Profile
Kalyani S. Kumar an Engineer Danseuse
Kalyani S Kumar the daughter of Dr (Mrs) P.R.Lalitha ad Sri S.N.Kumar, hails from a family where excellence in music and fine arts has been a tradition since generations. She is the great grand daughter of Bhairavi Lakshminaranappa, Asthana Vidwan of Mysore Palace and the great grand niece of the famous Veena maestro Ganakalabhushana Veena L.Raja Rao. Her vibrant eyes, expressive face and capturing display of rhythm in her feet enabled her to foray into the classical art form, at the early age of six.
Kalyani ‘s dance instincts were kindled by Guru Dr. Vasundhara Doresswamy. Under her tutelage she has not only derived happiness, satisfaction and a sense of achievement but also feels spiritually elevated having been groomed into a versatile dancer. The training she has received from her Guru has gone a long way in imbibing the values underlying this great art form and Indian Culture.
Group Performances
She has performed in the Vasundhara dance troupe in many prestigious platforms. :
- Dasara festival at Mysore Palace with her Guru
- Chiguru Sanje and Pallavotsava at Mysore
- Hoysalotsava at Sravanabelagola
- Lakkundi Utsava at Hubli
- Kanaka Jayanti at Mysore
- Karnataka Rajyotsava festival at Chamarajanagar
- Choreographies such as : Durga, Sri Krishna Tulabhara and Vidyunmadaika
- International meet of Prajapita Brahmakumari Ishwariya Vishwavidyalaya at Mt. Abu
Her performance at the National Children’s Science Congress 2002 held at, RIE, Mysore, brought her accolades for her Abhinaya.
Rangapravesha
Kalyani performed her Rangapravesha the major stepping stone to her spiritual journey as an artist on 28th December 2010, at the Jaganmohana Palace Auditorium, Mysore, under the banner of Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, Mysore
Solo Performances
She has rendered solo performances at:
- Every Friday Cultural Evening Programme, Yavanika Bengaluru, State Youth Centre, under the auspices of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Department of Kannada & Culture, Department of Youth Services & Sports,Youth Writers and Artists Guild
- Yuva Sourbha, Every Wednesday Cultural Evening Programme at Nayana Rangamandira, Kannada Bhavana, Bengaluru, organized by the Department of Kannada & Culture, Bengaluru
- Mylapore Fine Arts Club Auditorium, organized by The Mylapore Fine Arts Club (Regd.), Mylapore, Chennai
- 114th Year Dance Festival at R.K. Swamy Auditorium, Mylapore, Chennai, under the auspices of
- Sri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha, Triplicane, Chennai
- Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Navaratri Brahmotsava organized by Sri Yoga Narasimha Swamy Temple, Vijayanagara I Stage, Mysuru
- Pallavotsava at Jaganmohana Palace Auditorium, Mysore, organized by Vasundhara Performing Arts Centre, Mysore
Workshops attended
Kalyani has received training in Kalaripayattu in workshops organised by her guru at the Rotary West Association Hall, Saraswathipuram, Mysore
- Kalaripayattu workshop conducted by Vid. Krishnadas, Kerala
- Kalaripayattu workshop conducted by Mr Balraj Soni Kerala
- Workshop on Vasundhara Bani style of dancing conducted by VPAC, Mysore at Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Gokulam, Mysore
- Wokshop on Theory of dance conducted by Samskruti Performing Arts Centre, Mysore
- Wokshop on Proper Approches to Learning Teaching and Performance in Bharatanatyam
She has won prizes in the competitions held by Amara Kala Sangha, Mysore, Kala Sharada organized by Sarada Vilas College, Mysore ad Kala Prathibotsava 2008 organised by the Department of Kannada and Culture.
She has passed her Vidwat Examination in Bharatanatyam of Karnataka State Secondary Education Board with distinction and the Certificate course in Performing Arts Bharatanatyam (CPABN) from IGNOU, New Delhi; She is also a Grade B Artist of Doordarshan TV Chanel Chandana.
Kalyani realized that training in dance is incomplete without training in music. Blessed with the ambience of music in the family, she was initiated into music by her grandmother Late Smt P.R.Rathnamma. She received further training in music under Guru Smt. Saraswathi Raghavan and passed her Junior Exam in Music creditably. She continues to train in music and desires to excel in this field also. Kalyani has received training in Bhavageethe from Sugama Sangeetha wizard Smt. H.R.Leelavathi.
The track record of Kalyani in academics has been excellent. She is a product of GSSSIETW, Mysore having completed her BE in Information Science from VTU, Belgaum. Her M.Tech in Software Engineering is from Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering which she passed in First Class with distinction. Kalyani who is passionate about teaching served GSSSIETW, Mysore as Assistant Professor in Information Science and Engineering for six years. Creativity has been the driving force that helps her excel in both art and technology.