A. Lakshamanaswamy

🪔 About

A. Lakshmanaswamy, a renowned Bharatanatyam dancer and guru, was born in Malaysia in 1963. His initial training in Bharatanatyam began under Guru Veera Venugopal of Bharata Kalanjali, Malaysia. At the age of 21, in 1985, he relocated to Chennai, India, to further his dance education and career. There, he became a prominent disciple of the esteemed Guru K.J. Sarasa, studying with her for eleven years and specializing in the Vazhoovoor bani. Lakshmanaswamy also honed his skills in abhinaya (expression) under the tutelage of Kalanidhi Narayanan and received training from other stalwarts such as Professor Smt. Sudharani Raghupathy and Professor C.V. Chandrashekar. He also studied Carnatic music under Sarojini Sundaresan. Lakshmanaswamy embarked on a successful career as a solo performer, gracing stages at leading sabhas in Chennai and participating in numerous national dance festivals across India. He has also performed and conducted workshops internationally, traveling extensively to countries including France, USA, Malaysia, Singapore, UK, and Japan. In 1994, he founded his own dance institution, Nrithyalakshana, in Chennai, where he imparts training in Bharatanatyam in its authentic form. He is recognized as an empanelled "A" grade artist by both the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) and Doordarshan. Beyond solo performances, Lakshmanaswamy has played significant roles in various dance dramas, including "Kundrakudi Kuravanji" and "Shakuntalam" with Sarasalaya, and portraying Lord Krishna in "Krishnam Vande Jagat Gurum." As a dedicated guru, Lakshmanaswamy has nurtured many students who have gone on to become accomplished performers. His teaching legacy extends globally, with his first international student, Saiko Yamamoto, establishing and heading the Japan unit of Nrithyalakshana. Other documented students include Kiran Rajagopal, Srijith Vaidhya (also known as Sujit Vaidya), Radica Giri, and Priya Venkataraman, the Artistic Director of Nrityadiksha. His contributions to Bharatanatyam have been recognized with numerous accolades, solidifying his position as a respected figure in Indian classical dance. Awards & Honours: Best Dancer, Dharamavarapu Sitarama Anjaneyulu Prize, Rohini Krishnan Award, Sri Narasimhachari and Smt. Vasanthalakshmi prize, Best Guru Award from The Madras Music Academy (2006), Best Guru Award from The Madras Music Academy (2016), Natanamamani, Bharata Kala Ratna, Yuva Kala Bharati, Swayam Prakasa Narthaka, Acharya Choodamani (2014), Nartaka Award (2015), Madurai N Krishnan Memorial Award, Vidhya Tapasvi (2019).