HINDUSTANI

CARNATIC

Devika has had the blessing of being trained by some of the most proficient teachers of classical dance.

Devika received her initial tutelage in dance at the age of four from Kalaimamani S. Natarajan, a disciple of veterans Balu Bhagavathar and K. P. Kittappa Pillai. Guru Natarajan belongs to the illustrious family upholding the tradition of Mellattur Bhagavatha Mela Natakam in Tanjavur.

In Kuchipudi, Devika did her formative as well as advanced training under Smt. Satyapriya Ramana , an outstanding guru of the dance form and the director of Narthanasaala School of Kuchipudi, Chennai. Devika was also trained by Guru Vempatty Ravi at the Kuchipudi Dance Academy run by the legendary Padmabhushan Dr. Vempatty Chinna Satyam. Devika took her Masters degree in Kuchipudi at Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkatta with a first rank and gold medal.

Devika is trained in Mohiniyattom under Smt. Girija Chandran, student of Kalamandalam Kalyanikuttyamma and director, Regatta Cultural Society, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

She also trained for a brief period under Kalamandalam Leelamma mastering the technicalities of the much-acclaimed Kalamandalam sampradaya of Mohiniyattom.

She is associated with scholars like Dr. V.S. Sharma, Kavalam Narayana Panikker and Nelliyode Vasudevan Nampoothiri for their guidance in many facets of choreography.

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