Padmini Ramachandran

🪔 About

Guru Padmini Ramachandran, a renowned exponent of the Vazhuvoor school of Bharatanatyam, was born on September 8, 1944, in Mavallikkara, Kerala, and was raised in Chennai. She was initiated into Bharatanatyam by Sri Pandanallur Chokkalingam Pillai and completed her Arangetram under the guidance of Padmashree Vazhuvoor Ramiah Pillai. She also received guidance from Guru Kalaimamani Shri S.K. Kameshwaran. After marrying T.K. Ramachandran, she moved to Bengaluru, where she dedicated her life to propagating Bharatanatyam. In 1974, she founded Natyapriya, a premier classical dance institute in Bengaluru. Later, in 2011, her dream of a cultural center for performing arts came to fruition with the inauguration of Nrithyakshetra in Hoysala Nagar, Bangalore, which included an auditorium named 'Rangamandira'. Padmini Ramachandran was a prolific choreographer, creating over 70 dance dramas and TV serials, including "Himashweta – Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs," a 13-episode dance drama for Kannada Doordarshan. Her contributions to Indian classical dance earned her numerous accolades. She held distinguished positions, such as the Chairman of the Karnataka Government's Bharatanatyam Education Board in 1996. She was also a vibrant Nattuvanar, an expert musician who conducts dance recitals. Padmini Ramachandran conducted over 120 arangetrams for her students, many of whom went on to establish their own dance academies worldwide. She passed away on January 17, 2016, at the age of 71. Awards & Honours: Nrithya Academy of Karnataka Award, Natya Rani Shantala, Nrithya Ratna, Bharatashikaram, Bharatashiromani, Rajyotsava Award, Best Guru, Kannada Rajyothsava Award, Karnataka Kalashree, Bharatha Shikaram.