Lakshmi Viswanathan

🪔 About

Lakshmi Viswanathan (1944-2023) was a renowned Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and writer, celebrated for her significant contributions to the preservation and evolution of the art form. Born on January 12, 1944, in Bangalore, British India, she later made Chennai her primary city of residence and work. Her family was deeply rooted in the classical arts, particularly the Thanjavur tradition. Viswanathan commenced her Bharatanatyam training under Guru Kausalya of the Vazhuvoor Ramaiya Pillai school. She further honed her skills under the tutelage of Guru Kanchipuram Ellappa Pillai, Courtalam Ganesa Pillai, and Sankari Krishnan of the Thanjavur Kittappa Pillai school. Her arangetram (debut performance) took place in 1952. Complementing her dance, she also received extensive Carnatic music training from her mother, Alamelu Viswanathan, and later from Tedyiyur Narayanaswami, Thiruvaiyyaru Krishnamurthy, and Sangita Kala Acharya T. Mukta. She also received training in Kuchipudi dance from Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam. Throughout her illustrious career, Lakshmi Viswanathan emerged as a leading exponent of Bharatanatyam, performing extensively across India and in over twenty countries worldwide at prestigious festivals such as the Khajuraho Dance Festival and the Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Her performances were distinguished by their elegance, expressive abhinaya (gesture-based storytelling), and innovative choreography, deeply influenced by the feminine aspects of Bharatanatyam. She was a respected guru, emphasizing individuality and creativity while training numerous students and conducting workshops in Europe and the United States. A prolific writer and scholar, Viswanathan authored several acclaimed books, including "Bharatanatyam the Tamil Heritage," "Women of Pride the Devadasi Heritage," and "Kapaliswara Temple." She also produced a documentary film titled "The Poetry of Dance" and served as the editor of the Kalakshetra Journal. She was instrumental in initiating the Mamallapuram Dance Festival in 1991 and served as Vice President of the Music Academy (Chennai). Lakshmi Viswanathan passed away on January 20, 2023, in Chennai, leaving behind a profound legacy in Indian classical dance. Awards & Honours: Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (1998), Nritya Kalanidhi (2017), Nritya Choodamani, Kalaimamani, Kalidas Samman (2018).