Aparna B. Marar

🪔 About

Aparna B. Marar is a distinguished Indian classical dancer, choreographer, art educator, singer, and engineer, born in Guruvayoor, Kerala, India. She specializes in Mohiniyattam, Kuchipudi, and Bharatanatyam. Marar holds a postgraduate degree in wireless communication engineering from PSG College of Technology and further pursued a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Bharatanatyam from SASTRA University, Thanjavur. Her extensive artistic training includes Mohiniyattam under the tutelage of Guru Kalamandalam Kshemavathy, and Carnatic music under Isaimani R. Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar. She also received early training in Bharatanatyam from Guruvayoor Murali, Mohiniyattam from Kalamandalam Rema, Kuchipudi from RLV Anand, and Kathakali from Kalamandalam Balasubramannian. Based in Thrissur, Kerala, Marar is an empanelled proficient artist of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) since 2009 and a graded artist of Doordarshan. She is the founder-director of the Kalabharathi Foundation for Indian Culture and Heritage, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting Indian classical arts through festivals, workshops, and publications, while also nurturing emerging talents. Her commitment to the arts extends to global platforms; she is a member of the International Dance Council – UNESCO since 2011 and an Associate Member of the American Dance Therapy Association since 2014. Marar is also a resource person and researcher at the National Institute on Developmental Delays (NIDD) in the USA, where she utilizes Indian classical dance techniques for movement exploration activities with children having developmental delays. Beyond her artistic endeavors, she is an entrepreneur, co-founding and serving as CEO of Bigsoft Technologies, a technology consultancy firm established in 2014. She travels extensively worldwide for performances, lectures, and workshops, contributing significantly to the propagation of Indian classical arts and dance therapy. Awards & Honours: Yuva Prathibha Award by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi (Mohiniyattam) (2010), Kalathilakam Award by Calicut University (2009), Kalathilakam Award by Calicut University (2010), National Scholarship by Ministry of Culture, Government of India (Mohiniyattam) (2009), Winner in Classical Dance at Inter-university National Youth Festival (Thirupathy) (2010), Kalathilakam title at All Kerala CBSE State Youth Festival (2002), Kalathilakam title at All Kerala CBSE State Youth Festival (2006), Kalathilakam title at TECHNOFEST (2009), Best Dancer award from IES College of Engineering, 'Thouryathrikam' (2009), Kalaratnam Puraskar by Nalanda Nritta Sangeetha Vidyalaya (2011), Merit Award from CBSE, Delhi (National topper in regional language in Class 10 board exams) (2005), Gold Medal from IES College of Engineering (for excellence in multiple fields during graduation).