Chennai

Chennai, Nov 1

Bharatanatyam exponent and director of Kalakshetra Foundation, Priyadarsini Govind is an ace performer and a great administrator. She is known for her strong line of dance that is brought alive through the use of abhinaya (the art of expression).

“Dance is such a complete line with visuals, poetry, drama, music… you use your whole body to communicate all of this,” says Priyadarsini. She has been giving recitals from the age of 16, and has performed in numerous sabhas and academies in India and abroad.

After initial grooming under Usha, Priyadarsini specialised in abhinaya under Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan from the age of nine. Priyadarsini received advanced training in Bharatanatyam under Guru Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam, exponent of the Vazhvoor School from the age of 10. She has imbibed the best of both her teachers. Priyadarsini also underwent training in Kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala and Nattuvangam from Kalakshetra, besides learning to sing and to perform on television.

A graduate in commerce from the University of Madras, Priyadarsini also holds a diploma in Mass Communication. But dance has always been her mainstay. She also holds the title of ‘Kalaimamani’ awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1998, an award given for artistic excellence.

This artiste is the mother of two children in their 20s. She is the only member of her family who is a classical dancer. Her younger sister Vidya, who learned the dance with her, is an attorney.

Selected to dance at the prestigious Festival of India in Paris, in 1985 at the age of 20, she had many occasions after that to showcase her talent. An intense performer, her special interest remains abhinaya. She says “It’s beautiful and I was trained in a style that gives a lot of emphasis on it.”

Compiled by Papia Lahiri