Ananda Shankar Jayant
Bharatanatyam Performer
47+
Years of Experience
1+
Students Taught
1
Followers
About
Dr. Ananda Shankar Jayant is a celebrated Indian classical dancer, choreographer, scholar, and bureaucrat, renowned for her proficiency in Bharatanatyam and Kuchipudi. Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, in 1961, she began her classical dance training at the age of four. In 1972, at the age of eleven, she joined Kalakshetra, where she underwent rigorous training…
Journey Timeline
1961
Born — Born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
1965
Began dance training — Started learning classical dance at the age of 4.
1972
Joined Kalakshetra — Joined Kalakshetra at the age of 11.
1979
Founded Shankarananda Kalakshetra — Founded her dance academy in Hyderabad at age 17.
1987
Joined Indian Railway Traffic Service — Served as an officer of the Indian Railways Traffic Service.
2003
Awarded PhD — Received her PhD on 'Promotion of Tourism and Culture: Role of Indian Railways'.
2004
Received Natya Illavarasi title — Awarded by Sree Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, New Delhi.
2006
Received Nritya Choodamani title — Conferred by Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
2007
Awarded Padma Shri — Received India's fourth highest civilian honour.
2007
Received Nritya Kalasagara title — Awarded by Kalasagaram, Secunderabad.
2008
Received Kala Ratna Award — Included in the Ugadi Day honors list by the Government of Andhra Pradesh.
2008
Diagnosed with breast cancer — Began her battle with breast cancer.
2009
Received Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Awarded for her contributions to Bharatanatyam.
2009
Delivered TED Talk — Shared her experiences on battling cancer, incorporating dance.
2010
Received Natya Kalasagar title — Awarded by Visakha Music Academy.
2013
Received Vidya Tapasvi award — For Bhakti oriented Traditional Natyam, from Tapas Cultural Foundation.
2015
Received multiple awards — Including Guru Debaprasad Award, Devi Award for Dynamism and Innovation, and Nritya Saraswati.
2016
Received Vishwakalabharati award — From Bharat Kalachar.
2016
Received Saarthak Nari Awards
2016
Speaker at Harvard — One of the speakers of the Inspire series at the India Conference at Harvard.
Photo Gallery
Photos will appear here.
Video Library
Performance videos will appear here.
Signature Performances
Signature repertoire pieces will be showcased here.
Performance Map
A world map of performances will appear here as tours are recorded.
Awards & Honors
- 2007 · Padma Shri — Government of India
- 2009 · Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi
- Kalaimamani Award — Government of Tamil Nadu
- 2008 · Kala Ratna Award — Government of Andhra Pradesh
- 2006 · Nritya Choodamani — Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
- 2004 · Natya Illavarasi — Sree Shanmukhananda Sangeetha Sabha, New Delhi
- 2007 · Nritya Kalasagara — Kalasagaram, Secunderabad
- 2010 · Natya Kalasagar — Visakha Music Academy
- 2015 · Guru Debaprasad Award — Tridhara
- 2015 · Devi Award for Dynamism and Innovation — Indian Express
- 2015 · Nritya Saraswati — Alliance University, Bengaluru
- 2016 · Vishwakalabharati award — Bharat Kalachar
- 2016 · Saarthak Nari Awards
- 2013 · Vidya Tapasvi — Tapas Cultural Foundation
- 2001 · Aadar Kalai Selvam — Pollachi Tamil Isai Sangam
Media Coverage
- Prestigious award for Ananda
The Hindu
- Every step counts
Mumbai Mirror
Students
Testimonials
Student & peer testimonials will appear here.
Upcoming Workshops
No workshops scheduled yet.
Compiled from public sources and/or self-reported by the artist — not independently verified by NatyaNetwork. Is this you? Claim this profile to manage or correct it. See our Terms.