Jyotsna Kalyansundar

🪔 About

Jyotsna Kalyansundar is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer with over 25 years of training in the Kalakshetra style. She received her extensive training under the tutelage of the esteemed Padmabhushan Shri. V.P Dhananjayan and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan in Chennai, India. Her training also included complete immersion in the art form through experiential dance camps and learning from notable Natyacharyas such as the late Nattuvannar Kamala rani and Professor N.S. Jayalakshmi of Kalakshetra fame. Throughout her career, Jyotsna has performed and accompanied her gurus in several of their legendary productions and staged performances worldwide, including Tagore’s Tasherdesh and Rasa Samudra. She has also showcased her talent as a soloist in prestigious dance festivals, such as the Natyarangam and the December (Marghazhi) festival, both held annually in Chennai, a major cultural hub in India. In February 2012, she joined the New York-based Navatman troupe, performing in their productions like Rhythm Within and Dance of the Animals. In 2015, Jyotsna Kalyansundar co-founded Aalokam with Bharathi Penneswaran. Aalokam encompasses both a dance school, which nurtures young dancers, and a dance company, dedicated to creating new and innovative productions. As the head of marketing and public relations for Aalokam, she has been instrumental in expanding the organization's visibility and reach, leading to performance opportunities in the TV series Barefeet Season 2, appearances at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and New York Public Library, and a showcase at the New York Fashion Week. She also helped launch Sparkles and Steps, an annual Diwali event for children, in 2015. Jyotsna recently completed a Masters in Organizational Psychology at Teacher's College Columbia University, New York. She has since established her own institution, aiming to provide a culturally enriching learning experience across various South Asian art forms, integrating the values she imbibed from her gurus. She currently lives in Chennai, India.