Mahati Kannan

🪔 About

Mahati Kannan is a Bharatanatyam dancer, specifically practicing Bharathanrityam, a style propagated by her grand-aunt, the renowned exponent Padma Subrahmanyam. Born into a family deeply rooted in Indian classical arts, Mahati is the granddaughter of Uma Sriram, who is a senior disciple of Padma Subrahmanyam. Her mother is Dr. Gayathri Kannan. Mahati Kannan received her training directly from Padma Subrahmanyam, and also from her mother and grandmother, embodying a life of Gurukulavasam, where she is constantly immersed in artistic conversations and learning. She is recognized for her mastery over technique and dexterity in execution, with her performances reflecting the choreographic vision of Padma Subrahmanyam, integrating karana vocabulary with structured adavu patterns. Her career as a performing artist includes appearances at significant cultural events such as the Music Academy Virtual Dance Festival in 2022 and Krishna Gana Sabha's Pongal Dance Festival in 2026. She is also scheduled to perform at the NCPA in September 2024. Mahati has performed widely both in India and internationally, and she conducts workshops for various institutions. Beyond her performance career, Mahati Kannan holds a master's degree in art history from the National Museum Institute, New Delhi, which she actively applies to her understanding and presentation of dance. She is also involved in scholarly research and is an invited speaker at conferences, providing insights into the work and research of her gurus. In recognition of her artistic contributions, Mahati Kannan was honored with the "NADANAMAMANI" award by Kartik Fine Arts in Chennai on December 1, 2024. Earlier in her academic life, in 2011, she received the Science Olympiad Foundation's Scholarship for English and a bronze medal in the Royal Commonwealth essay competition. She is based in Chennai, India. Awards & Honours: NADANAMAMANI (2024), Science Olympiad Foundation's Scholarship for English (2011), Royal Commonwealth essay competition (bronze medal) (2011).