Tulsi Badrinath's book on guru Dhananjayan, "Master of Arts - A life in dance"
HT - Nielsen BOOKSCAN Year's TOP 10 (Jan1-Dec14, 2013)VIEW MORE
Book release of 'Master of Arts: A life in dance'
- Lalitha Venkat, narthaki.com, August 30, 2013VIEW MORE
Master of Arts
by Aarabi Veeraraghavan , Hindustan Times, August 09, 2013VIEW MORE
It’s a man thing
by Mandira Nayar, The Week, May 14, 2013There are many reasons to read this book. That it is a book on Bharatanatyam is not one of them. Nor that it is about a famous dancer, V.P. Dhananjayan. It is worth picking because it talks about a person - a male dancer - whose story mostly remains untold.
“My guru created a space where none existed earlier,” says Tulsi Badrinath, talking about Dhananjayan. “There was no tradition of men in Bharatanatyam. He had to battle prejudice. The old-timers would say who wants to watch a sweaty man dance?''
Badrinath's book chronicles the life of Dhananjayan - one of the first men to make a successful career in Bharatanatyam. “The dance was performed by women in the temples,” says Badrinath. “Male children of the devadasis were instructors. Many of them became renowned musicians. There really was no history of performing as a man.”
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Dr. Vyjayanthimala Bali and The Dhananjayans were honored with the prestigious honour & award "KALA-RATNA" by the Organizing Committee of Swami Haridas Sangeet Sammelan - Brindavan (Mathura) UP on 15th September 2013 on the inaugural day of the festival. These Bharatanaatyam exponents also performed half an hour each for a packed audience. Tulsi Badrinath, a senior disciple of the Dhananjayans performed along with her Gurus as Sakhi in Radhamaadhavam(Geetgovind-Ashtapadi) .
The award scroll inscribed in Hindi reads:
AKHILA BHAARATEEYA SHRI SWAMI HARIDAS SANGEET SAMMELAN, BRINDAVAN- MATHURA UP
SHASTRIYA SANGEET KALAA RATNA SAMMAAN -YEAR 2013
AWARDED TO : SHRI. V.P. & SHANTA DHANANJAYAN (Bharatanaatyam)
PRESIDENT: AACHAARYA ATUL KRISHNA GOSWAMI.
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The award scroll inscribed in Hindi reads:
AKHILA BHAARATEEYA SHRI SWAMI HARIDAS SANGEET SAMMELAN, BRINDAVAN- MATHURA UP
SHASTRIYA SANGEET KALAA RATNA SAMMAAN -YEAR 2013
AWARDED TO : SHRI. V.P. & SHANTA DHANANJAYAN (Bharatanaatyam)
PRESIDENT: AACHAARYA ATUL KRISHNA GOSWAMI.
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The Dhananjayans performed at DAKSHINA Dance Company’s 10th anniversary festival, Washington (USA)
A responseWITH SO MUCH BHAKTHI PARAVASAM, it was so nice to see you both performing at the Dakshina Tenth Anniversary festival in D.C .
Tears rolled down my eyes when Sir performed " Varugalamo Ayya" with so much bhakthi paravasam.
Then I enjoyed the Ashtapadi duet "Priye Charusheele " - the sringara rasa never looked this good with both of you dancing in perfect sync . Akka's nayanabhinayam was simply superb.
More than anything else I loved your "manushatwam" in posing for photos with me.
- Vinatha Kumar
Spirit of Kalakshetra
- V.V. Ramani, Hema, The Hinu, August 15, 2013The Dhananjayan’s natya school in the U.S. has crossed a milestone. So many years have gone by since V.P. Dhananjayan left his dance home, Kalakshetra. The separation has only been physical since he has remained a true alumnus, his work always reflecting the spirit of the institution founded by Rukmini Devi Arundale. And it is said, the Universe always answers the true call of a kindred soul. In 1988, when he visited the Yogaville campus of Swami Sachidanandaswamy and he was asked to conduct workshops, the Dhananjayans thought of the Gurukulam concept; in short, they wanted to share with the others what they had experienced in their dear Kalakshetra.
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Yogaville, Satchidananda Ashram FINE ARTS SOCIETY celebrated it's silver jubilee on July 21st 2013.
The morning started with Homam at Kailash, followed by a seminar, discussions and video presentations of old alumni. An excellent free feast was provided to nearly 500 people who came from far & wide.VIEW MORE
Sivakami and Krishnakumar, students of Natyaachaarya Dhananjayans, performed “Yugmanatyam” on June 30, 2013 at Chapman Cultural Center in Spartanburg, South Carolina.
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June 29, 2013
Senior disciple of The Dhananjayans, Subathra Sudarshan organized and conducted Padha Pooja at her Natya Studio on Wednseday June 29th 2013 at Johns Creek, GA, USAVIEW MORE
May 31 - June 2, 2013
Nrityayatri presented workshop by the Dhananjayans on May31 & June 1, 2013 at Abhinav Primary School, Pune.VIEW MORE