Lavanya Ananth

🪔 About

Lavanya Ananth is a highly acclaimed Bharatanatyam dancer, recognized as one of India's leading young exponents of the classical art form. Initiated into Bharatanatyam at the tender age of four, she performed her arangetram at ten years old at the Rani Seethai Hall in Chennai. Her extensive training includes tutelage under master artists Sri S.K. Rajarathnam Pillai, Smt. K.J. Sarasa, and Smt. Bragha Bessel. She further honed her skills in abhinaya under the doyen Padmabushan Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan and receives guidance in the Balasaraswathi style from Smt. Nandini Ramani. Ananth also briefly explored Kuchipudi under Sri Vempatti Chinna Sathyam and received training in Carnatic vocal from Sri Ramamurthi Rao, rhythm techniques from Sri Mayavaram Somu, and nattuvangam from Sri J. Suryanarayana Murthi. She is a proponent of the graceful and picturesque Vazhuvoor style of Bharatanatyam. Ananth commenced her performing career at the age of six, performing in dance productions choreographed by her Guru Sri S.K. Rajarathnam Pillai and with her elder sister Shobana Chandrasekhar. She is an “A” grade artist of Doordarshan Kendra and has been an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) since 2003. Critically acclaimed by senior masters and critics, she is known for her soulful and subtle abhinaya, neat and impressive nritta, and creative choreography. Lavanya Ananth regularly tours her choreographic works and conducts workshops internationally across Asia, Europe, Australia, and the United States. She also founded and runs "Natya Sameekshana," an academy dedicated to training selected students from India and abroad in Bharatanatyam. Her contributions to the art form have earned her several accolades, including the prestigious Ustaad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar from the Sangeet Natak Akademi in 2007. She is also a recipient of the “Nadanamamani – Shriram Award of Excellence” from Karthik Fine Arts, the “Yuva Kala Bharathi” from Bharath Kalachar, and the "Natya Kala Mani Awardee". Her primary city of operation appears to be Chennai, India. Awards & Honours: Ustaad Bismillah Khan – Yuva Puraskar (Sangeet Natak Akademi) (2007), Nadanamamani – Shriram Award of Excellence (Karthik Fine Arts), Yuva Kala Bharathi (Bharath Kalachar), Natya Kala Mani Awardee.