Malavika Venkatsubbaiah

🪔 About

Malavika Venkatsubbaiah is a distinguished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and art educator, recognized for her technical excellence and insightful choreography. A senior disciple of Guru Lalitha Srinivasan of Bangalore, she received her training in Bharatanatyam in Bangalore, India, specifically in the Mysore bani. She also undertook separate training in folk dances at the Northland Academy of Dance and Music in Bangalore. Venkatsubbaiah moved to Canada in 2006 and has since become a prominent figure in the Indian classical dance scene there. She is the founder and artistic director of Natyam Dance Academy in Edmonton, Canada, with a vision to make Indian classical dance more accessible to mainstream audiences globally. Her dedication extends to nurturing artistic excellence and a serious passion for the art form in emerging talents. Malavika's artistic pursuits have garnered significant recognition, both in India and Canada. She was awarded the "Natya Saradhi" title at the Bharath Nrithyotsav in Visakhapatnam and the "Natya Ratna" from India. In Canada, her contributions have been honored with the Calgary Arts Development Individual Artist Award and the Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award from the Edmonton Arts Council in 2012. Her solo and collaborative works have graced prestigious venues across Canada, the US, the UK, and India. Notable performances include the Third International Dance Festival organized by the World Dance Alliance (WDA) Karnataka Chapter in Bangalore in 2011, and various events during India's 2010-2011 musical season, such as the Sai Nrithyotsav and Bharath Nrithyotsav. In 2018, she performed at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, for Nupura's 40th-year celebration. Malavika is also a curator and performer for CanNatyam, a South Asian classical dance event, which was a flagship event of the Thousand Faces Festival in Edmonton in 2022. Her work has received support from the Edmonton Arts Council and Calgary Arts Development Authority. Awards & Honours: Natya Saradhi, Natya Ratna, Calgary Arts Development Individual Artist Award, Cultural Diversity in the Arts Award from Edmonton Arts Council (2012).