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 Dr.Vasundhara Doraswamy  (Mysore, Karnataka) a Danseuse par excellence, versatile choreographer of repute and a venerated guru of Bharatanatyam has turned very much a phenomenon in the Indian Classical dance scenario over the past five decades and more of her career. Her performances are a manifestation of the profound terpsichorean ingenuity marked by impromptu improvisations, esoteric foot-work and bewitching histrionic propensities. Her myriad choreographies encompassing a wide spectrum of spiritual and secular themes are striking paradigm of her inventive brilliance.

Early life
Born in Moodabidri in South Kanara to Late Shri P. Nagaraj and Smt.Varada Devi, Vasundhara made her acquaintance with Bharatanatyam at the tender age of 4 under Muralidhar Rao and has never looked back. She was a gold medalist at the age of 5 at the state level completions, which highlighted her unlimited potential – and prompted her parents to sought out the supervision of Late Shri Rajaratnam Pillai the student of Pandanallur Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, who continued the role as her Guru going forward. Vasundhara continued her dedicated training and continued her assault on state level competitions claiming distinctions and 1st rank in Vidwath with 3 consecutive gold medals in state youth festivals.

Career
Vasundhara progressed into the next stage of her career by establishing a base in the princely city of Mysore and spent the next 10 year performing/ teaching and providing qualitative bliss to thousands of connoisseurs in the art [dance and music] community. She was awarded doctorate by ICCI Madras for her work on Yoga and Bharatanatyam and has been the recipient of multiple accolades and awards over this period of time. Vasundhara has now turned a phenomenon in the last decade through her performances both in India and abroad including the prestigious UNESCO world peace conference, copious creative productions, research and insight into Bharatanatyam, her constant work with the community via her institute [Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre] and 25 years of national dance and music festivals etc. and has reached the pinnacle on this journey towards greatness. Vasundhara in addition to her achievements in Bharatanatyam over the journey has made additional contributions in terms of multiple productions which have won numerous accolades from renowned critics and published papers on the below streams.


 * Yoga and Bharatanatyam – Interdependence [secured a Doctorate]
 * Folklore impacts on traditional Indian dances
 * Folklore impacts on traditional Indian dances

Academic qualifications and other prominent roles

 * M.A in Folklore – University of Mysore.


 * Doctorate in Yoga and Bharatanatyam – ICCI, Madras.
 * A – Grade artist of Doordarshan – India.
 * First Rank – Vidwat in Bharatanatyam – Karnataka.
 * Member - Audition Committee of Doordarshan Kendra
 * Advisor - Mysore University Selection Committee for Dance


 * Member - Expert Committee for Bharatanatyam, Department of Culture, Govt. of India.


 * Thesis - In 1990, Vasundhara received a Doctorate for her exclusive study on the correlation between Bharatanatyam and Yoga.

Annual Festivals
Vasundhara Performing Art Center celebrated its Twenty fifth year of completion of classical cultural service conducting four festivals in a year continuously for the last twenty four years in 2010-2011, by presenting different classical formats in Dance & music and also providing platform for young and upcoming performers alike, the veterans in their respective fields are felicitated and programmes are arranged, thus conducting…


 * PALLAVOTHSAVA For the Young upcoming Artists
 * NATARAJAOTHSAVA For the Male and Couple Dancers
 * PARANGOTHSAVA For established and renowned Artists of National & International Stature
 * PARANGOTHSAVA For established and renowned Artists of National & International Stature
 * PARANGOTHSAVA For established and renowned Artists of National & International Stature

Till date, the organization has the privilege of presenting more than Ten Thousand Junior & Senior Artists of National and International repute. Felicitations of Senior Artists are done by offering Gold Logo, with the below Titles:
 * CHIGURU SANJE A festival of Classical Dance for the children below twelve years


 * Srutisagar for Music
 * Nritya Sundari for Dance
 * Vidyasagar for Literature.
 * Vidyasagar for Literature.
 * Vidyasagar for Literature.

Group productions

 * ManmathaDahana – A Dance Drama detailing the story of the burning of Manmatha.
 * Ramayana – A dance drama depicting the story of Lord Rama from his birth to his Coronation.
 * Shakuntala – Narration of Kalidasa’s Shakuntala through Dance
 * Sapthagireesha Panigrahana – A dance drama unfolding the events leading to the wedding of Vishnu and Padmavathi.
 * Vasundhara kanda Kaarantha – This was a Group production by students of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, involving various facets of Art like music, dance and drama based on the works of Jnanapith Awardee and famous Kannada writer Dr Shivarama Karanth.
 * Krishna Tula Bara – A Dance drama narrating the story of Sri Krishna Tula Bhara performed by Satyabhama and Rukmini.
 * Rani Kayikeyi – A dance feature based on Sri Ramayana Darshanam by another Jnanapith Awardee and famous Kannada poet Kuvempu.
 * Vidyunmadanika – A Group choreography based on D V Gundappa's "Anthahpurageethe" where the Sculptor Jakkannachari sees his Sculptures come to life and dance with Lord Chennakeshava.
 * Vasundhara kanda Kaarantha – This was a Group production by students of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, involving various facets of Art like music, dance and drama based on the works of Jnanapith Awardee and famous Kannada writer Dr Shivarama Karanth.
 * Krishna Tula Bara – A Dance drama narrating the story of Sri Krishna Tula Bhara performed by Satyabhama and Rukmini.
 * Rani Kayikeyi – A dance feature based on Sri Ramayana Darshanam by another Jnanapith Awardee and famous Kannada poet Kuvempu.
 * Vidyunmadanika – A Group choreography based on D V Gundappa's "Anthahpurageethe" where the Sculptor Jakkannachari sees his Sculptures come to life and dance with Lord Chennakeshava.
 * Vidyunmadanika – A Group choreography based on D V Gundappa's "Anthahpurageethe" where the Sculptor Jakkannachari sees his Sculptures come to life and dance with Lord Chennakeshava.
 * Vidyunmadanika – A Group choreography based on D V Gundappa's "Anthahpurageethe" where the Sculptor Jakkannachari sees his Sculptures come to life and dance with Lord Chennakeshava.


 * Suryanamaskara – An innovative group choreography combining Yoga and dance in praise of the Sun God, showing the correlation between the two.


 * Discovery of India – This group production was based on Nehru’s Discovery of India choreographed to commemorate 50 years of Indian Independence.


 * Shive Shiva Navarasa – A dance drama narrating the events leading to the display of the Navarasas in Lord Shiva and Goddess Parvathi
 * Gaana Nrutyanjali – Dance choreography to the karnatic music from the basics of learning to the complex compositions of a recital.
 * Hoysala Vaibhava – A dance drama on the Hoysala King Vishnuvardhana and his queen Natyarani Shakuntala and their contribution to the development of Dance.
 * Chalukya Vaibhava – A dance drama narrating the grandeur of the Chalukya dynasty and its ruler King Pulikesi.
 * Durga – This is a group choreography narrating the story of GodessDurga bringing an end to the terrorizing demon king – Mahishasura.
 * Gurubhyo Namaha – This is another innovative choreography bringing together Dance, Yoga and the martial art form of Kalaripayattu.
 * Bhandasura Vadhe - a dance drama based on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama
 * Durga – This is a group choreography narrating the story of GodessDurga bringing an end to the terrorizing demon king – Mahishasura.
 * Gurubhyo Namaha – This is another innovative choreography bringing together Dance, Yoga and the martial art form of Kalaripayattu.
 * Bhandasura Vadhe - a dance drama based on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama
 * Gurubhyo Namaha – This is another innovative choreography bringing together Dance, Yoga and the martial art form of Kalaripayattu.
 * Bhandasura Vadhe - a dance drama based on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama
 * Bhandasura Vadhe - a dance drama based on Sri Lalitha Sahasranama

Solo Productions
These solo productions are the literary masterpieces of Kannada writer and theater director Sri Udyavara Madhava Acharya.
 * Panchali – A narration of the ordeal of a woman Panchali- This choreography saw the coming together of Yakshagana music and Bharatanatyam.


 * Soundarya Lahari – This is dance feature based on Shankaracharya’s Soundarya Lahari.
 * Ganga Lahari – This choreography was a detailed narration of the story of Ganga.
 * Shakuntakunjana – A solo choreography on the story of an interesting conversation between Celestial mother Menaka and earthy daughter Shakuntala.
 * Ambe – A solo dance feature narrating the story of the Queen Ambe who is seen voicing her opinion in the male dominated world.
 * Dakshayini – A beautiful narration of the humiliation of Dakshayini who jumps into the holy fire and sacrifices herself.
 * Ambe – A solo dance feature narrating the story of the Queen Ambe who is seen voicing her opinion in the male dominated world.
 * Dakshayini – A beautiful narration of the humiliation of Dakshayini who jumps into the holy fire and sacrifices herself.
 * Dakshayini – A beautiful narration of the humiliation of Dakshayini who jumps into the holy fire and sacrifices herself.
 * Dakshayini – A beautiful narration of the humiliation of Dakshayini who jumps into the holy fire and sacrifices herself.

Performances & Lecture Demonstrations
Vasundhara has been extensively preforming and conducting workshops/ lecture demonstrations for the past four decades, she has turned into a phenomenon through her performances both in India and abroad including the prestigious UNESCO world peace conference. She has been travelling to the US for the past 10 years to perform and teach. Dr. Vasundhara is a visiting professor at the Alabama University.

Awards

 * Karnataka Kalatilaka from Karnataka Sangitha Nrithya Academy


 * Kannada Rajyothsava Award from Government of Karnataka


 * Shringaramani Award from Mumbai


 * Naatyajyothi from Australia


 * Millenium Award from USA


 * Asthana Nrithya Rathna from Udupi Sri Krishna Matt


 * Honorary Citizen of Louisville Kentucky USA

Community Work
In addition to grooming hundreds of young talents into professional dancers, the institute offers scholarships to deserving students. She has performed for numerous charity organisations regularly in the past and has worked successfully a production for the blind and recently with the physically and mentally challenged kids.

Folk connection Having majored her Master`s degree in Folklore – Vasundhara has been able to creatively amalgamated Yakshagana folk music into her production ‘Panchali’ with Sri Udyavara Madhava Acharya and is currently working on publishing a paper on Folk dances of India.