Geeta Chandran

🪔 About

Geeta Chandran is a highly acclaimed Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, vocalist, and cultural figure, born on January 14, 1962, in Cochin, Kerala, India. She spent her formative years in Delhi, where her journey in dance began at the tender age of five under the tutelage of Smt. Swarna Saraswathy, who belonged to the traditional Thanjavoor dasi parampara. Chandran further honed her skills under a galaxy of eminent gurus, including Smt. Jamuna Krishnan, Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan, and Shri K.N. Dakshinamurthi Pillai, specializing in Bharatanatyam Abhinaya. Beyond her dance prowess, Geeta Chandran is also a trained and accomplished Carnatic vocalist. She pursued a strong academic path, graduating in mathematical statistics from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi, and completing her Master's in Public Relations and Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC) in 1984. Her career spans over five decades, during which she has been recognized for her extensive work in theatre, dance, education, videos, and films. Chandran is celebrated for her unique vision that integrates traditional Bharatanatyam with contemporary realities, using dance as a powerful medium for social communication and addressing issues such as environmental concerns, gender equality, and peace. She is the Founder-President of Natya Vriksha, her dance academy in New Delhi, established in 1991, where she fosters art education and mentors young artists with a holistic pedagogy. She has authored the book 'So Many Journeys,' a collection of her writings on her engagement with Bharatanatyam. Awards & Honours: Natya Ratna (1974), Dandayudhapani Pillai Award for Bharatanatyam (2001), Millennium Award, Top grade status by Doordarshan (2004), Outstanding artist status by ICCR (2005), Padma Shri (2007), Lifetime achievement award by World Congress of Women (2009), Sangeet Natak Akademi Puruskar for Bharatanatyam (2016), Tagore National Fellow (2017), Tagore National Fellow (2018), Lady Shri Ram College Illustrious Alumna Award, Bharat Nirman Award, Natya Ilavarasi, Indira Priyadarshini Award, Media India Award.