Sivaselvi Sarkar

🪔 About

Sivaselvi Sarkar is a distinguished Indian classical dancer and teacher specializing in Bharatanatyam, particularly the Pandanallur style. Her journey in dance began at the age of five in Pondicherry, India, where she received extensive training from an array of legendary gurus. Her teachers included Kumbakonam Sri Shanmugasundaram Pillai, Srimati Balasaraswati, Sri Guru Nadan (a disciple of Sri Gopinath), Srimati Anusuya Purani (a disciple of Uday Shankar), Srimati M.K. Saroja, Sri U.S. Krishna Rao, and Srimati Chandrabhaga Devi. After her initial training, she served as a teacher of mathematics, Indian dance, and physical education at the Sri Aurobindo Ashram. In 1968, Sivaselvi Sarkar moved to Paris, France, with her husband, Ajit Sarkar. There, she became involved with INSEP in pedagogical research and training. Together, they founded and directed the "Soleil d'Or" cultural center in Paris for three decades, offering comprehensive courses, training, and events in yoga, Bharatanatyam, Indian classical singing, and Ayurvedic massage. In 2008, Sivaselvi Sarkar and her husband co-founded the Vellai Thamarai association, an organization near Pondicherry dedicated to providing free education to underprivileged children from local fishing villages and supporting their families. She is recognized for her benevolent yet rigorous and precise teaching methodology, which emphasizes cultural, spiritual, and mythological aspects of India, alongside yoga and dance.