Santosh Nair

🪔 About

Santosh Nair is a distinguished Indian classical and contemporary dancer, choreographer, and the founder of Sadhya – A Unit of Performing Arts. His artistic journey began in 1986, learning Kathakali under his father, Kalamandalam Padmanabhan. He further honed his Kathakali skills at the International Centre for Kathakali under the tutelage of Sadanam Balakrishnan. In 1988, Nair made his stage debut as Krishna in the invocatory Purappad at the Ayyappa temple in Delhi's R.K. Puram. Driven by a desire to explore diverse dance forms, he trained in Modern dance for five years with Narendra Sharma of Bhoomika Creative Dance Centre, joining Sharma's dance group in 1990. From 1995 to 2000, he immersed himself in Mayurbhanj Chhau under Guru Janmey Joy Sai Babu, a traditional martial dance form that significantly influenced his unique style. In 1998, Santosh Nair established Sadhya – A Unit of Performing Arts in New Delhi, with a vision to bridge traditional and contemporary dance forms. Under his artistic direction, Sadhya has become a leading contemporary Indian dance company, known for its innovative choreographies that seamlessly integrate classical Indian dance vocabulary with modern expressions. His acclaimed productions include 'The Game of Dice' (premiered 2004) and 'The Mystical Forest' (created 2014). Nair has choreographed significant national events, including the inaugural performance at Bharat Mandapam International Convention Centre and the Republic Day Parade. He has also represented India on international stages, collaborating with global artists and performing in numerous countries. Awards & Honours: PHD Art & Culture Samman, Atal Bihari Vajpayee Lifetime Achievement Award, Guru Samman Award.