Jayanthi Sivakumar

🪔 About

Jayanthi Sivakumar is an accomplished Indian classical dance artist and educator, specializing in Bharatanatyam, who has significantly contributed to the dance landscape in Manchester, UK. Born and brought up in Chennai, India, her foundational training in Bharatanatyam began in childhood under the esteemed guidance of the Late Guru Uma Sundaram, a distinguished alumna of Kalakshetra, Chennai. Following the completion of her Master's degree in medical microbiology in 1992, Jayanthi transitioned into a vibrant career as a freelance performing artist. During this period, she graced stages both in India and abroad, collaborating with many eminent professional dance artists and companies. Her dedication to education expanded in 2003 when she earned her Post Graduate Certificate in Education (PGCE), enabling her to teach science in secondary schools while simultaneously nurturing her professional dance career. For over 15 years, Jayanthi Sivakumar has been a pivotal figure in teaching Indian Classical Dance – Bharatanatyam in Manchester. As a holistic teacher, she extends her curriculum beyond Bharatanatyam to include Indian folk dances, aiming to ensure that her students develop a comprehensive awareness of their rich Indian cultural identity within Manchester's multicultural community. She is an active member of the Imperial Society for Teachers of Dance (ISTD) for Classical Indian Dance – Bharatanatyam, diligently preparing her students for ISTD grade examinations each year. Further underscoring her pedagogical expertise, Jayanthi holds professional qualifications in "Safe Dance Practice" and a Diploma in Dance Pedagogy (DDP) from ISTD, and is also a member of People Dancing – the Foundation of Community Dance. A testament to her influence on a national scale, Jayanthi served as a Lead Artist for the prestigious Yuva-Gati CAT program under DanceXchange in Birmingham for five years, concluding in 2019. In this capacity, she was instrumental in training talented young dancers from across the United Kingdom, fostering their artistic growth and technical proficiency in classical Indian dance.