Jayshree Bala Rajamani

🪔 About

Jayshree Bala Rajamani is a leading practitioner and teacher of Bharatanatyam, an ancient Indian classical dance form. She was initiated into this art by her mother, Jaya Balasubramanian, and further trained under the eminent Guru K.J. Govindarajan, a proponent of the Thanjavur style of Bharatanatyam. She specialized in Abhinaya (expressive dance) with Guru Jamuna Krishnan. In 1987, Rajamani founded the Bharathakalai School of Dance in New Delhi, India, and later relocated it to Massachusetts, USA, in 1995. The school celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2012, an occasion for which the Massachusetts House of Representatives honored her with a special citation for her outstanding service to the community. Beyond her teaching commitments, Rajamani actively performs and conducts Lec-Dems (lecture-demonstrations) on Bharatanatyam at various schools, universities, and museums. She is known for her collaborative work with non-traditional musicians and dancers, including the world-jazz ensemble Natraj, tap dancer Ryan Casey, and Colonial Dancers from Lexington, showcasing the versatility of the dance form. In 2015, she established the TriNethra: The Third Eye Festival of Dance, an initiative aimed at celebrating and promoting dance and dancers in the Greater Boston Area and internationally. Rajamani holds a Master's degree in Mass Communications from the Mass Communication Research Center, New Delhi, and also works as an independent documentary filmmaker. She undertook a successful performance tour of India in 2019, receiving rave reviews. She has dedicated nearly four decades to making Bharatanatyam accessible and emphasizing its spiritual essence. Awards & Honours: Sahitya Kala Parishad Award (1992), Best Dance School in New England (2011), Special Citation from Massachusetts House of Representatives (2012), Woman of the Year Finalist (2013), Visibility Banner (2021), Special Felicitation (2025), Best Feature Documentary (for "Sree - Dancing Through The Seasons") (2025).