Famous Classical Dancers and Dance Academies

Aangikam Dance Company - This dance school teaches Manipuri, Bharata Natyam and folk dances of India. It is run by Jasmine Shah, and is based in New Hampshire, USA.

Anita Ratnam and Arangham - A user-friendly site on this powerful artist, her background, versatile career as well as The Arangham Trust and its scope. Click on the "Shopping" icon to get details of her excellent Dance directory, "Narthaki II".

Abhinay School of Dance - A site on The school which also features Jayalakshmi Eshwar (who trained under Rukmani Devi,) and has also learnt Odissi in New Delhi, India. The school wants to propagate Indian Culture and Art for disabled children. They also have links with a dance school in Texas, USA.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New York (USA). - Institute of Indian Culture, USA. Based in NY the Bhavan offers training in Bharata Natyam, Kathak, folk dances, as well as Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Vocal Music and Indian Culture to children (!). A very good, up-to-date site on the New York Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan.

Shoba Natarajan - Shoba Natarajan is a Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi dance exponent based in Chicago, Illinois, USA. She runs a Dance school, as well as a Summer training programme "Samskriti".

Balasaraswati (1918-1984) - T.Balasaraswati (1918-1984). One of the last temple dancers of Bharata Natyam. A legend in her own right.

Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, London (U.K.) - A centre for learning Indian dances (Kathak, Bharata Natyam), Indian languages (Hindi, Sanskrit, Bengali, Tamil), Indian Music (Hindustani, Carnatic and Bengali), Indian Instruments (Sitar, Table, Veena, Mridangam, Flute, Violin) as well as other classes (Yoga, Indian Architecture) in London, U.K.

Chidambaram: R. Visweswaran & Chitra Visweswaran - A couple based in Madras, India. Their school, Chidambaram, offers Bharata Natyam dance training by Chitra Visweswaran, a leading artist of Bharata Natyam dance. Her dance style is a comination of what she calls 'the best of Pandanallur, Vazhuvur, and the Mysore styles'. Her husband, R. Visweswaran is an excellent Carnatic vocal artist and is also the topmost Santoor disciple of the Santoor legend Pandit Shivkumar Sharma.

Shri Krupa Dance Foundation - A dance school founded in 1992 by Guru Vishal Ramani in San Jose, USA. *This site is still under construction*

Abhinaya Dance Company - Abhinaya Dance Company of San Jose is a professional dance company dedicated to promoting, propagating, and perpetuating the traditional dance forms of South India through quality education and creative performances in the SF Bay Area.

Kala Chethena Kathakali Company - A Kathakali troupe, founded in 1987, based in the UK. Tour details for end 1999. Good site and pictures.

Kalakshetra - A write-up on Kalakshetra with links to other Art India sites.

Mrinalini Sarabhai's Darpana Academy of Performing Arts - 1999 is the 50th anniversary of the Darpana Academy, which was founded by the living legend, Mrinalini Sarabhai at home (to the annoyance of her in-laws!) in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India. Darpana offers training in music, puppetry and theatre as well. Mrinalini's very versatile and talented daughter, Mallika Sarabhai is also highly involved in the running of Darpana. One of the best sites on a Dance School I have seen so far.

Nritya Rangam--Manipuri, Kathak and Bharata Natyam dance school. - Nritya Rangam is a school in Hyattsville, MD,(USA) giving training in Manipuri, Kathak and Bharata Natyam dances. The Artistic Director and founder is Guru Moirangthem Nabaghana Shyam Singha.

Natya Nilayam and Radha Ganesan - Bharata natyam school in Maryland, USA.

Sampradaya Dance - Sampradaya Dance Academy and Sampradaya Dance Creations run by choreographer Lata Pada in Canada.

Nrityagram: Surupa Sen speaks - Read this excellent interview of the artistic director (as well as dancer), Surupa Sen of the famous Nrityagram school (founded by Protima Gauri Bedi) outside Bangalore, India. The school offers training in Mohiniattam, Kathak and Odissi

Ragamala Music and Dance Theater - A dance school in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Ragamala Music and Dance Theater presents dance, music and poetry, blending the East and West in unique and innovative programs that reflect the multicultural world in which we live.

Ramaa Bharadvaj and Angahara Ensemble - Ramaa Bharadvaj - eminent dancer, brilliant choreographer, and teacher/educator of Indian Classical Dance (Bharata Natyam and Kuchipudi). Also the Artistic Director of the Angahara Ensemble based in Yorba Linda, California, USA.

Ramayana Ballet - From Yogyakarta - Indonesia: The entire Ramayana presented by more than 250 artists for 4 nights at its original place: Ramayana Open Air Theater & Trimurti Theater, Prambanan Temple complex. I'm not sure exactly what dance form it is, but it sounds like an amazing performance!

Leela Prabhu Theater Arts - Classical Theater of India - Based in Minnesota, USA, the Leela Prabhu Theater Arts (LPTA)is a non-profit organization dedicated to the perpetuation of classical dance and drama that originated in the Indian sub-continent.

Pratima Gauri Bedi - Read about Pratima Gauri Bedi and her Odissi school, NRITYAGRAM in the "We Salute" section.