Sri Ganesan

🪔 About

Sri Ganesan, a highly respected Malaysian Bharatanatyam guru and exponent, dedicated his life to the Indian classical dance form. He received his foundational training in Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Guru K.J. Sarasa of Saraslaya in Madras between 1979 and 1987. He specialized in the Vazhuvoor style of Bharatanatyam, emerging as one of its finest artistes. In 1987, Sri Ganesan founded 'Sri Ganesalaya' in Kuala Lumpur, an institution that became instrumental in propagating Indian classical dance. Through his academy, he trained thousands of artistes, with reports indicating over 3,000 students. He was also a prolific choreographer and producer, staging hundreds of shows, including more than 350 productions and several dance dramas like the Ramayana, across various countries such as India, Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, and Indonesia. His contributions extended to representing Malaysia at international platforms, notably leading his troupe of 20 dancers at the International Ramayana Dance Festival in Bangkok, Thailand, in 1991. Beyond his academy, Sri Ganesan played a significant role in the dance community as the president of the Malaysia Bharatanatyam Dance Association. He was recognized with numerous international awards, a gold medal at the All-India dance competition, and was an A-grade dancer of Doordarshan. Sri Ganesan passed away on June 9, 2023, at the age of 63, after collapsing while lighting a lamp before a performance at the Devadasi Dance festival in Bhubaneswar, Odisha, India. His death was attributed to a sudden cardiac arrest. He was scheduled to receive an award from a local cultural group at the festival. His passing marked a significant loss to the world of Indian classical dance. Awards & Honours: Numerous international awards, Gold medallist of the All-India dance competition, A-grade dancer.