to be recognized in Zone 1 which is Orange County and the 5 counties to the south and east. The prestigious 2023 California Arts Council (CAC) Individual Artist Fellowships totaling $840,000 have been awarded to 58 artists in the five-county Region I. The program is designed to recognize, uplift, and celebrate the excellence of California artists practicing any art form.

June 2023

Milena Salvini (1933-2022), the founder of Mandapa in Paris, loved India and made its performing arts a mainstay in her life’s work. The square in front of ‘Mandapa’ is now named as PLACE MILENA SALVINI in her honor. The name was formally inaugurated on June 22, 2023 in Paris.

Kathak exponents Dr. Padma Sharma of Mumbai and Pt. Bipul Das of Assam received NRITYA SAMRAT BIRJU MAHARAJ AWARD 2023 organized by Nandkishore Cultural Society on June 21, 2023 at Pune. The YUVA PURASKAR edition was bestowed upon the duo Saurav-Gaurav Mishra of Banaras.

On 16 June 2023, Drishti Art Centre signed an MOU with the Karnataka State Dr Gangubai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University wherein the University has granted recognition to Drishti Art Centre to offer the University’s Bachelor’s Degree in Performing Arts (Dance), Diploma in Dance and Certificate course in Dance. Drishti will be offering the University’s courses in dance; Dr L Subramaniam's Academy will offer their courses in music; MES and Seshadripuram colleges, in theatre.

Out of 390 applicants, 25 were chosen as Houston’s cultural treasures, artists who have contributed significantly to the growth of the arts in Houston, while simultaneously adding a new dimension to it. RATHNA KUMAR is one of the 25 recipients of the BANF ARTIST AWARD (BIPOC Arts and Network Fund) on June 11, 2023 at Houston.

Vazhuvoorar Classical Bharatanatya Arts Centre, Coimbatore, honoured Dr.Sonal Mansingh with the VAZHUVOORAR LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD and Shobana Ramesh with VAZHUVOORAR SAMRAJ MEMORIAL AWARD on June 4, 2023 during the Vazhuvoorar Kalai Vizha celebrating 113th anniversary of Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai and 85th anniversary of Vazhuvoor Samraj Pillai.

On June 3, 2023, Rathna Kumar received Dance Source Houston’s first ARTISTIC HONOR AWARD.

FACIS (Faculty of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies, Sri Sri University), in collaboration with Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Research Centre and Srjan organized the second Sanjukta Panigrahi Award of Excellence function on June 1 and 2, 2023 at Utkal Rangamancha, Bhubaneswar. In the solo Odissi dance competition held on June 1, 2023, Swayamprava Mishra was declared the winner of the SANJUKTA PANIGRAHI AWARD OF EXCELLENCE (Rs.50,000 prize) while Madhabi Rout and T Tulika Reddy were the second (Rs.30,000) and third prize (Rs.20,000) winners respectively.

The 2023 BISHNU RABHA AWARD by the Assam Government’s Cultural Department goes to Sattriya artiste Gopal Krishna Goswami of Kamalabari Satra.

Mohiniattam dancer Gopika Varma has been granted the Senior Fellowship on the subject ‘A comparative study of Uthama-anga Bhedas in the Natya Shastra and Balarama Bharatham’ under the Scheme of Award of Senior Fellowship to Outstanding Persons in the Fields of Culture by the Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi.

Lekha Prasad, a student of Priya Murle’s Shri Silambam, has won the ABHINANDA SAROJA AWARD (award of excellence in the field of Bharatanatyam) in honor of Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. The award is instituted by National Institute of Indian Classical Dance, New Delhi.

May 2023

Praana Academy of Performing Arts of Mohiniattam Guru Manimekhala, instituted an award in memory of Kalyanikutty Amma named NITHYA KALYANI AWARD for excellence in Mohiniattam. The first award was conferred on Kala Vijayan, senior Mohiniattam guru and daughter of Kalyanikutty Amma, at Melpathoor Auditorium, Guruvayur, on May 30, 2023.

The KALASAGAR AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE in traditional performing arts were presented on May 28, 2023 on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval, legendary Kathakali maestro and the founder of Kalasagar, at Karalmana Vazhenkada Kunju Nair Trust Hall, Shornur. The awardees are:
- Kathakali
Vesham/actor: Kalamandalam Krishnakumar, Paattu/music: Kalamandalam Jayaprakash
Chenda: Kalamandalam Rajan (Guruvayur), maddalam: Kalamandalam Venu
Chutty: Kalanilayam Vishnu
- Ottenthullal: Kalamandalam Radhamani, Chakyarkoothu (mizhavu): Kalamandalam Narayanan Nambiar, Koodiyattam: Kalamandalam Krishnendu, Mohiniattam: Mini Banergi, Bharatanatyam: Shafeekkudeen & Shabana, Kuchipudi: Anil Vettikkattiri & Premalatha
Thayambaka: Guruvayur Sasi
- Panchavadyam
Thimila: Kodumtharapilly Manoj, maddalam: Eroor Arun Varrier, edakka: Peringode Subramaniyan, ilathalam: Vettekadu Kanagan, kombu: Machadu Venugopal

School of Performing Arts, World University of Design, conferred the CRITICS’ CHOICE AWARD on Kuchipudi Guru Vanashree Rao on 24th May 2023 at Delhi.

On May 18, 2023 a historical agreement was signed between Assam government and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University after the decision to establish a seat (SRIMANTA SANKARADEVA CHAIR) in the university in the name of Srimanta Sankaradeva.

Sattriya dancer/scholar Dr. Mallika Kandali’s third book ‘Mati-Akhara: The Grammar of Sattriya Dance’ was released on 11th May 2023 at Guwahati Artists' Guild by eminent Sattriya Guru Jatin Goswami.

At the 18th edition of International Dance Day organized by Shristi Center on May 2, 2023 at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bengaluru,Yakshagana artiste Keremane Shivananda Hegde was honoured with SRISHTI NATIONAL ACHIEVEMENT AWARD FOR DANCE.

April 2023

Kalamandalam Rajeev (Mizhavu), Kalamandalam Sheeba Krishnakumar (dance), Bijula Balakrishnan (dance), Kalamandalam Radhamani (Thullal) got the KERALA SANGEETHA NATAKA AKADEMI AWARD for 2022. Chenda/Edakka artiste Kalamandalam Unnikrishnan got the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi fellowship.
Kalamandalam Kalluvazhi Vasu (Kathakali), Kalanilayam Kunjunni (Kathakali), Kavadiyar Suresh (dance drama) got the GURUPUJA PURASKARAM

Sangam Festival of Princeton, NJ, honoured Kannan Balakrishnan in April 2023 with its AWARD OF EXCELLENCE for his outstanding contribution to promoting the veena through his performances. The award carries a purse of Rupees one lakh.

The Bhavan’s Executive Director Dr M N Nandakumara has now become an Honorary MBE for services to the teaching, performance and accessibility of Indian classical arts in the UK.

The postage stamp release honouring four legendary personalities of Odisha who have immortalised Odisha on the map of India, includes the stamp featuring Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra for Odissi dance.

Preeti Vasudevan won the VEGAS MOVIE AWARDS for Best Choreography for ‘Resilient.’

The NATYA VRIKSHA LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD was presented by Natya Vrisha to Kamalini Dutt for her seminal work in documenting dance on April 22, 2023 during the World Dance Day celebrations at India International Center in New Delhi.

Mohiniattam Guru Sreedevi Unni received the MES KALAVEDI PURASKARA from MES Kalavedi on April 16, 2023 at Bangalore for her contribution to Mohiniattam especially in Karnataka.

Odissi Guru Ratikant Mohapatra received the SURAVI SAMMAN 2023 on April 12, 2023 at the 21st Ekamra Nruthya Mahotsav in Bhubaneswar.

Bharatanatyam Guru Hema Rajagopalan received the NRITHYA SEVA RATNA award from Indian Fine Arts Academy, San Diego, on April 1, 2023.

Odissi Guru Ratikant Mohaptra received the first UTKAL PRATIBHA SAMMAN 2023 on the occasion of Utkal Divas on April 1, 2023 at Bhubaneswar.

Chennai based Kuchipudi dancer Sailaja has become the State Secretary of Art and Culture of the Bharatiya Janata Party.

March 2023

Raju Das assumed the charge of Secretary, Sangeet Natak Akademi, on 27 March 2023.

Prathibha Prahlad received the ICONIC DANCE & CULTURE AWARD from the tourism sector, on March 23, 2023.

Bharatanatyam dancer Srekala Bharath received the NATYA KALA SARATHY award from Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha on 20th March 2023 at Chennai.

Shambhavi School of Dance honored 94 year old Vimala Rangachar with the NATYASASTRA AWARD as part of the 7th edition of Nayika on March 15, 2023 at Bangalore. The stages that we often perform on or organise festivals at, be it ADA Rangamandira or Seva Sadan are her brain child.

On March 11, 2023 Bharatanatyam Guru Viji Prakash was honored with the LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD at the Los Angeles Indian Dance Festival by Soorya Foundation for Performing Arts in California.

February 2023

The awardees for 2019, 2020 and 2021 for Performing Arts were selected by the General Council of Sangeet Natak Akademi in its meeting held on 8 November 2022 at New Delhi. The honour of Akademi Fellow carries a purse money of Rs.3,00,000 (Rupees three lakh) while the Akademi Award carries a purse money of Rs 1,00,000 (Rupees one lakh), besides a Tamrapatra and Angavastram. The SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS were conferred by the President of India in a special investiture ceremony on February 23, 2023. The dance awardees are:
- SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI FELLOWSHIP
Saroja Vaidyanathan,. Sadanam Krishnan Kutty, Darshana Jhaveri, Chhannu Lal Mishra, Bharat Gupt
- SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS (AKADEMI PURASKAR) for 2019
Vasundhara Doraswamy (Bharatanatyam), Raghav Raj Bhatt & Mangla Bhatt (Kathak), Kottakkal Nandakumaran Nair (Kathakali), Manju Barggavee (Kuchipudi), Sutapa Talukdar (Odissi), Ranjumoni Saikia (Sattriya), Nirmala Paniker (Mohiniattam), Mamta Shankar (Contemporary Dance/Overall), Brajendra Kumar Pattnaik (Chhau)
- FIELD OF OVERALL CONTRIBUTION / SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2019)
Dr. Utpal K. Banerjee, Reetha Rajan
- SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS (AKADEMI PURASKAR) for 2020
Meenakshi Chitharanjan (Bharatanatyam), Kumkum Dhar (Kathak), Sruti Bandopadhay (Manipuri), Pasumarthy Vithal & Bharathi Vithal (Kuchipudi-Joint Award), Rabindra Atibudhi (Odissi), Trilochan Mohanta (Chhau), Bhushan Lakhandri (Contemporary Dance), Prema Ramamurthy (Music for Dance), Arambam Tombinou Devi (Music for dance)
- FIELD OF OVERALL CONTRIBUTION / SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2020)
Nandkishore Kapote, Mahesh Champaklal
- SANGEET NATAK AKADEMI AWARDS (AKADEMI PURASKAR) for 2021
Jayalakshmi Eshwar (Bharatanatyam), Shama Bhate (Kathak), Inchakkattu Ramachandran Pillai (Kathakali), Thokchom Ibemubi Devi (Manipuri), N. Sailaja (Kuchipudi), Neena Prasad (Mohiniattam), Bhuvan Kumar (Chhau), Kalamandalam Girija (Other major traditions of dance and Dance Theatre-Kutiyattam), Bijay Kumar Jena (Music for dance)
- FIELD OF OVERALL CONTRIBUTION / SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2021)
Vibha Dadheech, Premchand Hombal

Madurai R Muralidharan received the NATYA ACHARYA CHOODAMANI from Pondicherry Natyanjali Trust for his contribution to the field of Bharatanatyam, on Feb 16, 2023.

Sangeet Natak Akademi in the meeting of its General Council held from 6-8 November 2022 at New Delhi selected 102 artistes of India who have made a mark as young talents in their respective fields of the performing arts for the Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar by clearing the backlog for the years 2019, 2020 & 2021. The Yuva Puraskar carries a purse money of Rs. 25,000 and was presented on 15 February 2023 at Meghdoot Theatre 1, New Delhi at a special ceremony by the Chairman, Sangeet Natak Akademi. Below are the awardees for dance.
- USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR (2019)
Sudipa Ghosh (Bharatanatyam), Swati Sinha (Kathak), Okram Jelen Singh (Manipuri), Sreelakshmy Govardhanan (Kuchipudi), Swapnakalpa Dasgupta (Odissi), Prabhat Kakoti (Sattriya), Anupama Menon (Mohiniattam), Bishwanath Kumbhakar (Chhau)
- OVERALL CONTRIBUTION/SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2019)
Arupa Lahiry (Bharatanatyam)
- USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR (2020)
Mithun Shyam (Bharatanatyam), Trina Roy (Kathak), Khagembam Khoni (Manipuri), Vasanth Kiran (Kuchipudi), Pravat Kumar Swain (Odissi), Jollymoni Saikia (Sattriya), Dharavath Raj Kumar Perininatyam), Kalamandalam Vineesh (Music for dance)
- OVERALL CONTRIBUTION/SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2020)
Rekha Raju (Mohiniattam)
- USTAD BISMILLAH KHAN YUVA PURASKAR (2021)
Pavitra Krishna Bhat (Bharatanatyam), Rudra Shankar Mishra (Kathak), Kalamandalam Adityan (Kathakali), Avijit Das (Kuchipudi), Vinod Kevin Bachan (Odissi), Dipjyoti Das and Dipankar Arandhara (Sattriya-Joint) V. Durgadevi (Karakattam), Ahsan Ali (Music for dance)
- OVERALL CONTRIBUTION/SCHOLARSHIP IN PERFORMING ARTS (2021)
Sunil Sunkara (Kathak)

GURU GANGADHAR PRADHAN SMRUTI SAMMAN instituted by Orissa Dance Academy in the memory of its founder Guru Gangadhar Pradhan goes to Bankim Sethi (music composer and singer), Niranjan Rout (Odissi dance guru), Satchidananda Das (mardala exponent), Sadasiba Pradhan (Mayurbhanj Chhau exponent). The award carries a citation, angavastra and cash award of Rs. 25,000 to each awardee. It was given during the 19th Dhauli Kalinga Festival in Bhubaneswar on February 12, 2023.

For her contribution to Bharatanatyam in the USA and overseas, Bharatanatyam dancer Bala Devi Chandrashekar received the RASHRATNA SAMMAN 2023 and Award of Excellency instituted by the Hindusthan Art and Music Society, Kuala Lumpur, on 4th February 2023.

SAARASWATHAM is the autobiography of renowned Mohiniyattam and Bharatanatyam performer and teacher Guru Kalamandalam Saraswathy. The autobiography is published in Malayalam by Mathrubhumi books and was released on February 2, 2023 at the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters, by Carnatic singer Bombay Jayashri Ramnath. The first copy of the book was received by Jnanpith Awardee, Konkani writer Damodar Mauzo. The event was held before an august gathering of writers of Kerala at Kanakakkunnu Palace, Thiruvananthapuram. Kalamandalam Saraswathy is the wife of writer and film maker, M T Vasudevan Nair.

Saraswati Educational Cultural and Charitable Trust presented the KASHINATH GHARIYALI AWARD to Dr. Raghavendra (managing trustee, Ananya) and the INDIRA GHARIYALI AWARD to Smitha Rajan (Mohiniattam), Padmini Ravi and Aarathy Shetty (Bharatanatyam) on Feb 1, 2023 at Seva Sadan, Bangalore.

Andhra Natyam guru Kala Krishna received the BURRA SUBRAHMANYA SASTRY NRITHYA PURASKARAM from Burra Subrahmanya Sastry Kala Peetam.

Sharon Lowen has been awarded the AMA GOURAB SAMMAM 2023 for unmatched commitment towards promotion of Odissi dance across the globe by The Intellects Delhi Odia community.

TAKE on Art in collaboration with Swiss Arts Council Pro Helvetia has announced that Ranjana Dave has been selected as the winner of Art Writers' Award 2022. It was a very competitive edition and the jury reviewed compelling applications over several weeks. This edition's research residency will take place at Villa Strauli, Winterthur, Switzerland, an ideal choice given the city's rich cultural heritage, diverse range of cultural activities, many museums, and renowned contemporary architecture. During a 60-day research period in Switzerland, Dave will look at how language shapes the body in performance and spaces of training and rehearsal within Swiss and Indian context.

January 2023

Bharatanatyam Guru Kalyanasundaram Pillai received the PADMA SHRI award for 2023 on January 26, 2023.

With effect from 26 January 2023, NARMATHA RAVICHANDHIRA is awarded OAM of the Order of Australia for “service to the arts in music and dance”. She is the founder and artistic director of Bharatha Choodamani (Australia), School of Indian Classical Dance and Sruthi-Laya Kendra (Australia), School of Indian Classical Music.

Niruthia Nityalaya of Chennai and Natyanjali Academy Association of Malaysia gave MADURAI R MURALIDHARAN the Lifetime Achievement Award during the Malaya Dance Festival 2023 held at Temple of Fine arts, Malaysia on 22nd January 2023.

Bharatanatyam exponent Geeta Chandran was bestowed with love and reverence by her students in the form of 'A to Z+ OF GEETA CHANDRAN', a volume published by Natya Vriksha on January 15, 2023. The book is an embodiment of everything Geeta stands for; her zeal for Bharatanatyam, her endeavour to take it to newer heights, her journey as a learner, performer, teacher and an evangelist and how she envisions her beloved art form on the world map.
Enriched with wonderful photographs, the articles in the book are both an analysis of the unique pedagogical processes that Geeta Chandran employs at Natya Vriksha and also the impact that Natya Vriksha has had on students (both past and present), parents and others. Many of the tributes are in the form of paintings, drawings, and poems. The book has been aesthetically designed and printed by Niyogi Books.

Nalanda Dance Research Centre's NALANDA KANAKA NARTANA PURASKAAR were given on January 15, 2023 in Mumbai during the Nrityotsava.
For 2020-2021: Madhuri Deshmukh (Mohiniattam), KNP Nambisan (percussion), Mysore B Nagaraj (Kathak), Usha RK (Arts promoter) and Pt Rajendra Gangani (Kathak)
For 2021-22: Debi Basu (Odissi), Helen Acharya (Arts promoter), Meenakshi Iyer-Gangopdhyay (BN), Rajashri Shirke (Kathak) and Sandhya Purecha (BN)
For 2022-23: Sathyanarayana Raju (BN), Shubhada Varadkar (Odissi), Pt Kalinath Mishra (tabla), Lata Surendra (BN) and Bhawana Somaya (film historian, critic)

The annual NALANDA-BHARATA MUNI SAMMAN for 2022 was given to Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan for dance, Rohini Hattangadi for theater and Purushottam Upadhyaya for music on January 15, 2023 in Mumbai.

The Music Academy Madras presented its NRITYA KALANIDHI award for three years on January 3, 2023.
2020 - Rama Vaidyanathan, 2021 - Narthaki Nataraj, 2022 - Bragha Bessel

UK based dance practitioner DIVYA KASTURI is the winner of South East Dance's bursary for the 2023 Doing Dramaturgy program, led by Lou Cope of the Centre for Applied Dramaturgy, which is designed to bring together choreographers and dramaturgs to dig deep into the why, where, how and who for of their practice.

The annual NEILA SATHYALINGAM MEMORIAL ENDOWMENT AWARD 2023 goes to Bharatanatyam dancer Nithiyasree Nadeson. The award was instituted in 2019 and presented annually at the Remembering Neila Sathyalingam Festival presented by Apsaras Arts Dance Company.

NYC based Thresh headed by Preeti Vasudevan, has been approved by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to receive a Grants for Arts Projects award. This grant is one of the 1,251 Grants for Arts Projects awards totaling nearly $28.8 million that were announced by the NEA as part of its first round of the fiscal year 2023 grants.

Natyacharya V.P. Dhananjayan's project 'Nava Karana' or 'Noothana karana' - one of the 18 Karana panels was unveiled by Governor of Tamilnadu on the 30th Dec 2022 during the Bharatakalanjali Sangeethotsavam.

Highlights - Yearwise listing