Sudha Chandrashekar
She began studying Bharata Natyam in 1945 under the guidance of such greats as Sri Thiruvadamaradur Kuppiah Pillai, Guru A.T. Govindraj Pillai, Srimati Karunambal, Guru T.K. Mahalingam Pillai and Guru K. Kalyanasundaram, the renowned masters of the Sri Rajarajeshwari Bharata Natya Kalamandir. In her teenage years, Sudha received the Government of India Scholarship for Advanced Training in Bharata Natyam, on the insistence of the late, great pioneers of Bharata Natyam Srimati Rukmini Arundale (founder of Kalakshetra) and E. Krishna Iyer. In the 1960s, Sudha and her dear Guru Kuppiah Pillai researched and revived the rare and ancient Navasandhi Kavuthvams, for which they were bestowed with great praise. Artistic Director of Hindu Temple Rhythms (www.hindutemplerhythms.com) , A cultural and performing arts organization.
Vani Ganapathy
One of the foremost exponents of Bharatha Natyam today, has merited the attention of discerning critics nd art lovers for her chaste rendering of the art.Vani began her studies in dance under Smt. T. A. Rajalakshmi in Calcutta and later under Late Guru Kuppiah Pillai, Late Guru Govindraj Pillai, Guru Mahalingam Pillai and Guru K. Kalyanasundaram under whom she continues to study. Vani has performed extensively in all major festivals and performing centres in India including the Music Academy - Chennai, Sangeet Natak Academy - New Delhi, the National Centre for Performing Arts - Mumbai, The Soorya Festival - Trivandrum, The Nishagandhi Festival - Trivandrum, The Doverlane Music and Dance Festival-Calcutta.
Vani Ganapathy established Sanchari, a premier Bharatha Natyam insititution of Bharatha Natyam in Bangalore. Vani's foreign tours have taken her to all parts of the world including Australia,France, Germany, China,U.K, Japan, Singapore.
Viji Prakash
Internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and teacher.Viji started her training of Bharatha Natyam at the age of four from Guru Mahalingam Pillai and then had extensive training under Guru Kalyanasundaram.
She has performed extensively in all major festivals and performing centres in
India including the Music Academy - Chennai, Sangeet Natak Academy - New Delhi, and the National Centre for Performing Arts - Mumbai. In 1977, Viji Prakash founded the Shakti School of Bharatha Natyam, a premier insititution of Indian Classical dance in the United States.
Her choreographic works include the Los Angeles Festival's "Mahabharatha", the musicals "Meera" and "Purandaradasa", "Manifestations of Shakti", "Dashavatara", "Dance of the Immortals" at the Dorothy Chandeller Pavilion, "Ramayana" and "Moha Mudgara"(Bhaja Govindam), including a Command performance for the President of India, Shri Venkataraman at The Rastrapathi Bhavan.
Viji's foreign tours have taken her to all parts of the world including Canada, the U.K.,France, Germany, the Netherlands, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia. In Los Angeles, Viji is the founder - director of the Shakti School of Bharatha Natyam with five centres in the Southland. www.shaktidancecompany.com
Lata Pada
Lata Pada is Artistic Director of SAMPRADAYA Dance Creations (founded in 1990), an award-winning professional dance company recognized for its innovation and excellence in dance. Lata has lived in Canada since 1964, and has had an extensive career as a bharatanatyam soloist, including a command performance for the President of India in 1992. She has trained in bharatanatyam under India’s distinguished gurus - Kalaimamani K. Kalyanasundaram and Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan and her solo performances have been featured in important dance festivals and venues worldwide.
Lata founded SAMPRADAYA Dance Academy in 1990; it is one of Canada’s leading Indian dance training institutions.
Lata holds a Masters in Dance from York University and is an Adjunct Professor in the Graduate Program of Dance at York University.
She was conferred the Order of Canada, the country’s highest civilian award in January 2009. She has the distinction of being the first South Asian artist to receive this prestigious honour. Lata has received several awards and honours for her contribution to the arts in Canada.
Lata’s choreographic versatility is seen in the exploration of the classical idiom of bharatanatyam in its interpretation of classical and contemporary themes, which have been recognized for their distinctive, intercultural and multi-disciplinary choreography.
