May 2025
INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY
International Dance Day is a global celebration of dances promoted
by the International Dance Council (CID) and the International Theatre
Institute.
The event takes place every year on 29 April, which is the anniversary
of the birth of Jean-Georges Noverre (1727–1810), who is considered to
be the "father" or creator of modern ballet (i.e. classical or romantic
ballet as we know it today, not "Modern Ballet" as this is sometimes
confused with contemporary ballet.) The day strives to encourage
participation and education in dance through events and festivals held
on the date all over the world.
The core objective of International Dance Day is to raise public
awareness of dance as an art form, a means of cultural expression, and
an educational tool. It particularly encourages governments and
educational institutions worldwide to integrate dance into the education
system, ensuring its accessibility from primary to higher education.
Through this celebration, the CID aims not only to promote the artistic
beauty of dance but also to make it an accessible way of life for
everyone, regardless of age, gender, or cultural background.
(Source: Wikipedia)
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ANITA SAYS.....
Dancing is like dreaming with your feet.
Great dancers are not great because of their technique. They are great because of their passion.
- Martha Graham, icon of American modern dance
Welcome to the merry month of May... it's a gorgeous time of the
year. Nature expresses herself in fascinating and unusual ways and the
world is on the move. Flights are jam packed, airports are teeming with
people, roads are jammed - it looks like our planet is buzzing... the
oceans are filled with resort and holiday crowds on cruise liners. And,
of course, the dance world is buzzing and humming and singing along -
even if the world seems to be burning as we look around.
However, what else are dancers supposed to do? As the opinion
pendulum swings from right to left, never pausing at the centre, my
travels and thoughts will focus on the here and now of what the month of
April unpeeled for me.
April concluded with INTERNATIONAL DANCE DAY. Started in 1982 by the
International Dance Committee of UNESCO International Theatre Institute
to promote global awareness of the art of Dance, it has become a marker
for all dancers to celebrate in their cities and towns across India and
the world. Performances and more performances, talks, discussions,
conclaves, seminars - every form of word, movement, visual and thought
fill many spaces in the days leading towards April 29.
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Anita Says...by Dr. Anita R Ratnam
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TAKITATOM
The SHRIMAD BHAGAVAD GITA and Bharata Muni's NATYASHASTRA have been inscribed in UNESCO's MEMORY OF THE WORLD REGISTER
- a global initiative that preserves documentary heritage of
outstanding value. The Bhagavad Gita, a sacred dialogue between Lord
Krishna and Arjuna, has long been regarded as a spiritual and
philosophical cornerstone. The Natyashastra penned by sage Bharata Muni
is considered the foundational text on performing arts, especially
theatre, dance, and music.
Mythili Kumar's ABHINAYA DANCE COMPANY OF SAN JOSE marks a remarkable 45 years this year!
Delhi based Raja-Radha and Kaushalya Reddy's NATYA TARANGINI celebrated its 49th anniversary in April 2025.
KRISHNA GANA SABHA, Chennai, is celebrating 70 years of its existence since its founding in 1954.
2025 is the golden jubilee year of SRI RAJA RAJESHWARI KALA NIKETHAN headed by Dr.Veena Murthy Vijay.
PAGRAV DANCE COMPANY has been nominated for BEST INDEPENDENT COMPANY at
the 2024 National Dance Awards, which cover UK performances in that
calendar year.
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AWARDS
 On 3 April 2025, in Kolkata, GEETA CHANDRAN received Calcutta University's SANSKRIT SANSKRITI SAMMAN from the Vice Chancellor, Dr. Santa Dutta De.
Nadasutra Trust presented the NADASUTRA SAMMAN 2025 to musicologist and arts critic MANJARI SINHA on April 5, 2025 at Swami Vivekananda auditorium, Kathak Kendra, New Delhi.
Indian Fine Arts Academy, San Diego, honored dancers NARTHAKI NATARAJ and JAYANTHI SUBRAMANIAM with VIDHYA NIDHI AWARD on April 12, 2025 at Garfield Theatre, Jewish Community Center, La Jolla, CA.
Light Sense Art Foundation of Milind Srivastava conferred LIGHT DESIGNER
AWARD on DEBIPRASAD MISHRA on April 17, 2025, at India Habitat Centre,
New Delhi.
SPIC MACAY and its founder DR. KIRAN SETH received the 6TH NATYA VRIKSHA
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD during its World Dance Day celebrations on
April 26, 2025 at IIC, New Delhi.
On May 6, 2025 Shristi Centre of Performing Arts will confer the MAYA
RAO MEMORIAL NATIONAL AWARD FOR DANCE on SAI VENKATESH (stage, sound and
lights designer) and DR. SUPARNA VENKATESH (Bharatanatyam and Kathak
guru, Sai Arts International) at Ravindra Kalakshetra, Bangalore.
RITA MUSTAPHI, Artistic Director of Katha Dance Theatre, will receive
the DANCE/USA ERNIE AWARD, at the 2025 Dance/USA National Conference in
Chicago, June 17-20, 2025.
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ATMA SHANTI
Celebrated
Kathak Guru KUMUDINI LAKHIA (17 May 1930 - 12 April 2025), founder of
the Kadamb Centre for Dance in Ahmedabad, is no more. She had been
ailing for some time.
Known for her unparalleled technical expertise and immense artistry,
Kumiben spent a lifetime dedicated to learning, exploring, teaching and
creating that has ensured her an enviable place in the history of Indian
dance..... Read more
Kumudini who gave Kathak its new look is no more
- Leela Venkataraman
Kumudini Lakhia (1930-2025)
- Ashish Mohan Khokar
Mohiniattam dancer DR. GEETA RADHAKRISHNA passed away on April 8, 2025
aged 75. She was a scholar, writer, mentor and Yoga teacher..... Read more
P.S. SUBRAMANIAN, Secretary, Sri Subramania Samaj, Mumbai, known
popularly as PS Mama, passed away on 8th April 2025 in Mumbai, aged
90. He was the driving force behind the Natyanjali festival at Sri
Subramania Samaj Temple Complex, Cheddanagar, Chembur, Mumbai, for the
past 21 years and all other activities of the temple.
An iconic Canadian artist of Indian origin, a visionary dancer,
choreographer, and sculptor, JANAK KHENDRY, recipient of Excellence in
Arts Award by CCAI, passed away on April 10, 2025 in India.
He was proficient in four distinct Indian classical dance styles of
Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Sattriya, Manipuri and also in western modern
dance..... Read more
Bharatanatyam dancer, educator and scholar, Guru PREMCHAND HOMBAL (March
24, 1952 - April 19, 2025), son of renowned Guru Shankar Hombal, is no
more.
Possessing dual master's degrees in Bharatanatyam and Sanskrit, Guru
Premchand Hombal's journey in dance began under the tutelage of his
esteemed parents, Shankar Hombal and Girija Devi Hombal, who were
disciples of Rukmini Devi Arundale and Mylapore Gauri Ammal..... Read more
KAMALINI NAGARAJAN DUTT (retd. Senior Director, Central Archives,
Doordarshan, New Delhi) passed away in the early hours of Sunday, 27th
April 2025. She was 75. She is best known for her pioneering work in the
field of Intangible Heritage Archiving in Doordarshan. If not for
Kamalini Dutt, Doordarshan would have lost some of its most valuable
treasures for good..... Read more
Kamalini Nagarajan Dutt: A Colossus
- Seetha Ratnakar
Kamalini Nagarajan Dutt (1950 - 2025)
- Sharon Lowen
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