Priyadarsini Govind
Bharata Natyam Exponent

www.artindia.net

A graduate in commerce from the University of Madras, Chennai, Priyadarsini holds a diploma in Mass Communication, but Bharatanatyam has been her first love ever since she was six.

After initial grooming under Smt. Usha, Priyadarsini specialized in abhinaya under 'Padma Bhushan' Smt. 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 ten. Priyadarsini imbibes the best of both her teachers.

Priyadarsini has been giving recitals from the age of sixteen, and has performed in numerous sabhas and academies in India and abroad.

Tall and slim, this Chennai based dancer is a delight to watch, the strong lines of her dance brought alive by a quality of abhinaya, nothing short of being in a class of its own.

Selected to dance at the prestigious Festival of India in Paris, in 1985 at the age of 20, Priyadarsini had several occasions after that to showcase her talent - the Swarna Samaroh, celebrating 50 years of Indian Independence organized by the Sangeet Natak Academy, the Khajuraho Dance Festival, performances at the Narada Gana Sabha, receiving in turn the Vasantha Lakshmi Narsimhachari award from them, besides receiving the Yuva Kala Bharathi from the Bharat Kalachar, Chennai, in the year 2000.

Priyadarsini also holds the title of 'Kalaimamani' awarded by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 1998, an award given for artistic excellence.

Priyadarsini has performed extensively in Europe, besides in countries like the US, Tunisia, South Africa and even Afghanistan, under the ICCR banner and on invitation by the French Government at the Parc de Villette Festival in Paris.

Priyadarsini also underwent training in Kalaripayattu, the martial art form of Kerala and Nattuvangam from Kalashetra, besides learning to sing and to perform on television.

Intense and naturally talented, her special interest however, still remains abhinaya - "I think it's beautiful and I was trained in a particular style that gives a lot of emphasis on it".