Marie Elangovan

🪔 About

Marie Elangovan is an accomplished Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer, and teacher, originally from Quebec, Canada, who has been settled in India since 1993. She is a disciple and daughter-in-law of the renowned Guru K. J. Govindarajan, one of the illustrious gurus of the Thanjavur bani. Elangovan was introduced to Bharatanatyam in Montreal in 1990 and was deeply drawn to its spiritual aspects, versatility, and richness. Her meeting with Guru Govindarajan in the early 1990s in Montreal was a pivotal moment, leading her to move to India to immerse herself in the art form. She completed her Arangetram, her first solo dance performance, in 1993 under his guidance. As the Artistic Director of Parampara Centre for Indian Classical Music and Dance, Marie Elangovan teaches Bharatanatyam and presents numerous thematic programs, strictly adhering to traditional idioms while also expanding the dance vocabulary through new choreographies on contemporary themes like childhood, climate change, peace, women empowerment, and environmental conservation. Her production “Save the Earth” was showcased at the 14th Conference of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poland. She is an empanelled artiste with the ICCR and an 'A' grade artiste of Doordarshan, having performed extensively in India and internationally. Elangovan holds an M.A. gold medal in Bharatanatyam from Bangiya Sangeet Parishad, Rabindra Bharati University, and has also trained in Carnatic music and nattuvangam. She is recognized for her immaculate technique, flawless rhythm, and evocative abhinaya. Awards & Honours: M.A. Gold Medalist in Bharatanatyam (2015), 8th year Sangeet Probar in Bharatanatyam (2016), Achievement Award (2003), Achievement Award (2009), Achievement Award (2013), Achievement Award (2015), Achievement Award (2016), Mayura Natya Tarakai (2018), Outstanding Artiste Award (2019), Achievement Award (2019), Udbhav Shikhar Samman (2021).