Balakrishna Marar

🪔 About

Guru Balakrishna Marar is a highly regarded figure in Indian classical dance, recognized as a talented dancer, eminent choreographer, and dedicated teacher with over 30 to 40 years of experience in molding dancers. He holds a Gold Medal in M.A. Bharatanatyam from Rabindra Bharati University, Calcutta. His initiation into performing arts began at an early age, guided by his father, the late Guru Kalacharya P.S. Marar, a renowned Ottanthullal and Ashtapadi artist from Kerala. Marar's extensive training includes various dance and martial art forms. He is an exponent in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, Ottanthullal, and Kalaripayattu. He also specializes in creative contemporary compositions, Indian Ballet, and Folk Dances. His mentors include his father Guru Kalacharya P.S. Marar, Shri Kuttikrishna Marar (Ottamthullal), Shri Nelliyodu Vasudevan Namboothiri (Kathakali), and Guru Padmashree Chemanjeri Kunjiraman Nair, Guru Dakshinamoorthy, and Kalashree Kalamandalam Radha Marar (Bharatanatyam). He also received choreography training from Shri Narendra Sharma and Shri P.P. Marar. He is the Founder Director of Vishnupriya Natyalaya, an esteemed Bharatanatyam institute in Delhi/Rohini, which has been shaping talents for over 25 years and offers degree and diploma courses in Bharatanatyam. Additionally, he has served as the Head of the Music and Dance Department at Bal Bharat Public School for over 25-30 years. His teaching philosophy emphasizes finding passion, mastering technique, understanding cultural context, and developing expression. Awards & Honours: Delhi State Best Choreography Award (2005), Delhi State Best Choreography Award (2006), Delhi State Best Choreography Award (2007), International Best Choreography Award (ICCR) (2007), International Best Choreography Award (ICCR) (2008), International Best Choreography Award (ICCR) (2011), NatyaKalaadma (2017), Kala Pratibha (2018), NrityaKalacharya.