Jayanthi Rajagopal

🪔 About

Jayanthi Ramachandra, born Jayanthi Rajagopal, is a renowned Bharatanatyam exponent and guru from Coimbatore, India. She embarked on her dance journey at the tender age of three, performing for the first time at five. Her initial training was under teachers such as Palaniappan, Palaniswamy, and Jaishankar. She also received training under Balasaraswathi in Madras (now Chennai). A significant period of her tutelage was under the legendary Vazhuvoor Ramaiyah Pillai and extensively under his son Vazhuvoor Samraj, where she mastered the distinct Vazhuvoor bani (style). Her arangetram, a debut performance, took place in 1971 at the age of eleven in Coimbatore, graced by the esteemed musician M. L. Vasanthakumari as the Chief Guest. Her parents, G. K. Rajagopal and Mani Rajagopal, were instrumental in supporting her passion, with her father often providing vocal accompaniment for her performances. In 1986, she married Lakshmi Ramachandra. A notable moment in her life was M. S. Subbulakshmi's attendance at her wedding, where the legendary vocalist encouraged her to continue her dance pursuits. In 2002, Jayanthi Ramachandra founded the Shree Charan Academy of Fine Arts (SCAFA) in Coimbatore, an institution recognized for its commitment to Bharatanatyam. Through SCAFA, she has trained hundreds of students, with a stated aim to revive the traditional guru-shishya parampara. She has performed extensively both within India and internationally, including a performance in Singapore at the age of 19. Awards & Honours: Kalaimamani (2016).