About Jyotsna Shourie
Jyotsna has been engaged with the art of Bharatanatyam from her childhood and now 6 decades later her involvement has only grown.
Dance she says has “encouraged me to delve into our literature and mythology, taught me to appreciate classical music, to express my thoughts through abstract movements and mime,
to pen lyrics and narratives, but most of all to enrich my students with an abiding love for dance which will stay with them throughout their lives.”
Dance she believes evolves every day, through the themes that she works with. Some child centric, like Alice in Wonderland, Noddy in Nrityaland,
the Sound of Music and the Birth of Jesus……others more adult in nature like the erotic poems of the Gitagovindam by Jayadeva, the 12th Century poet,
or religious hymns like the Krishna Chalisa and the Radha Chalisa, being dramatised in dance with bhajan singing and audio visuals to compliment the entire 40 line prayer.
Jyotsna’s themes that she brings to an audience combines creative excellence, aesthetic beauty and a global vision , as she attempts to demystify traditional dance and make it
appealing not only to the connoisseur but to the lay person as well.
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The Danseuse
Jyotsna began learning Bharata Natyam at the age of six, and completed her formal learning at the Sri Rajarajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir, Mumbai. She humbly acknowledges the huge debt that she owes to her Guru Sri Kalyanasunderam Pillai. She has had the good fortune also to learn from eminent gurus in Delhi and Chennai, including Guru Venkataraman, Guru Nana Kasar, Shri Krishna Kumar and Shri Narsimhachari.
At her Arangetram, which was held when she was ten years old, The Times of India prophesied that she would “emerge a star as luminous as any in this firmament.” Since then, Jyotsna has held performances all over the country and has participated in cultural festivals all over the world, emerging as a cultural ambassador for the dance form and for India.
The Teacher
She established The Dance Centre, Delhi in 1990 as a learning center for the skills and values of Bharata Natyam. The basic teaching is in the traditional manner, following the tenements laid down in the Natya Shastra. These principles are then applied to selected contemporary themes that her young students can relate to.
Her students’ have presented solo performances and taken part in dance ballets with her. They have received accolades for their performances at national and international venues including Rome, Florence, the Vatican City and the Czech Republic. Dance Centre productions have been aired on national networks, including most recently Star Over Bethlehem on national television.
The Choreographer
Every project by renowned danseuse and choreographer Jyotsna Shourie reflects her powerful vision for her art: that of widening the boundaries of traditional Bharata Natyam through varied influences. Jyotsna has choreographed many dance dramas, some purely classical, and others with contemporary themes. She has introduced audio-visual media, carols & gospel singing, bhajans even tap dancing into Dance Centre productions. Each production takes her towards her goal of perpetuating the heritage that is Bharata Natyam.