Smt. Yalini P. Balendren

🪔 About

Smt. Yalini P. Balendren is a distinguished Bharatanatyam guru and the founder of Nithya Sathangai Narthanaalaya Art College, with a significant presence in Norway and a history rooted in Denmark. Her early training in Bharatanatyam began under the tutelage of Leela Narayanan at Yarl Sathangai Narthanalaya. She further honed her skills with Mala Sathyamurthy, becoming the first student to perform an Arangetram in Denmark under her guidance. In 1996, Smt. Balendren was honored with the "Best Artist Award" by Eelath Thamizhar Kalaiyarangathinar. Her pursuit of classical dance continued in India in 1998, where she specialized in various forms including Nattuvangam, Kuchipudi, Mohiniyattam, and Bommai Nadanam. During this period, she performed a special program at the Naratha Gana Saba in Chennai and was bestowed with the title "Nithya Bharathajothi" in the presence of Veena Vidwan Pichumani Iyer. In 2001, she received a Bharatanatyam teaching certificate from the renowned exponent Padmashri Chitra Visweswaran. Academically, Smt. Balendren earned a B.F.A. degree in Bharathanatyam from Bharathidasan University in Thiruchirappalli, India, studying from 2006 to 2009. She then completed her M.F.A. degree in Bharathanatyam from the same university in 2011. Following her master's degree, she was awarded the title "Bharatha Kalaimani" by R. Uma Maheswari. Smt. Yalini P. Balendren established "Narthanalayaa" in 1997 in Denmark, dedicating herself to the propagation of classical arts. Later, in 2016, she founded the Nithya Sathangai Narthanaalaya Art College (NSN Art) in Norway, which serves as her primary base in Oslo. The institution aims to introduce Bharatanatyam to diverse cultures and has nurtured numerous students over its 23 years of operation. Awards & Honours: Best Artist Award (1996), Nithya Bharathajothi (1998), Bharatha Kalaimani.