Father Saju George's Kalahrdaya

🪔 About

Father Saju George, a Jesuit priest and a distinguished figure in Indian classical dance, is renowned for his profound contributions as a Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, and teacher. Born into a Syrian Catholic family in Santhipuram, Kottayam District, Kerala, his childhood interest in Indian classical dance blossomed into a lifelong vocation. He pursued extensive training in multiple classical forms, notably Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. For Kuchipudi, he studied under Kalapeetham guru Derric Munro in Kolkata and later under the legendary Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam in Chennai. His Bharatanatyam training included the Kalakshetra style under Guru K. Rajkumar in Chennai, and further tutelage from eminent gurus such as Leela Samson, Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, Kalanidhi Narayanan, Priyadarsini Govind, and Khagendranath Barman. Beyond these, he also explored Kathakali, Koodiyattam, Kathak, Manipuri, Ballet, Modern dance, Carnatic music, and martial arts like Kalaripayattu. Father George earned a two-year Certificate in Bharatanatyam, a Master's in Dance from Rabindra Bharati University, Kolkata, and a PhD in the philosophy and religion of Indian classical dance from the University of Madras in 2005. His doctoral research focused on the religious and philosophical foundations of Indian classical dance, particularly the Saiva tradition. In 1996, he had his Bharatanatyam Arangetram in Kolkata, a pivotal moment in his career. Since then, he has performed over 2000 times in 35 countries, using dance as a medium for spiritual integration and social transformation, often blending Hindu and Christian themes. In 2001, Father George founded Kalahrdaya (The Universal Home of Art and Culture), a center in Bakeswar, Nepalganj, Kolkata, dedicated to training underprivileged children and youth in various arts. He also directs Shanti Nir and The Art Peace Foundation, supporting humanitarian projects. He has served as a PhD Supervisor in dance at the Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts in Trichy since 2006. His contributions have been recognized with awards like Arul Isai Mani and Arul Isai Tilakam in Carnatic Music. Awards & Honours: Arul Isai Mani, Arul Isai Tilakam.