Navia Natarajan

🪔 About

Navia Natarajan is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher, recognized for her luminous stage presence and profound emotional depth in performances. Born in India, her journey into dance began at the tender age of three, with formal training in Bharatanatyam commencing at seven under Guru Smt. Radhika Kalyani in Chennai. She made her solo debut, or Arangetram, at the precocious age of ten under the tutelage of Smt. Radhika Kalyani. Navia further honed her skills under accomplished danseuse Padmini Ramachandran in Bangalore, expanding her dance vocabulary and mastering complex Varnams and the nuances of emoting. She is currently mentored by Guru A. Lakshman of Chennai and Abhinaya exponent Bragha G. Bessell. Although she holds a Master's Degree in Microbiology and worked as a research scientist, Navia chose to dedicate herself entirely to Bharatanatyam. She is an exponent of the Vazhavoor tradition of Bharatanatyam, known for its classical rigor. Natarajan is celebrated for her ability to contemporize themes and infuse traditional syntax with freshness and sensitivity, exploring ancient stories and characters with modern perspectives. She founded the Navia Dance Academy in California, USA, to train young dancers in Bharatanatyam. Navia has performed extensively across the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and India, including prestigious venues like The Music Academy in Chennai and the Soorya Festival in Kerala. She regularly returns to India for performances and continued learning. Awards & Honours: Yuva Kala Bharathi award, Kala Ratna Award, Sanatan Nritya Puraskar, Nritya-Shiromani Award, Empanelled artist of ICCR (2007), Scholarship from CCRT, Scholarship from the Department of Culture (1998), Competition Winner (2002), Top grade "A+" grade auditioned artist (2004), Kalakusuma Award (2000), First rank in Karnataka Bharatanatyam Junior Examination (1990), First prize (1999).