Sunanda Nair

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Sunanda Nair
Sunanda Nair in a Mohini Attam Posture
Sunanda Nair in a Mohini Attam Posture
Background information
Origin India
Genre(s) Mohini Attam, Bharatnatyam, Kathakali
Website http://www.sunandanair.com

Sunanda Nair (born June 18, 1964) is a leading exponent of Mohini Attam (an Indian classical dance form) and one of the few performers of this style of dance form. She was born in Mumbai. Sunanda is the disciple of noted Mohini Attam exponent Padmashree Dr.(Smt)Kanak Rele, credited for much for the revival and popularisation of this classical dance style of Kerala.

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[edit] Profile

Sunanda had her initial training in Bharatanatyam at the age of six and since then has given many performances in this style of dancing. She studied from masters like Kalaimamani Kadirvelu, Kalaimamani Mahalingam Pillai, Guru T.V.Sounderajan, Shri Dipak Majumdar, Smt.Jayashree Nair and presently Smt.Tejiswini Rao in Kattumanar Muthukumar Pillai's bani

Other than Mohini Attam and Bharatnatyam she has also had her initial training in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Warrier and since then has performed important female roles. Sunanda is continuing her training in Kathakali under Kalamandalam Gopalakrishnan.

She is the first student to earn a Master's degree in Mohini Attam from Nalanda Nritya Kala Mahavidyalay affiliated to the University of Mumbai. Sunanda is both a professional dancer and a teacher. She is also the Founder Director of Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts which has been training students in both Mohini Attam and Bharatanatyam.

Sunanda has also choreographed many dance items in Mohini Attam and Bharatnatyam some of which are:

  • Flow of the Ganges
  • Dashavtar
  • Ramayana
  • Kumara Sambhavam
  • Vasanta
  • Parvati Kalyanam

[edit] Performances

  • Festival of India in the former USSR
  • Spring Friendship Art Festival in North Korea
  • Performances in Middle East, Singapore and U.S.A.
  • Khajuraho festival in Madhya Pradesh
  • Konark festival in Orissa
  • Yuva Mahotsav in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur
  • Nishagandhi, Kerala Tourism, Trivandrum
  • Kalidas Samaraoh, Ujjain
  • Modera Festival, Gujarat
  • Mysore Dassera Festival
  • Nrityotsava, Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Bangalore
  • Indo-Indonesian Friendship Society
  • Vallathol Jayanti,Kerala Kalamandalam
  • SAARC Conference, Mumbai
  • Sangeeta Sabha, Poona
  • Swati Tirunal Sangeet Sabha,Trivandrum
  • Chakradhar Samaraoh, Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi
  • India International Centre, Apna Utsav, New Delhi
  • Krishna Gana Sabha, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatiya Music and Arts, Madras
  • The National Centre For Performing Arts, Mumbai
  • Haridas Sammelan, Mumbai
  • Kal-Ke-Kalakar, Mumbai
  • Nitya Nityati And Tanmai Arohanam Festival, Bangalore
  • India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
  • Shree Chitra Dance Festival, Trivandrum
  • Natyanjali Trust, Music Academy, Chennai
  • National Festival of Mohini Attam, Nehru Center, Mumbai
  • Soorya Parampara dance festival, Trivandrum, Kerala
  • India Habitat Center, New Delhi
  • Dharini, Cochin, Kerala
  • Monsoon Festival Art India, New Delhi
  • Raindrops Festival NCPA, Samved Mumbai
  • Bharatam, Trichur, Kerala
  • Sopanam, Bombay
  • Kalakshetram, Bombay
  • Asia Pacific Heritage Festival

[edit] Awards

  • A scholarship from Central Sangeet Natak Akademi for advanced training in abhinaya and choreography under her Guru Smt. Kanak Rele
  • 'Singar Mani' from the prestigious Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai
  • Nelluvai Nambeeshan Smarak Award for Mohiniattam
  • Natya Mayuri Natyanjali Trust , Chennai
  • Best Ethnic Classical Arts Award, New Orleans, 2003
  • Louisiana State Artist Roster
  • Louisiana Touring Directory
  • Global Excellence Dance Award, New Orleans
  • Presidents Award for Community Service, Indian Assoc of New Orleans

[edit] External links

[edit] See also