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About
Professor Sudharani Raghupathy is a highly acclaimed Indian classical Bharatanatyam dancer, choreographer, teacher, and author, lauded as a "Living Legend" in the field. Born on March 21, 1944, in Pollachi, she grew up in Bangalore and pursued her higher education in Philosophy and Sociology at the University of Mysore. Her extensive training in…
Journey Timeline
1944
Born in Pollachi
1947
Began dance career — Completed 60 years of dance in 2007, 50 years in 1997, and 75 years on stage in 2023.
1955
Command performance for Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi
1956
Began performing before visiting dignitaries to India
1964-65
First Indian student at Randolph Macon's Women's College, Virginia, USA — Majored in World History of Dance, Studio Arts, and Martha Graham technique.
1970
Founded Shree Bharatalaya — Institution of fine arts in Chennai.
1979
Received Nritya Choodamani
1981
Performed at the United Nations Headquarters, New York — On Human Rights Day, by invitation from Secretary-General Kurt Waldheim.
1981
TV serial 'Bharatanjali' first aired on Doordarshan — 13 episodes in B&W, first of its kind on Bharatanatyam.
1981
Received Kalaimamani — Tamil Nadu state award.
1981-82
Sangeet Natak Akademi recorded her 'Navasandhi Nritta'
1984
Received Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award
1985
Received Natana Sironmani
1986
Received Natya Ratna
1988
Received Padma Shri
1988
Received Natya Kalanidhi
1989
TV serial 'Bharatanjali' aired on Doordarshan — 8 episodes in color.
1993
CCRT, New Delhi, released video cassette of 'Ramayana-Balakanda'
1994
Received Natya Jyothi
1995
Awarded Senior Teaching Associate of Indian Studies (Professor) — By Colgate University, New York.
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Video Library
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Signature Performances
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Awards & Honors
- 1979 · Nritya Choodamani
- 1981 · Kalaimamani — Tamil Nadu State Award
- 1984 · Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award — Sangeet Natak Akademi
- 1985 · Natana Sironmani
- 1986 · Natya Ratna
- 1988 · Padma Shri — Government of India
- 1988 · Natya Kalanidhi
- 1994 · Natya Jyothi
- 1995 · Senior Teaching Associate of Indian Studies (Professor) — Colgate University, New York
- 1996 · Sapthagiri Sangeetha Vidwanmani — Andhra Pradesh
- 1999 · Kalashree — Karnataka
- 2001 · Natya Kala Sikamani — Indian Fine Arts Society, Chennai
- 2002 · Natya Kala Sarathy — Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Chennai
- 2013 · Natya Kala Acharya — The Music Academy, Chennai
- 2026 · Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi — Sangeet Natak Akademi
Media Coverage
- Profiles - Sudharani Raghupathy: 60 years of dance
Sruti Magazine
- Graceful 65 years
The Hindu
- 'When you teach, you learn'
The Hindu
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