Guru

neeraja

Jayashree Narayanan is one of the early pioneers, teaching Bharatanatyam from 1970’s in Pondicherry. Neeraja Ramani is one of her very first students in the 70’s who started learning Bharatanatyam under her.

She started her dance school ‘Salangai’ in 1971. Her contribution to her field of art was much recognized in the then small town Pondy, which needed a guru like her for its growth in the field of Bharatanatyam. Today she is recognized as one of the best gurus in Pondicherry, which as a city has flourished in arts in the past 3 decades.

Jayashree Narayanan has been privileged to be a student and performing artist at Kalakshetra Foundations for 11 years from 1960 to 1971, from which she graduated with distinction.

Her contributions as a Guru include her position as the principal in charge and H.O.D of the dance department in “Brathaiyar Palkali Koodam” – 1988 to 2004, External examiner at Kalakshetra Foundations - Chennai, Barathidasan University - Trichy, Bangalore University - Bangalore and Singapore fine arts society - Singapore. She is a Member of board of Studies in Madras University and Bangalore University and she formulated syllabus for C.C.T.R junior level scholarship.

Currently she is training dancers in her school ‘Salangai Cultural Academy’, Puducherry. Many of her students are spread out in East Asia, Europe and North America. She also conducts short term course for students aboard.

  • Created, Choreographed & Produced dance dramas:
  • VANAMAHOTSAVAM – Theme on ecological balance & deforestation, 1994
  • KUDUMBA VILAKKU – Script of Pondicherry poet Bharathidasan, 1996
  • DROUPADI – Unanswered questions in Droupathi’s views, 2011
  • BANGARI SINGARI – Contribution to the community to save water for irrigation and drinking made that was made by two Devadasi’s of the 13th- 14th century, 2011
  • Honors/Awards Gained
  • NATYA SHIRORMANI award from Yoganjali Natiyalaya, 2003
  • PUDUVAI KALAIMAMANI from Government of Pondicherry, 1997
  • BEST BHARATHANATIYAM GURU in Pondicherry from Kalaimagal Sabha Oct, 1995
  • OUTSTANDING YOUNG PERSON from Pondicherry Junior Chamber in Oct 1995
  • ISSAI GNANA CHUDAR from Sangeetha Laya Sruthi in Sep 1995
  • THARUN KATAKAR Award, 1997 by Sangeetha Natak Academy

  • http://salangaica.weebly.com/