Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan - Founder-Director & Guru
The Founder - Director of Soundarya Natya Kalalaya Foundation, Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan, learnt Bharatanatyam under Guru Smt. Rajalakshmi Venkateshwar, a disciple of the late Shri K.N. Dandayudapani Pillai, a legend in Bharatanatyam.
Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan continues to learn the advances of this Fine Art from Pt. V. J. Pillai of Shree Thanjavur Nritya Shala, Mumbai.
She is a Post-graduation holder in Carnatic Music awarded by the Mumbai University. Her proficiency and expertise in Nattuvangam are the added assets for the performance of the artistes of Soundarya Natya Kalalaya Foundation.
Under the tutelage and guidance of Smt Padmini Radhakrishnan, the artistes of Soundarya Natya Kalalaya Foundation have staged over 3,500 stage performances in India and abroad at Canada, Kingdom of Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia, Sultanate of Oman & the United States of America.
Under the guidance of Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan, Soundarya Natya Kalalaya operates from 9 locations in India and abroad. Over 2,000 students have been trained by Smt Padmini Radhakrishnan, and Arangetram of over 120 artistes had been performed. More than 25 teachers have been groomed who help spread this Fine Art globally.
Besides enjoying the twin titles of a seasoned artiste & a dedicated teacher, she is also a blessed singer, gifted with a mellifluous voice rich with resonance, melody & steady accentuation well suited for the dance. Her signature choreography & friendly nature is what any student recounts from every teaching session.
Efforts to explore original choreography, new themes and innovative representations of dance ballets have consistently characterized the work of Smt Padmini Radhakrishnan.
Several titles have been conferred on Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan for her contribution to the spreading of Bharatanatyam. These are :
> Nritya Siksha Choodamani (Awarded by Padam in February 2001)
> Nritya Kala Sagar (Awarded by Nateshwar Nritya Kala Mandir in June 2004)
> Sudhandira Berigai (Awarded by Bharathi Kala Mantram in August 2004)
> Samaj Shakti Award (Awarded by Hariharaputra Samaj in August 2005)
> Shivali Nritya Shiromani (Awarded by Shivali Cultural Society in September 2005)
> Bodhaga Kala Vipanchee (Awarded by Dr Balamuralikrishna in December 2005)
> Natya Ratna (Awarded by Rasika Ranjani Sabha in March 2007)
> Bharata Kalai Chudar (Awarded by Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam in July 2008)
> Natya Ranjani (Awarded by Garodianagar Bhakta Sangh in December 2009)
> Natana Kalai Maamani (Awarded by New York Tamil sangam in June 2011)
> Nattiya Thilagam (Awarded by Shri Vari Foundation, New York in April 2012)
> Woman Icon Award (Awarded by Krish Entertainment, Mumbai in March 2014)
> New Jersey Naatya Kalanidhi-2015 (Awarded by Shri Krishna Vrundavana Temple, Edison, New Jersey in September 2015)
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