Kumar P.M

🪔 About

P. Praveen Kumar, born on January 25, 1971, is a distinguished Indian Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, nattuvanar, and teacher. Hailing from a family with artistic inclinations, he developed an early passion for dance. His foundational training in Bharatanatyam was under the tutelage of the late Smt. Narmada, and he further honed his artistry under the renowned Prof. C.V. Chandrasekhar, with whom he continues to learn. Kumar holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and received a scholarship from the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, to pursue his dance training, allowing him to delve deeply into the aesthetic nuances, nritta (pure dance), and abhinaya (expressive storytelling) of the form. Throughout his career, Praveen Kumar has been recognized as an 'A' graded artist on Doordarshan since 2002 and is an empanelled artist with the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR), representing Indian classical dance globally. He has performed extensively at prestigious festivals across India and internationally, including in the USA, UK, Italy, Canada, Turkmenistan, Romania, and Australia. As a choreographer, he has created several critically acclaimed productions such as 'Rtu Vismruthi,' 'Vani,' 'Shiva Sutra Jaala,' 'Sakha,' and 'Pandharpur,' exploring diverse themes from climate change to mythology. Praveen Kumar is the founder and director of the Chithkala School of Dance in Bengaluru, where he imparts a balanced approach to Bharatanatyam, preserving its traditional essence while encouraging students to cultivate their unique artistic styles. His teaching philosophy emphasizes a two-sided learning process, nurturing individual dancers who have gone on to achieve recognition and scholarships. Awards & Honours: Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar (2010), Best Dancer of the Dance Festival by the Madras Music Academy (2019), Mohan Khokar Award (2010), Karnataka Kalasri (2021), Obul Reddy Endowment Senior Dancer Award from Natyarangam, Chennai (2016), Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prathibha Puraskar from Srjan, Bhubaneswar (2016).