AJITH BHASKARAN DASS
Bharata Natyam dancer/Innovative choreographer

Born in Malaysia and cultured under an impressive lineage of dance gurus in Malaysia and India; Ajith Bhaskaran Dass spurned a career in law to rank amongst the foremost classical dancers of the country. Ajith is a versatile performer, choreographer and the artistic director of his own dance company, Suvarna Fine Arts based in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. Ajith's innovative creativity and exquisite interpretation of both Bharata Natyam and Odissi brings a refreshing new breath without sacrificing the essential classical purity of both.

Ajith has performed extensively all over South East Asia, India, USA, Canada and Europe, giving dance performances, lecture demonstrations and workshops. He has annually toured to USA to rave reviews and in July 2010 completed his 15th successful US tour.

 

For Ajith, the compulsive need to dance, to lose and to renew himself in the spiritual spring of dance is his prime motivator - dance is his very life breath itself!

Ajith is not merely a dancer, but he is also a much sought after choreographer and nattuvanar. He has been invited numerous times as the guest choreographer by leading dance schools in Singapore, the Apsaras and Maya Dance Theatre as well in the US, Shakti Performing Arts.

Ajith's passion for his dance has manifested itself not just in his ability as a dancer and choreographer but also as a teacher of the arts in the school he established over 17 years ago : Suvarna Fine Arts. Popularly known as Suvarna, it was established by Ajith over 17 years ago and has been recognised as one of the most active catalysts of Indian dance in Malaysia. Based in Johor Bahru, the southern most state in Malaysia, Suvarna's distinct and original dance works present authentic classicism on the contemporary stage with universal appeal.

Suvarna boasts of an impressive repertoire of professional productions and collaborations both in Malaysia and abroad. Ajith and his dancers are recognised for their vibrant dance renditions, striking choreography and innovative theatrical presentations. In keeping with its desired objective of promoting and nurturing classical dance as a powerful medium for the performing arts, Suvarna also continues to train and produce dancers of exceptional talent. Suvarna's dancers have achieved recognition as some of the finest dancers in Malaysia.

 

Ajith Dass
2N Jalan Encik Besar Zubaidah
80100, Johor Bahru
Malaysia
ajithdance@gmail.com

 

Among his accolades are:

- voted as the best male dancer in the December season of the International Music and Dance Festival in Chennai, India by the Shankarabharanam Trust in 1996

- first male Indian classical dancer to be featured in the International Arts Festival, Frankfurt, Germany in 2000

- first Malaysian to perform at the famed Lincoln Center, New York, USA in 2003 and also at the Joyce Theatre, Broadway, New York

- nominated for best choreography and costume design by the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards for home production "Echoing Anklets" in 2006.

- "Ajith fuses technique and creativity in a judicious mix and reinvents and reinterprets within the classical frame (Los Angeles Times)"

BHARATHA NATYAM - Productions:
1994 | Kartikeya Kuravanji
1994 | Svaramela
1995 | Brahmasri (staged in Malaysia and Canada)
1995 | Natyanjali - Arambha Nritya
1996 | Rasaasvadanaa
1996 | Meera of Mewar
1996 | Natyanjali - Lakshmi Parinayam
1997 | A Passion for Dance
1997 | USA Tour 97 : Syama, collabration Shakti Dance Company
1997 | Natyanjali - Krishnaya Tubhyam Namaha
1998 | Natyanjali - Shakuntala - Kalidasa's Immortal Love Story
1999 | Natyanjali -Shiva, Shakti and Shanmukha
1999 | Saayujya - An Eternity of Longing (Season 1)
1999 | Panchakaniya
2000 | Ramayana
2000 | Saayujya - An Eternity of Longing (Season 2 - German Tour)
2000 | Natyanjali - Shiva Chitambaram - In Praise of Shiva
2001 | Natyanjali - Parashakti
2002 | Natyanjali - Nartana Ganapathy
2003 | Saayujya (Season 3)
2003 | Natyanjali - Dasavatara - Cosmic Incarnations
2004 | Shanmatha Sthaapanam
2004 | Stree Shri Shakti
2004 | Little Steps into Forever
2004 | Natyanjali - Natyanubhava
2005 | Echoing Anklets - A Haunting Rhapsody of Bharatanatyam
2005 | Natyanjali - Mahabharatha - The Epic of the Feuding Cousins
2006 | Natyanjali - Silapadikaram - The Epic of the Anklet
2006 | Echoing Anklets (Season 2, India tour)
2007 | Gowrishvara- Dancing with the Cosmic Duality
2007 | Natyanjali - Bhakta Meera - The Poet Saint
2008 | Ujjwala - Awakening the Inner Flame
2008 | Natyanjali - Hari Hara Putra
2009 | Ananda Absolute! - Shree Stree Sakthi
2009 | Natyanjali - Ramayana, An Epic Expression
2010 | Raghava Yadhava
2010 | Natyanjali - The Legend of Annarkali

ODISSI - Productions
1996 | Dew Drops on the Lotus
1998 | Dew Drops on the Lotus (Season 2)
1998 | Trivarna - 3 Shades of Indian Dance
1998 | Nritya Murti - When the Gods Dance (USA Tour 98)
2000 | Vasanta Vanamali - An Amorous Spring Time with Krishna
2001 | Shivoham - Manifestations of Shiva
2002 | Vasantha Vanamali - An Amorous Spring Time with Krishna

CONTEMPORARY - Productions
1997 | Ekanta Kumari - In Praise of the Isolated Goddess
2003 | Dancing Maiden of the Dojo Temple (Japan Tour)

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