Priya Murle

🪔 About

Smt. Priya Murle is a highly respected Bharatanatyam exponent, teacher, and choreographer with over four decades of experience in the field. A senior disciple of the esteemed Professor Sudharani Raghupathy, Murle received intense training and has carved a special niche in Bharatanatyam, representing the Thanjavur tradition. Her artistic journey began at the tender age of five at Shree Bharatalaya. Beyond dance, she is also a trained Carnatic musician, having studied under the doyen Padmabhushan Vidwan Sri Madurai N. Krishnan, and has learned Sanskrit from Pandit Thangaswami Sharma. Academically, Priya Murle holds an M.Phil in Philosophy, with her research focusing on Indian Aesthetics and Rasa Theory, which enriches her multi-dimensional approach to dance. She has traveled extensively across the globe, conducting performances, lecture demonstrations, and workshops. Her career includes serving as faculty for Bharatanatyam at institutions like Colgate University in Hamilton, NY, and Women's Christian College, where she trained exchange students. She has also conducted the Ranga Pravesham of a US diplomat in Chennai. Priya Murle is the Artistic Director of Shri Silambam Academy of Fine Arts in Chennai, where she inspires and motivates students in the Thanjavur tradition of Bharatanatyam. She is also a guest faculty at Silambam, Houston, and a guiding figure and mentor there. She has choreographed numerous thematic and group programs. Furthermore, she is actively involved in the dance community, having served as Convenor for the Natyadarshan conference by Kartik Fine Arts for two years (2018 and 2019). Along with Shreya Nagarajan Singh, she co-founded the Parivartan Research Initiative in 2021, which offers short-term grants for research scholars. She is also the President of the Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India (ABHAI). Awards & Honours: Yuva Kala Bharathi, Nadanamamani, Vani Kala Nipuna, Bharatakala Bhushana, Rukmini Devi Arudale Award from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Kalaimamani Title (2019), Kalaimamani Title (2017), Award of Excellence for Bharatanatyam from Padma Vishbushan awardee Dr. Umayalpuram Sri. K. Sivaraman (2024), Seva Kala Bharati from Bharat Kalachar Chennai (2024), Natana Rasamamani from Rasa- Arpita and Madras South Lions Charitable Trust (2024), Senior Scholarship for Dance from the Department of Culture of the Government of India.