Shyamala Surendran

🪔 About

Shyamala Surendran is a prominent Indian classical dancer and guru, specializing in Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam. She founded the Dharani School of Performing Arts in Kochi, Kerala, in 1987, with the aim of providing authentic training in classical arts, including Bharatanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Carnatic music, Veena, Kathakali, and Mridangam. Surendran began her formal dance training relatively late in life, at the age of 34, after fulfilling her household obligations. Her early encouragement came from Chemencherry Kunhiraman Nair during her school days in Kannur, and she learned Bharatanatyam from Sri. C.E. Janardhanan in Kochi, even winning a gold medal in college. Her serious training commenced in 1982 under a disciple of the renowned Dhananjayan couple. She further honed her skills under the world-renowned dancing couple Sri. V.P. Dhananjayan and Smt. Shanta Dhananjayan in Chennai starting in 1985. Her expertise in Abhinaya was perfected under the tutelage of Padma Bhushan Kalanidhi Narayanan, with whom she also resided as a paying guest. She began learning Mohiniyattam in October 1986, also listing Kalamandalam Kalyanikutty Amma as a guru for this form. Her Arangetram (debut performance) took place in 1984 at the Guruvayoor Srikrishna temple. Surendran started teaching Bharatanatyam in 1987 and Mohiniyattam in 1989/1994. Under her leadership, Dharani School of Performing Arts has grown to nearly 200-250 students. In December 1999, she established the Society Dharani to host performances and lecture demonstrations by eminent artists in Kochi. She has choreographed several productions, including 'Thatwamasi,' 'Sthree Shakti,' 'Vanamalee,' and 'Dances of Kerala.' In 2016, the Sathi Kamala Hall, a mini-theater and classroom, was inaugurated at Dharani, named in memory of her mother and a friend. Shyamala Surendran has performed and taught internationally in countries such as Germany, Hungary, Russia, USA, Austria, and Canada. She is also known for providing free dance lessons to underprivileged children. Awards & Honours: Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award (2005), Sri Ramakrishna Seva Puraskaram (2012), Vocational Excellence Award, Nruthya Kala Ratna award (2017), Kalasagar Award (2017), Future Kerala Educational Excellence Awards (2019).