Gayathri Vijay

🪔 About

Gayathri Vijayalakshmi is an Indian classical dancer specializing in Bharatanatyam, known for her inspiring return to the art form later in life. Born in Nangiarkulangara near Haripad, she began her dance journey at the age of nine, formally commencing Bharatanatyam training at fourteen. Her initial guru was the veteran P.G. Janardhanan master in Kollam, where she continued her lessons even while pursuing an engineering degree at TKM College of Engineering (TKMCE), where she later became a professor and head of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department. Following her marriage, Gayathri Vijayalakshmi relocated to Thiruvananthapuram and became a student of Guru V. Mydhili at the Midhilalaya Dance Academy. Her dance career experienced a significant hiatus of 26 years after the birth of her first child. At the age of 52, she rekindled her passion for Bharatanatyam, resuming her training with Guru V. Mydhili. Since her return to dance, Gayathri Vijayalakshmi has actively performed, completing over 35 stage performances in the five years leading up to May 2019. In May 2019, at the age of 57, she presented a solo Bharatanatyam recital at Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram, which she considered akin to an arangetram, as it was her first solo performance showcasing the traditional format of Bharatanatyam, including varnam, padam, keerthanam, and thillana. By January 2023, at 60 years old, she marked her 100th stage performance with a Bharatanatyam recital at the Sabarimala Sannidhanam Sri Shasta Auditorium. Beyond her dance, Gayathri Vijayalakshmi also had a career in media, serving as an announcer for Doordarshan Malayalam broadcasting and acting in a Malayalam play telecast by the national broadcaster. Her dedication to dance, despite a long break and a demanding professional career, serves as an inspiration.