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Draft:Priyadarsini Govind

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Priyadarsini Govind
Born
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Occupation(s)Classical dancer, choreographer, educator
Known forBharatanatyam, Director of Kalakshetra Foundation (2013–2017)
AwardsSangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012), Kalaimamani (1998), Nritya Choodamani (2015)

Priyadarsini Govind is an Indian classical dancer, choreographer, and educator specializing in Bharatanatyam. Based in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, she served as director of the Kalakshetra Foundation from 2013 to 2017 and has performed and taught Bharatanatyam in India and internationally.[1][2]

Early life and training

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Priyadarsini Govind was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She began learning Bharatanatyam at age six and performed her arangetram (debut) at nine.[3][4] She trained under Kalanidhi Narayanan, focusing on abhinaya , and Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam of the Vazhuvoor school for Nritya .[2][5] Govind holds a commerce degree from the University of Madras and a diploma in mass communication.[2]

Career

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Govind has performed Bharatanatyam at festivals and venues in India, the United States, Singapore, and Europe.[1][6] Her performances are noted for precision in Nritya and nuanced abhinaya , often exploring themes like devotion and human emotions through pieces such as “Krishna Nee Begane Baaro” and Kshetrayya padams.[7][8][9] In the United States, she performed at the Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance in New York in 2012, presenting a Kshetrayya padam and a thillana at Battery Dance Company’s theater.[10] In 2008, she presented Navaroz with Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago.[11] She performed solo in Washington, D.C., in 2005, depicting various nayika (heroine) emotions, and collaborated with vocalist T. M. Krishna there in 2012.[12][13] She has choreographed works in the Vazhuvoor style, incorporating rhythmic variations while preserving traditional forms.[9][14] In 2013, Govind was appointed director of the Kalakshetra Foundation, the first non-alumnus or non-faculty member to hold the position.[2][15] During her tenure until 2017, she oversaw arts education, expanded outreach, and documented Kalakshetra’s costume and production traditions.[16][17][4] She also initiated programs to introduce classical arts in local schools.[17]

Govind has taught Bharatanatyam through workshops and lecture-demonstrations, including SPIC MACAY events in Madurai and Kodaikanal.[18][19] She has emphasized inclusivity in arts education, advocating for its accessibility to diverse audiences.[20] In 2022, she collaborated with director Sruti Harihara Subramanian on Yavanika - The Screen of Illusion, a dance film exploring self and illusion, adapted for digital audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.[21] Govind has explored historical themes, such as the contributions of devadasis to Bharatanatyam, highlighting their artistic legacy.[22] She has discussed the role of art in fostering emotional resilience, drawing from her own experiences.[23][24]

Awards and recognition

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Govind has received several awards for her contributions to Bharatanatyam, including:

  • Nritya Choodamani from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (2015).[1]
  • Excellence Award from the Rotary Club of Chennai (2018).[26]

Her work has been recognized for its technical skill and emotional depth.[27]

Personal life

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Govind was married to Muktha Govind, a film producer, until his death in 2016.[28] She has emphasized resilience in her career, focusing on her art despite personal challenges.[23][29]

Selected works

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  • Yavanika - The Screen of Illusion (2022), a dance film with Sruti Harihara Subramanian.[21]
  • Performances of traditional pieces like “Krishna Nee Begane Baaro” and Kshetrayya padams, exploring varied nayika emotions.[8]
  • Choreography for Kalakshetra productions, preserving Rukmini Devi Arundale’s vision.[17]


References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Priyadarsini Govind" (PDF). Sangeet Natak Akademi. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Priyadarsini Govind is new director of Kalakshetra". The Hindu. 10 July 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  3. ^ "The dance of life". India Today. 29 November 1999. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  4. ^ a b "Dance of her heart". The Hindu. 11 January 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  5. ^ "Priyadarsini Govind". Sruti. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  6. ^ "When art and artiste meet". The Hindu. 27 January 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  7. ^ "Quietude enhances Priyadarsini Govind's performance". The Hindu. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  8. ^ a b "Emotive portrayal". The Hindu. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  9. ^ a b "Fit to form - Priyadarsini Govind". The Hindu. 11 February 2011. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  10. ^ "Erasing Borders Festival With Priyadarsini Govind". The New York Times. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  11. ^ "Natya Dance Theater and Priyadarsini Govind". The New York Times. 2 November 2008. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  12. ^ "Priyadarsini Govind: From One, Many". The Washington Post. 12 April 2005. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  13. ^ "Performance Review: T.M. Krishna and Priyadarsini Govind". The Washington Post. 24 September 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  14. ^ "Priyadarsini Govind aces the exquisite art of abhinaya". DT Next. 31 October 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  15. ^ a b "Priyadarsini Govind appointed director of Kalakshetra". The Times of India. 11 July 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  16. ^ "The costume quotient". The Hindu. 22 January 2015. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  17. ^ a b c "Kalakshetra celebrates its 80th year". The Hindu. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  18. ^ "Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind on SPICMACAY tour in Madurai". The Hindu. 21 February 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  19. ^ "Priyadarsini is making classical dance accessible to everyone". The Hindu. 8 March 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  20. ^ "Priyadarsini Govind on the value of art, inclusivity and the UNESCO honour". The Hindu. 24 November 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  21. ^ a b "Priyadarsini Govind on the making of 'Yavanika'". The Hindu. 15 September 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  22. ^ "Relevance of a devadasi's work". The Hindu. 21 February 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  23. ^ a b "I am capable of blocking out things that are not pleasant". The Hindu. 15 April 2017. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  24. ^ "Art must go". Deccan Herald. 7 October 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  25. ^ "Ilayaraja, Rajshekhar, Mansur get Akademi". Deccan Herald. 24 February 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  26. ^ "Excellence award for Priyadarsini Govind". The Hindu. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  27. ^ "Resounding steps". Deccan Herald. 28 March 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  28. ^ "Film producer passes away". The Hindu. 21 May 2016. Retrieved 14 April 2025.
  29. ^ "Inner strength". The Hindu. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 14 April 2025.


Category:People from Chennai Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

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