GEETA CHANDRAN: A celebrated artist and a star-performer, Geeta Chandran has synthesised the knowledge she received from a galaxy of eminent Gurus to imprint Bharatanatyam with her personal vision of the dance. In her dance presentations, Geeta Chandran skilfully weaves abstract notions of Joy, Beauty, Values, Aspirations, Myth and Spirituality.
A polymath artist, Geeta Chandran is celebrated not only for her deep and composite understanding of the art of Bharatanatyam, but also for her Carnatic music (she is a trained and accomplished vocalist), her work in television, video and film, theatre, choreography, dance education, dance activism and dance-issue journalism.
Geeta Chandran is Founder-President of Natya-Vriksha and Artistic Director of the Natya Vriksha Dance Company, known for the high aesthetic quality of its group presentations that showcase Geeta’s metier as a visualiser par excellence. Geeta has also created innumerable solo performances that spotlight her aesthetic persona as an eclectic classical choreographer. (In August 2016, Geeta will present the fortieth arangetram performance by her disciple.)
An influential spokesperson for classical dance, Geeta Chandran is the author of SO MANY JOURNEYS, an intensely personal collection of her writings narrating her engagement with Bharatanatyam. She also writes an insightful dance column in The New Indian Express/Sunday Standard.
A rare combination of being both a luminary and a visionary, Geeta Chandran is a widely respected role model for the young generation. She guides reputed national cultural institutions and prestigious universities as their Board member, and also serves on the Advisory Boards of several reputed schools and colleges.
Arts Education is another of her impassioned commitments and she is an advocate for incremental arts education supporting both government and private initiatives to achieve a higher level of arts learning as part of formal education.
In her effort to "en-dance the universe," she engages in a strategic range of dance-related activities: performing, teaching, conducting, singing, collaborating, organizing, writing and speaking to new youth audiences.
Geeta was awarded the prestigious national award -- Padma Shri -- by the President of India in 2007.
In 2014-2015, she marked the completion of four decades of dedication to classical dance, since her arangetram in 1974.
2016 marks the silver jubilee celebrations of Natya Vriksha.