Profile Details :

Dr Vidya Rao is an accomplished Bharatanatyam artiste of the Kalakshetra Nritya Parampara (Pandanallur tradition), with over four decades of distinguished contributions to classical dance, pedagogy, choreography, and cultural scholarship. Recognised as one of Karnataka's leading performing artistes in the 1980s and 1990s, she has carved out a unique artistic and academic identity through sustained excellence in performance and rigorous research engagement.

She completed the Junior, Senior, and Proficiency examinations in Bharatanatyam conducted by the Karnataka State Education and Examination Board (KSEEB) in 1985, 1986, and 1988, respectively. Since 2010, Dr Rao has been deeply engaged in academic research, integrating classical performance traditions with literary and aesthetic theory.

Her MPhil research focused on the Haridasa composers of Karnataka (15th–16th Century CE) and their devotional compositions interpreted for dance, with particular emphasis on Bhakti-Abhivyakti. This work was undertaken under the guidance of Dr Choodamani Nandagopal at JAIN University (2014–2015).

Her doctoral research expanded this enquiry to the Haridasa saints of the 16th–18th Century CE, analysing their compositions through the frameworks of Natyashastra and Alankara Shastra. The PhD was completed under the guidance of Dr Karuna Vijayendra and Dr Gokulnath at the National Institute for Vedic Studies (NIVS), affiliated with YSAM, Florida, USA.

Alongside her academic pursuits, Dr Rao is an eminent educator and mentor, having guided numerous MA dissertations and doctoral research scholars across universities, contributing significantly to the advancement of dance scholarship and interdisciplinary cultural studies.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• JAIN University Fellowship – Three-week academic exchange programme at the University of Exeter, UK (2014)
• Senior Research Fellowship (Theatre) – Centre for Cultural Resources and Training (CCRT), Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2017–2019)
• Best Women Achiever Award (2022) – Unnati Foundation
• ‘Shastra Kaustubha' Award (2022) – Ananya Foundation, for outstanding contribution to the field of performing arts
• Research supervisor for MA and PhD scholars across multiple institutions

Profile Details :

Dr Priyashri V Rao is a distinguished Bharatanatyam practitioner, scholar, and educator, trained at the world-renowned Kalakshetra Foundation, founded by the late Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale. She holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Bharatanatyam with First Class, and has been an active performer and academic contributor for over two decades.

During her training at Kalakshetra, she participated extensively in dance-dramas presented across India and internationally, and delivered numerous solo Bharatanatyam performances in various parts of the country. Her advanced training in composition and choreography was undertaken under the guidance of the eminent Nritya Choodamani, Sri M. V. Narasimhachari, and Smt. Vasanthalakshmi Narasimhachari. She has also performed in their dance productions and contributed to several lecture-demonstrations.

Dr Rao has composed multiple Jatisvarams, Pushpanjalis, and Tillanas, and has independently choreographed several Bharatanatyam repertoire items. Notably, she conceptualised, composed the music for, and choreographed a Sabdam in praise of the Haridasa saints, which was first presented at a monthly workshop organised by ABHAI and later featured during ABHAI's Annual Day celebrations.

She was one of five dancers selected by Natya Rangam, the dance wing of Narada Gana Sabha, for its outreach initiative to promote Bharatanatyam among communities with limited access to classical dance performances. Demonstrating her commitment to academic discourse, Dr Rao also co-organised a seminar in Bengaluru commemorating the birth anniversary of the visionary dancer Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale, along with Smt C. S. S. Veena and Dr Dwaritha Viswanatha.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• HRD Ministry Scholarship for advanced training in the nuances of Bharatanatyam at the Kalakshetra Foundation
• Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nataka Manram Scholarship for presenting Bharatanatyam recitals at Karur, Gobichettypalayam, and Chennai
• Gold Medal & First Rank – MA (Indian Music), Department of Indian Music, University of Madras
• Junior Research Fellowship (JRF) – University Grants Commission (UGC), for doctoral research at the Department of Indian Music, University of Madras

Positions Held

• Course Coordinator, MA Bharatanatyam, Department of Indian Music, University of Madras, Chennai
• Director, Performing Arts Centre, Kensri International School, Bengaluru
• Resource Person, Kalai Kaviri, Trichy – Distance Education Programme
• Assistant Professor & Research Supervisor, Research Department of Music and Dance, TDES, Trichy

Profile Details :

Dr Karthik G is a Carnatic classical vocalist, researcher, and educator, with over 25 years of rigorous training in classical vocal music. He is a graded artist of All India Radio (AIR) and has an active performance and research profile that integrates traditional pedagogy with contemporary academic inquiry.

He commenced his musical training under Vid. P. S. Seethalakshmi and Vid. Sethurama Iyer, a direct disciple of the legendary Sri Madurai Mani Iyer. He subsequently pursued advanced and specialised training under several eminent gurus, including Vid. R. S. Nandakumar and Vid. H. S. Mahalakshmi (Mysuru), Vid. Bengaluru S. Shankar (Bengaluru), and Vid. Suresh Kumar (Puducherry). His advanced musical refinement was further shaped under the tutelage of Vid. O. S. Thyagarajan and Vid. R. A. Ramamani.

Dr Karthik has contributed to several primary interdisciplinary arts documentation and research projects undertaken by the Vanamala Centre for Art and Culture. These include performance for the Suladis Project (2017); service on the editorial board for the Gita Gangadhara Project (2019); participation in the editing and production team for the Dasha Mahavidya Project (2021), contributing to script development, music, and recording; and membership of the core music and recording team for the Wodeyars Documentary Project (2023).

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Qualified UGC NET–JRF (2018)
• Junior and Senior Research Fellow, UGC, Department of Performing Arts and Cultural Studies, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) (2018–2023)
• Publications: Two peer-reviewed articles in CARE-listed journals; three scholarly publications in total
• Conference Participation: Presented research papers at national and international music conferences
• Performance Career: Regular performer at classical music venues across South India
• Awards & Distinctions:
  • Winner, National-Level Competition, All India Radio (2010)
  • Graded Artiste, All India Radio
  • Ananya Nadajyoti Yuva Kala Pratibha Puraskara (2013)
  • Performer, Spirit of Youth Concert Series, Madras Music Academy (2016)

Profile Details :

Dr Arati N Rao is an accomplished musicologist, researcher, and performing artiste, with two decades of experience in higher education, research, and performance. She is a graded Karnataka music veena artiste of All India Radio (AIR) and has received extensive training in Karnataka music, both in veena and vocal traditions.

Her scholarly work demonstrates a sustained engagement with historical musicology and manuscript-based research, particularly within the Vijayanagara and post-Vijayanagara musical traditions. Dr Rao has successfully executed multiple nationally funded research projects, contributing significantly to the documentation, analysis, and interpretation of rare musical forms and compositions.

Between 2016 and 2017, she undertook a research project on suladi songs, examining microfilm copies of manuscripts with funding support from the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts – Regional Centre Bengaluru (IGNCA–RCB). This was followed by a Senior Fellowship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India (2017–2019), for an in-depth study of suladi, alapa, and thaya compositions. From 2019 to 2022, she completed another major research project funded by IGNCA–RCB, focusing on the systematic study of gita, prabandha, suladi, alapa, and thaya songs.

Through her combined roles as performer, researcher, and educator, Dr Rao continues to contribute meaningfully to the preservation and academic interpretation of India's classical music heritage.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Ananya Shastra Kaustubha Award – Ananya, Bengaluru (2021)
• Musicologist Award – The Music Academy, Madras, Chennai (2019)
• Best Lecture-Demonstration Award – Annual Conference, The Music Academy, Madras, Chennai (December 2015)
• Dr Premlata Sharma Award for a Promising Musicologist – Indian Musicological Society, Mumbai (January 2014)
• First Rank – Vidwath Examination (2000), awarded by:
  • Gayana Samaja, Bengaluru
  • Swara-Lipi Pratishthana, Bengaluru
  • Kesava–Subbanna Trust, Bengaluru
  • Government of Karnataka

Profile Details :

Dr Uma Kumar is an accomplished musician, academic, and researcher, with a strong foundation in both performance and scholarship in classical music. She brings together teaching, research, and cultural leadership, supported by extensive experience in higher education and arts-based outreach.

She has published numerous research articles on classical music in peer-reviewed journals and reputed magazines, contributing to scholarly discourse and public engagement with Indian classical traditions. Dr Kumar is the Founder Trustee of Mahati Cultural Academy, an institution dedicated to promoting Indian art forms and cultural heritage through concerts, academic sessions, and thematic programmes.

A senior and long-standing disciple of Prof. Mysore Nagamani Srinath, Dr Kumar has been actively involved in gurukula-based pedagogy, mentoring over 70 students, including several senior- and vidwat-grade performers. Her academic and artistic engagements include participation in group thematic presentations organised by Sunaada Cultural Centre, and contributions to the production of “Gurukula” DVD series on Carnatic music, conceptualised by her guru, Prof. Nagamani Srinath.

Dr Kumar has also been associated with broadcast and media initiatives, including participation in AIR's “Amrutha Gurukula” programme (Amrutha Varshini), and appearances on television programmes such as “Namana” on Suvarna 24×7 Channel and features on the Shankara Channel.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Qualified UGC National Eligibility Test (NET) for Lectureship
• Graded Artiste, All India Radio (AIR) – Carnatic Classical (Vocal)
• Recipient of Scholarship for Carnatic Music (Vocal) – Ministry of Culture, Government of India
• Recipient of Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy Scholarship (four years)
• Music Coordinator, National Cadet Corps (NCC) – Karnataka & Goa, Republic Day Celebrations, New Delhi (2001)
• Winner, competition conducted by the Academy of Music, Chowdaiah Memorial Hall

Profile Details :

Vid. Uma Maheshwari is a Carnatic music practitioner and educator with over 15 years of teaching experience, combining rigorous traditional training with formal academic study. She completed the Senior Examination with Distinction conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB). She earned her Master of Performing Arts (Music) with Distinction (2019–2021) from JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru.

She is currently pursuing her PhD at Visvesvaraya University, Pune. Her training in Carnatic music commenced at a young age under the guidance of Smt Leelavathi Gopalakrishnan and Sri S. Rajam (Chennai), and was further advanced under Dr Sukanya Prabhakar (Mysuru). This strong guru–shishya lineage informs her pedagogical approach and performance practice.

Alongside her academic pursuits, Vid. Uma Maheshwari has been teaching Carnatic music for more than a decade, nurturing students at various proficiency levels.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• B-Grade Artiste, All India Radio, Bengaluru – Devotional Music Category
• Performed concerts at leading sabhas in Chennai and Bengaluru
• Winner of multiple prizes in competitions conducted by prestigious organisations such as:
  • The Music Academy, Chennai
  • Indian Fine Arts, Chennai
  • Mylapore Fine Arts Club, Chennai
• Released several audio albums in collaboration with her sister, Smt Bala Swaminathan
• An album dedicated to Devi Kamakshi has garnered over 7.5 million views on YouTube, reflecting significant public reach and cultural impact

Profile Details :

Vid. Ranjini Siddanthi Venkatesh hails from a distinguished musical lineage and is an accomplished Mridangam artiste and Carnatic vocalist, with over two decades of experience in teaching, performance, and mentorship. She has secured First Rank in Vocal Vidwath and Second Rank in Mridangam Vidwath Examinations conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Education Examination Board (KSEEB).

She is an ‘A' Grade Mridangam artiste of All India Radio and Doordarshan, Bengaluru, and holds a Master's degree in Music from JAIN (Deemed-to-be University), Bengaluru. Vid. Ranjini has accompanied several senior and eminent Carnatic musicians and has performed at prestigious sabhas in India and abroad, earning recognition for her rhythmic clarity and aesthetic sensitivity.

Committed to music education and cultural propagation, she is the Founder of the Subhadramma Venkatappa Sangeetha Vidyalaya Trust®, through which she actively trains and mentors students at all levels, fostering both performance excellence and traditional values in Carnatic music.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Nada Jyothi Puraskara – Nadajyothi Sangeetha Sabha Trust (2021)
• Best Concert – Junior, T. K. Rangachari Memorial Prize – Madras Music Academy (2015)
• Ananya Yuva Puraskara – Ananya GML Cultural Academy (2013)
• Natarajan Academy for Layavadhyam Endowment Prize – Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai (2011)
• Mrudanga Vaadana Manohara – Kodandarama Seva Mandali, Kolar (2006)
• Ananya Kala Pratibha Award – Nadajyothi Sri Thyagaraja Swamy Bhajan Sabha & Ananya (2002)

Profile Details :

Vid. Roopa Shrikant is a Carnatic classical vocalist and educator, recognised for her traditional, sastra-aligned approach to Carnatic music. Her concert presentations are marked by a balanced and nuanced emphasis on raga and sahitya bhava, reflecting aesthetic depth and textual sensitivity.

She is deeply committed to music pedagogy and derives particular fulfilment from training students in Carnatic classical vocal music at Rasadhwani Kala Kendra. Her teaching philosophy emphasises a holistic learning framework that integrates raga bhava, sahitya suddhi, and laya jñanam, ensuring both technical precision and aesthetic maturity among learners.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Ananya Nadajyothi Kala Pratibha Award (2008)
• Second Rank, Vidwat Examination – Karnataka Secondary Examination Board
• Best Musician Award – Annual Concert Competition, Bangalore Gayana Samaja
• Carnatic Classical Music CD Release – Swara Raga Sudha Rasa, released by Suswaralaya College of Music (2006)

Profile Details :

Dr Shobha Shashikumar is an acclaimed Bharatanatya danseuse, choreographer, researcher, educator, and author, with a distinguished career spanning performance, scholarship, and pedagogy. She was a First Rank holder in MA (Dance) and was awarded her Doctorate from Bangalore University under the guidance of Dr Nagesh Bettakote.

Her scholarly work is marked by a specialised focus on the aesthetic adaptation of Natyasastra–based angika Abhinaya, underpinned by the principles of Alankara sastra, and their experiential translation into Sattvika Abhinaya and Bharatanatya aḍavus. Dr Shashikumar has developed and presented exclusive lecture-demonstrations and performance modules articulating this theoretical–practical continuum, contributing meaningfully to contemporary Bharatanatya discourse.

As a performing artiste, she has appeared extensively as a soloist, in jugalbandhis with senior artistes, and in group productions featuring her students. Her performances at major festivals and sabhas, under prestigious cultural banners, have consistently received critical acclaim for their aesthetic depth and scholarly grounding.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Recipient of Junior and Senior Research Fellowships, University Grants Commission (UGC)
• Delivered lecture-demonstrations and presented research papers at national and international seminars
• Scholarly writings published in peer-reviewed journals and reputed academic platforms
• Former Member, Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy
• Conducted certification courses in Natyasastra (theory and practice) and Aesthetics under the banner of Noopura Bhramari
• Faculty, Department of Performing Arts, JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) – MA Dance
• Research Guide for PhD programmes at the University
• Founder Faculty, Nrityavikasa courses, conducted in collaboration with Vid. Sheela Chandrasekhar and Dr Soundarya Srivathsa

Profile Details :

Dr Soundarya Srivathsa is a distinguished Bharatanatya practitioner, choreographer, and educator, trained in the Pandanallur school of dance. She is a disciple of Guru Smt Narmada and Guru B. Bhanumathi, and is widely recognised for her precise footwork, rhythmic clarity, and nuanced abhinaya.

She has choreographed several critically acclaimed dance productions, including Tyagaraja, Padmanabha Namostute, Jagadanandakaraka, Ambae, Draupadi, Maitreyi, Sister Nivedita, and Sapthagiri. These works reflect her ability to integrate classical aesthetics with thematic and narrative depth.

Along with her vocalist husband, D. S. Srivathsa, she co-directs the Nartana Kirtana Centre for Performing Arts, through which she continues to contribute to dance education, performance, and cultural outreach.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Graded Artiste, Doordarshan
• Recipient of multiple awards and honours recognising her contributions to Bharatanatya performance and pedagogy

Profile Details :

Vid. Sheela Chandrasekhar is a senior Bharatanatya artiste, choreographer, and pedagogue, with over three and a half decades of professional experience in performance, teaching, and academic engagement. A Gold Medallist and First Rank holder from Bangalore University, she currently serves as a Visiting Faculty in the Department of Dance at JAIN (Deemed-to-be University) for postgraduate programmes.

As a performer, she has rendered over 700 stage performances, both as a soloist and as a member of ‘Bharatanjali', the group dance ensemble of Nrithyakalamandiram. Her performance career spans major national and international dance festivals, as well as numerous productions for Doordarshan.

She is a core member of the performance collective ‘Aadya', formed by senior disciples of Guru B. Bhanumathi, focusing on the subtle, spiritual, and aesthetic dimensions of Bharatanatya. Vid. Sheela has toured extensively in the United Kingdom and the United States, conducting performances, cultural exchange programmes, and workshops.

She also serves as a judge on Sri Sankara TV's Bharatanatya reality programme, “Natyaratna”, where she mentors aspiring dancers and contributes to public dance pedagogy.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

Major Honours

• Singarmani – Sur Singar Sansad, Mumbai (2005)
• Mahila Shree Ratna Award – World Academy of Science, Humanities, Education & Literature (2010)
• Nrithya Nipune – Nrithya Kala Parishath (2014)
• Nation Builder Award – Rotary Club of Bangalore South (2015)
• Mahila Sadhaki Honour – Lions Club of Bangalore South, International Women's Day (2016)
• Natya Kala Kaushali Award – Sanathana Kalakshetra, in memory of Guru V. S. Kaushik (2017)

She has also been felicitated by leading cultural organisations including VRC Academy, Sri D. Subbaramayya Fine Arts Trust, Bengaluru, and Nataraja Nrityashale, Tiptur, among others.

Select Choreographic Works

• Navarasa Karnataka
• Krishna Kubja
• Sampoorna Ramayana
• Navarasa Devi
• Kalinga Narthana
• Tyagabrahma Loka Charitram
• Hari Manasa Vihara

She has choreographed numerous Pada Varnams, Padams, Devarnamas, Tillanas, Kritis, and other classical dance compositions. A notable recent work, 'Geethabhinaya', explores the adaptability of dance to concert music and was choreographed and presented for Ananya Cultural Organisation.

Profile Details :

Dr Padmini Shreedhar is a senior Bharatanatya artiste of the Karnataka Nritya Parampara (Kolar Sampradaya), with over four decades of sustained artistic practice in performance, pedagogy, choreography, and research. Since 2008, she has been actively engaged as a dance scholar and academic researcher, contributing to the documentation and comparative study of regional classical dance traditions.

She serves as the Artistic Director of NrityaGaana Academy for Performing Arts, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bengaluru. She is the Treasurer of the Rajarajeshwarinagar Cultural Association, playing a key role in cultural organisation and arts administration alongside her academic pursuits.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Central Government Junior Fellowship Awardee (2007–2009)
• Central Government Senior Fellowship Awardee (2017–2019)
• ICCR-empanelled artiste
• Auditioned as a Graded Artiste, Doordarshan
• UGC-NET qualified
• Recipient of significant awards, including:
  • Singaramani – Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai (1989)
  • ISKCON Appreciation Awards (2003, 2004)
  • Bharata Prashasthi – Udupi (2016)
  • Nritya Nidhi – Udupi (2018)
• Featured as a Dance Icon in the prestigious Ananya – Kalasinchana magazine

Profile Details :

Dr Mala Shashikanth is a veteran Bharatanatya performer, guru, researcher, and author, with over 4.5 decades of professional engagement at the state and national levels. Her life's work is dedicated to preserving, propagating, and academically articulating the Karnataka Nritya Parampara, particularly the Mysuru tradition.

As a guru, she has trained numerous students who have gone on to establish themselves as performers and teachers. She is the author of the book “Paramparadhara” and has published several scholarly and popular articles in reputed magazines. Dr Shashikanth also assisted Guru Koushik in the monumental publication “Bharatanatya Digdarshana”, brought out by the Karnataka Sangeetha Nritya Academy.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Kempegowda Award – Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP)
• Narthana Nipune – Karnataka Nritya Kala Parishath
• Kala Yogi – Sadhana Sangama Nrutya Kendra
• Nritya Vidya Prakashana – Prathibha Samskrutha Vidyalaya
• Karnataka Kalashree – Government of Karnataka

Profile Details :

Vid. Vidya Ravishankar is a renowned senior Bharatanatya artiste and guru of the Mysuru Baṇi, and a recipient of the Karnataka Kalashree title. She is the direct and last disciple of Padmabhushana Dr K. Venkatalakshamma, the foremost torchbearer of the Mysuru Aasthana Nritya Parampara and a principal disciple of Natya Saraswati Jatti Thayammal.

In 1991, she founded the Shri Matruka Cultural Trust, which she has successfully nurtured for over three decades, training hundreds of students in Mysuru Baṇi Bharatanatya across centres in Bengaluru and Srirangapatna. Her career includes performances at numerous state and national festivals, as well as the choreography of dance dramas in Kannada and Sanskrit.

She also serves as the Founder and Joint Secretary of Karnataka Bharatagama Prathishtana, Bengaluru, contributing to institutional cultural leadership and heritage preservation.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

• Mandya District Rajyotsava Award
• Bengaluru Kempegowda Award
• Basavanagudi Ratna Award
• Kitturu Rani Chennamma State Award
• Aryabhata International Award
• Karnataka Kalashree State Award
• Vipra Sthree Ratna Award
• Rajya Mandara Award

Profile Details :

Vid. Deepti Radhakrishna is a Bharatanatya practitioner and emerging academic, with a strong foundation in both science education and classical dance. A graduate in Science Education from the Regional Institute of Education, Mysuru, she began her formal Bharatanatya training at the age of eight under Guru Sheela Shridhar (Mysuru) and completed her Rangapravesa in 2005.

She is a regular performer with ‘Bharatanjali’, the group dance ensemble of Bhanumati Nrityakalamandiram, and has appeared at numerous state and national forums and festivals. Vid. Deepti has also assisted her gurus in lecture-demonstrations and workshops, contributing to both performance and pedagogy.

Academic Achievements & Performance Highlights

She has presented several notable solo performances, including:

• Kadri Utsava, Mangaluru
• Karavali Utsava (2007), Mangaluru
• Mysuru Dasara Cultural Festival (2008)
• Pallavotsava (2008), Mysuru
• Indian Institute of World Culture, Bengaluru
• Ananya Nrityollasa (2013)
• Keremane Shambhu Hegde Utsava, Idagunji (2014)
• Horizon Series, ICCR (2022)
• Nrityaparva – Drishti (2022)
• Kalaparva (2023)
• Summer Dance Festival, Tiruchirappalli (2023)