Veena Murthy Vijay

🪔 About

Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay is a distinguished Indian classical danseuse, guru, and choreographer, renowned for her mastery in Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, she has performed extensively across India and internationally, conducting numerous workshops and lecture-demonstrations at various universities abroad. She is a strong proponent of the guru-shishya parampara (teacher-disciple tradition). Her training encompasses multiple classical forms. She received rigorous training in Bharatanatyam from esteemed gurus such as Smt. Savithri Jagannatha Rao, V.C. Lokaih, Kittapa Pillai, Narmada, and Smt. Venkatalakshamma. Her Kathak training was under Mukund Rao. For Kuchipudi, she was trained by eminent gurus including Dr. Korada Narasimha Rao for eight years, Sri C R Acharyulu for three years, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam for 1.5 years, and Sri Nataraja Ramakrishna for a few months. Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay is also an expert in Chitra Nrutya, a rare ritualistic Andhra traditional dance form where the dancer draws a picture with their feet while dancing. She has also received intense training in vocal music and Veena instrumental music. Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay is the director of Sri Raja Rajeshwari Kalaniketan in Bangalore, where she imparts training in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi to her students. She is also the founder of 'Samanvay' (also known as Samanvay Foundation of Arts), a dance company and institution that offers academic diplomas and degree courses affiliated with Bangalore University. Her choreographic experiments have led to numerous productions based on varied social themes, showcasing her comprehensive command over the ethos of Kuchipudi. Notable productions include Agasthya Rishi, Chitrapata, Ganga Gowri Vilasam, Chitrangada, Sthree, Harmony, Vasudhika Kutumbam, and the grand opera 'Chilapadhikaram'. She was one of the first dancers to present traditional Tibetan hymns to Indian Dance. Dr. Veena Murthy Vijay has authored a book titled “THEREY,” which traces the presence and development of Kuchipudi in Karnataka. She is currently pursuing PhD research in Kuchipudi and Karnataka Yakshaganas, exploring the connections between these dance forms. She has trained five generations of disciples and continues to be a significant figure in the propagation of Indian dance traditions globally. Awards & Honours: Karnataka Kalashree (2009), Honorary Doctorate.