Upahaar Dance Company

🪔 About

Guru Smt. Shalini Shivashankar is a prominent figure in Indian classical dance, serving as the Artistic Director of Upahaar School of Dance, a leading institution in the UK that provides training in Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kathak, Carnatic Vocal, and Mridangam. Shalini Shivashankar commenced her Bharatanatyam training in her early years under the late Guru Smt Padmini Ramachandran. She was a recipient of the National Talent Search Scholarship for higher studies in natyam and earned the 'Kalathilakam' award during her university years. Her advanced training in Bharatanatyam continued under Guru Smt Shyamala Surendran, founder of Dharani School of Performing Arts, Kochi, and Guru Smt Radhika Shurajit, Artistic Director of Thrayee School of Bharatanatyam, Chennai, both senior disciples of the esteemed Natyacharyas, The Dhananjayans. She further refined her art under Smt Shanta Dhananjayan and Sri VP Dhananjayan. Shalini Shivashankar also pursued Mohiniyattam, initially with Smt. Kalamandalam Saraswati of Calicut, and later delving deeper into the form with Smt. Sreedevi Rajan, daughter of the legendary Guru Smt Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma. She has performed extensively in India, Bahrain, Canada, and Europe. After teaching in India and Bahrain for several years, she moved to the UK in 2002 and founded the Upahaar School of Dance in Croydon in 2003 with a few students. The school has since expanded to multiple branches across Greater London. She established the Upahaar Dance Company, a semi-professional youth ensemble, which performs regularly across the UK and internationally, including at Chennai's Margazhi festival. Shalini Shivashankar also curates Nrithya-Upahaar, an international festival of classical dance, and is dedicated to preserving and transmitting the legacy of Indian classical arts. Awards & Honours: National Talent Search Scholarship, Kalathilakam, GLOBAL ACHIEVER AWARD (2019), Nrithya Aacharya Ratna (2019), Vidushi or Nrithya Rathnakara.