Dr Chandrabhanu

🪔 About

Dr. Chandrabhanu OAM is a highly renowned Indian classical dance figure, celebrated for his profound contributions to Bharatanatyam and Odissi as a dancer, choreographer, and visionary guru. Born in 1950 in Kangar, Perlis, Malaysia, he relocated to Australia in 1971 and subsequently earned a Doctor of Philosophy in Social Anthropology from Monash University in 1981. His extensive formal dance training includes Bharatanatyam under the esteemed Guru Adyar K. Lakshmanan and Odissi under Guru Vijayakumar Senapati of Puri, Odisha. In 1973, Dr. Chandrabhanu established the Chandrabhanu Bharatalaya Academy in Melbourne, Australia, which has since grown to become the city's oldest and most respected Indian classical dance instruction centre. His illustrious career as a professional dance artist spans over 50 years of creative and pioneering work, during which he has choreographed and produced over 40 full-length new works and original productions across Bharatanatyam, Odissi, and cross-cultural contemporary genres. Known affectionately as "Mamu" to his hundreds of dance disciples, Dr. Chandrabhanu has guided 125 students through their Bharatanatyam and Odissi arangetrams (solo debut recitals). In 1986, he founded the Bharatam Dance Company, which was Australia's first state and federally funded Indian classical arts company, operating for 15 years until 2000. This company was instrumental in developing dance in Australia from a multicultural perspective and creating professional career pathways for artists from non-English speaking backgrounds. He also initiated a Dance-in-Education outreach-touring program in 1984, reaching thousands of schools and communities throughout Australia. Dr. Chandrabhanu's artistic journey was significantly influenced by his late husband, Geoffrey Goldie (1921-2007), who played an integral role in the production of many performances. Beyond his dance career, he is also an anthropologist, intellectual, and cultural activist, seamlessly integrating these diverse interests into his choreographic works. He has performed to high acclaim in numerous countries, including India, Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, the USA, Great Britain, and the Netherlands. For his outstanding services to Indian Classical Dance and the promotion of Multicultural Arts, Dr. Chandrabhanu was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in 2006. Awards & Honours: Order of Australia Medal (2006).