Gayathri Keshavan

🪔 About

Gayathri Keshavan is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, teacher, and composer, currently serving as the Director of the Academy of Bharata Natyam in Bangalore, India. Born in Thiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, and raised in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, she later settled in Bangalore, Karnataka, embodying the cultural traditions of these three states. Her foundational training in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic Music was imparted by her parents, Sri T.K. Narayan and Smt. Jayalakshmi Narayan, who were direct disciples of the revered Gurus Sri Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai and Sri Muthukumara Pillai of the Pandanallur style. Gayathri Keshavan holds 'Sangeetha Bhushan' and 'Sangeetha Vishardh' degrees in Bharatanatyam and was a recipient of the Government of India Scholarship Award in 1973, which further enriched her artistic knowledge. With a career spanning over sixty years, Gayathri Keshavan began her journey in dance at the age of five. She has performed extensively both within India and internationally, including various dance festivals in Europe, the USA, and Mexico. Her teaching career commenced around 1974, and she has since trained numerous students, continuing the authentic Pandanallur tradition. She served as a faculty member for the 'Friends World Program' of Long Island University (USA) for nearly a decade and has been an external examiner for postgraduate performing arts students at Bangalore University and Jain University. Additionally, she is a member of the selection committee for the CCRT, Ministry of Culture, Government of India. Gayathri Keshavan is also a composer, having created dance dramas, and is the author of the book "Bharata Natyam Adavus: Fundamental and Structural Principles." Her daughters, Mathangi Keshavan and Maithreyi Barve, are also accomplished Bharatanatyam dancers and teachers, representing the fourth generation of this esteemed Guru-Shishya Parampara. Awards & Honours: Government of India Scholarship Award (1973), National Vocational Excellence (2014), National Vocational Excellence (2016), Natya Mayuri National Award (2016), Kala Surabhi award (2023), GAURAVA PRASHASTI' KARNATAKA KALASHREE (2024), Purandhara Acharya Award (2026).