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Established:
1939
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The
Institution Bharatanatyam is considered to be the oldest of all classical dance forms of India. Kummi is an ancient group dance where the dancers clap their hands to maintain rhythm. Kolattam is a dance form where the dancers perform by beating 2 sticks to maintain rhythm. Pinnal Kolattam is a dance form where a group of dancers weave and unravel intricate patterns with colorful suspended ropes. Between 1950 and 1960, Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam organized Thyagaraja music festival every year. Carnatic music stalwarts such as Madurai Mani Iyer, Ariyakudi Ramanujam,Musiri Subramaniyam, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer, G.N.Balasubramaniam, Dandapani Desigar, Alathur Brothers, M.L.Vasanthakumari, Veena Balachandar, Chitti Babu, Chowdiah, M.K.Thiagaraja Bhagavadhar, S.V.S.Narayanan, Madurai Venkateesan have all performed in this festival. Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam has primarily focused in Bharatanatyan and has trained and conducted over 350 arangetrams (debut performance). The institution also introducted the unique idea of presenting group arangetrams. A number of students from the Nilayam have started dance schools throughtout the world to spread the art. Since 1950's Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam has presented a number of dance drama. The following are some of the more popular themes. * Jayadeva's
Ashtapathi Founder/Director Smt.K.Lalitha Smt.k.Lalitha learned Bharatanatyam from Late Sri. Kattumannarkoil Muthukumaraswamy Pillai and the theoretical aspects of the art from Professor P.Sambamurthy. She learnt classical vocal from Thanjavur Sankara Iyer and Venkatarama Iyer. She was proficient in playing the flute, harmonium, veena and various other instruments. She was also trained in the rural folk forms like Kummi, Kolattam, Pinnal Kolattam. She has composed a number of varnams and padams for dances. She has also set catchy tunes to famous works such as Lalitha Sahasranamam, Trishadhi, Abhirami Andhathi, Soundarya Lahari.
Smt.Ranganayaki Jayaraman is one of the foremost disciples of Smt.Lalitha. Her arangetrams were presided by the world famous dance exponent Late.Smt.Rukmini Devi Arundale of Kalakshetra, in 1950. Smt.Ranganayaki Jayaraman is one of the finest exponents in Bharatanatyam and acknowledged as one of the best nattuvanaars(reciting rhythmic patterns with cymbals) and as a choreographer par excellance. She has choreographed a number of thematic productions. She has travelled throughout India,US, Srilanka, Australia, Singapore, and UK for dance performances and workshops. She is proficient in Veena, Violin, Flute, Mridangam, and Harikatha Kalakshepam. Harikatha is a traditional art of story telling using of hymns and songs to narrate mythological stories. Smt.Ranganayaki Jayaraman has had the privilege of performing in the presence of the former President of India, Dr.S. Radhakrishnan, Sir.C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Dr.C.Rajagopalachari, Mr.T.L.Venkataram Iyer and Sengalipuram Anantharama Dikshithar. Smt.Ranganayaki Jayaraman is the recipient of a number of awards such as Kalaimamani, Natyakala Bhooshani,Natanakalai Vithagi, Harikatha Sironmani, Natya Charya to name a few.Smt.Ranganayaki Jayaraman is a renowned Veena Player as well and is a graded artist in All India Radio and Doordarshan(TV), India. She performs regularly and has composed orchestra and conducted Pancha Tala Priya Malika and Pancha Raga Oudava Malika for Doordarshan, India. She is also one of the most sought after artists for veena accompaniment.
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#6, Thoppu Street, Triplicane,
Chennai-600 005. PH:8443327.
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