Padmini Chari

🪔 About

Padmini Chari is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and guru, primarily in Bharatanatyam. Her journey in classical Indian dance began at the age of six in India, where she also performed her first solo full-length public performance at twelve years old. She received her training from two highly esteemed Bharatanatyam gurus: Kalaimamani Padmasri Adyar K. Lakshman, Director of Bharatha Choodamani, Academy of Indian Fine Arts, Chennai, and Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, Director of Abhinayasudha, Chennai. Chari specialized in Abhinaya, the interpretive aspect of dance. Her career took her to Europe, where she lived in Germany for eleven years, performing extensively and teaching classical Indian dance in Munich, Germany, and Vienna, Austria, for approximately eight years between 1973 and 1981. In 1981, she moved to the United States and, the following year in 1982, founded the Nritya School of Dance in Houston, Texas. The school later established a branch in New Orleans, Louisiana. As an artistic director, Padmini Chari has guided over 60 students through their graduation solo programs (arangetrams) and choreographed five dance dramas in Houston. She teaches exclusively in the Kalakshetra tradition and has performed across various parts of the USA. Beyond dance, she has acted in major roles in Tamil plays in Houston and served as President of Bharathi Kalai Manram, a Tamil cultural organization. Her school, Nritya School of Dance, has produced six dance dramas, including Shakthi, Krishnanjali, and Raga Spandana, and has organized numerous benefit dance programs for charitable and humanitarian causes. Awards & Honours: Commendations from the City Council of New Orleans, Commendations from the Governor of Louisiana, Honorary Citizenship of the city of Temple, Texas, Nritya School of Dance Day (proclaimed by Mayor of Houston) (2006), Nalla Penmani (2006), Established Artist award grant (2009).