Chitra Visweswaran
Bharatanatyam Performer • Guru • Teacher • Nattuvanar • Choreographer • Institution head • Researcher
56+
Years of Experience
1000+
Performances
12+
Students Taught
50+
Countries Performed
50+
Awards
5
Followers
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Chitra Visweswaran, born in October 1950, is a highly acclaimed Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Her journey in dance began at the tender age of three, with her mother, Rukmini Padmanabhan, serving as her first guru. She also received early training in Western Classical Ballet in London, and Manipuri and Kathak in Calcutta. At the…
Journey Timeline
1950
Born — Born in Tiruchirapalli
Began dance training — Began dancing at age three with her mother, Rukmini Padmanabhan
Began training under T.A. Rajalakshmi — At the age of ten
Arangetram — First maiden performance at age eleven
First dance choreography — At the age of eleven
Choreographed life of Saint Thyagaraja — In the format of a Varnam, at age thirteen
Started teaching dance — Began teaching in Calcutta at the age of sixteen
Completed B.A. (Hons.) in English — From Calcutta University
Received National Scholarship — For advanced study in Bharatanatyam from the Government of India
Established Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts (CAPA) — In Chennai
Choreographed 'Devi Ashta Rasa Malika' — Her first major dance drama
Received Nritya Choodamani Award — From Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
Conferred 'Kalaimamani' — By the Government of Tamil Nadu
Received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — From Sangeet Natak Akademi
Received Nritya Vilas Award — From Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai
Received Padma Shri — From the President of India
Received Manav Sewa Puraskar (Lok Shree Award) — From the Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi
Convened Natya Kala conference — For Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
Convened Natya Kala conference — For Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
Received Natanamani — From Kanchi Paramacharya
Photo Gallery
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Video Library
Performance videos will appear here.
Signature Performances
Devi Ashta Rasa Malika
which helped popularise the concept of group formations in Bharata Natyam
Krishnanjali
which introduced the flashback technique to Bharata Natyam
Purandara Krishnamritham
in which rare kritis of the Kannada composer Purandara Dasa were researched and strung together thematically
Performance Map
A world map of performances will appear here as tours are recorded.
Awards & Honors
- Nritya Choodamani — Sri Krishna Gana Sabha
- Kalaimamani — Government of Tamil Nadu
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Nritya Vilas — Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai
- Padma Shri — President of India
- Manav Sewa Puraskar (Lok Shree Award) — Institute of Economic Studies, New Delhi
- Mahila Shiromani
- Sthree Ratna
- Natanamani — Kanchi Paramacharya
- Natya Kala Acharya Award for Dance — Music Academy, Chennai
Media Coverage
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Compiled from public sources and/or self-reported by the artist — not independently verified by NatyaNetwork. See our Terms.