Guru Sheela Chandrashekhar

🪔 About

Guru Sheela Chandrashekhar is a distinguished Bharatanatyam exponent, performer, and educator based in Bangalore, India. She began her dance journey at the age of six, receiving initial training from Smt. Krishnaveni of Mysore for about two to two and a half years. She then moved to Bangalore at the age of nine and continued her training under Guru Late Sri V.S. Koushik of Sanatana Kalakshetra for three years. Her advanced training in Bharatanatyam was primarily under Guru B. Bhanumathi, with whom she has been associated for over 35 years. Additionally, she has enriched her artistry through workshops with stalwarts such as Padmabhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan and Srimathi Bragha Bessel for Abhinaya, and Smt. Kamala Rani and Sri N. Narayanaswamy for Nattuvangam. Academically, Sheela Chandrashekhar holds a Master's degree in dance (Bharatanatyam) from Bangalore University, where she secured the first rank and a Gold Medal. She currently serves as a visiting faculty member in the Department of Dance for the Post Graduation course at Jain University. As a performer, she has graced the stage over seven hundred times, both as a solo artist and as a member of 'Bharatanjali', the group dance feature of Nrithyakalamandiram. Her performances have been featured in major national and international dance festivals and numerous Doordarshan productions. She is also part of 'Aadya', a performing troupe formed by senior disciples of Guru B. Bhanumathi, focusing on the subtler and spiritual aspects of Bharatanatyam. She has undertaken several tours to the UK and USA for performances, cultural exchange programs, and workshops. She has also served as a judge on Sri Sankara TV's Bharatanatyam reality show "Natyaratna". Guru Sheela Chandrashekhar is the Director of Bhanumati Nrityakala Mandiram, where she imparts Bharatanatyam training to hundreds of students, continuing a significant teaching legacy. Her contributions to the art form have been recognized with several accolades, including the "Singarmani" title from Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai, and the "Karnataka Kalashree" title from the State Sangeetha Nritya Academy. She is also a recipient of the Rajyotsava award, Chanakya Kautila award, and Aryabhata award. Awards & Honours: Gold Medal, Singarmani, Karnataka Kalashree, Rajyotsava award, Chanakya Kautila award, Aryabhata award.