“Dance is art in motion”

SMT. POORNIMA SANKAR KAUSHIK

Poornima Sankar Kaushik is an exponent of the classical dance form of Bharatanatyam and has achieved a great degree of excellence in this fine art.

Poornima obtained her early training in Coimbatore from Guru “Kalaimamani” Smt. K.J.Sarasa of Sarasalaya, who is the doyen of the Vazhuvoor style of Bharatanatyam. Having had her Arangetram at the age of 10 in the presence of the legendary Smt. M.L.Vasanthakumari, Poornima has been dancing for more than three decades to diverse audiences in cities and towns all over India and also internationally.

Poornima currently trains and works on productions with her Mother-in-law Smt. Padma Murali, Founder-Padmalaya Dance Foundation an eminent dancer based in Bangalore.

Poornima has to her credit close to 300 performances and currently conducts dance classes at Bangalore. She is also well versed in Carnatic music. Her dance has been well reviewed by experts in the field of Bharatanatyam. She is also a graded artiste of the Doordarshan Kendra.

She is the recipient of the prestigious “Bharatha Ratna” title from the Minsitry of Culture, Government of Sri Lanka. She also is the recipient of the titles “Natya Ranjini”, “Natya Tharakai”, “Swamyam Prakasha Narthaki” and “Narthana Shironmani”.


Poornima is an Executive member of the International Dance Alliance, Bangalore Chapter and Associate Artistic Director of Padmalaya Dance Foundation, Bangalore.

Trained from a very young age in the pristine purity of this traditional dance style, she has harnessed to it an intellectual quest and aesthetic sensibility which make an individualistic contribution to the genre of Classical Indian Dance. Dance has always been a passion.

Apart from being a dancer, Poornima is a social entrepreneur with two ventures. She designs and retails a terracotta jewelry line called “Surya for life”. This not for profit venture was started to support children with Ocular cancer, treated at the Sankara Eye Foundation, India.

Poornima is also a co-founder of an artisanal garden art venture called “Blooming Balconies”. This looks at reclaiming nature in urban landscapes through sustainable gardens and encouraging environmental consciousness through giftables.

Sarva-shruthi shiro ratna virajit padambhujah.
Vendantambuja Suryo yah tasmai Shri Guruve namaha.

Guru Kalaimamani Smt. K.J. Sarasa

is a doyen of the Vazhuvoor style of Bharathanatyam. Having trained directly under the legend Vazhuvoor Shri Ramaiah Pillai, Sarasama has the distinct credit of being the first female nattuvangam artiste in the field of Bharathanatyam. She established her school “Sarasalaya” in the 1960s in Chennai and also had branches in Coimbatore and Trichy. She has trained well over 10000 students who carry forward her legacy till date across the globe.


Guru Smt. Padma Murali        

is a well-known name in the dance circles of Karnataka. She trained in this art form from Kalaimamani Palaniswamy Pillai. She has traversed the last 5 decades learning, teaching and helping several young artistes experience this beautiful art form. She runs her dance school ‘Padmalaya Dance Foundation’ in Bengaluru which trains several young aspiring students. She is instrumental in encouraging talent through her dance festivals – Youth in Dance and IDA.

DANCE JOURNEY
1988
1989
1991
1992
1993
1998
1999
2000
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2004
2005
2005
2006
2013
2014

“…impressed the audience with her serene recital .She performed the swarajathi with elegance.”

– The Indian Express.

“….a tall physique and charming stage presence. She has a firm stamping of her feet. She fared well in both aspects of dance nrita and abhinaya.”

– The Hindu

“…The artiste worked very hard to present a varied and joyous production. Poornima Kaushik's sense of fun was conveyed to the audience.”

– Richard Turner, Nathaki

“The graceful body bends and the feet aligned in a straight line for the adavus were impressive in Poornima’s portrayal of Lord Muruga, Skanda and Shanmukha. Poornima’s picture of the quips and pranks of Lord Krishna was an extension of herself beyond the technical niceties to communicate with the viewer. Kudos Poornima!”

– T.K.Ganapathy,The Hindu

“Poornima Kaushik’s performance was marked by an expressive ease..The dancer conveyed the ideas and bhavas of the themes with ease, aided by her expressive face. The meenakshithalattu, a composition of Sri Sai in Neelambari was the highlight, wherein the dance communicated the essence of vatsalya bhava beautifully.”

– V.V.Ramani,The Hindu

“Kaleidoscope of art forms. Poornima’s dance was full of mature bhavas.”

– B.Ramadevi,The Hindu
PERFORMANCES
Major Performances Abroad
  • Inaugural of Sankara Eye Foundation at the “Cochrane Theatre”- London
  • The Hindu Society – Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A.
  • “Sruthi Laya Abhinaya”- State Festival of Music and Dance organised by Arts Council, Government of Sri Lanka at Colombo.
  • Indian High Commission at Colombo, Sri Lanka
Major Performances
  • Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai
  • The Spirit of Youth festival by The Music Academy.
  • Shankarabharanam Trust, Chennai.
  • Tamil Isai Sangam, Pollachi
  • Tamil Isai Sangam, Madurai.
  • Upasana Fine Arts, Coimbatore.
  • Mamallapuram Dance Festival.
  • Natyanjali, Perur.
  • Salangai Oli Trust, Chennai.
  • Natyanjali Trust, Chennai.
  • Inaugural of Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Coimbatore.
  • Pallavothsava, Mysore.
  • Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai.
  • The Nungambakkam Cultural Academy, Chennai.
  • Iyal Isai Panpattu Kazhagam, Govt. Of Tamil Nadu.
  • Yuva Utsav by Bharath Kalachar.
  • Bharathanatya Mahotsava – Sangeetha Nataka Academy.
  • International Dance Alliance, Chennai and Bangalore.
  • Natyarangam by Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai
  • Natyanjali Festival at Chidambaram, Kumbakonam, Thiruvaroor.
  • Brahan Natyanjali, Thanjavur.
  • Hampi Nrityotsava.
  • Friday performance conducted by Indian Centre for Cultural Relations at Yavanika – Bangalore.
  • Festival of Dance conducted by Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore.
  • Swathi Tirunal Festival conducted by Karthik Fine Arts, Chennai.
  • Shri Parthasarathy Swami Sabha,Chennai.
  • Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Nilgiris.
  • World Dance Dance, Bangalore.
  • National dance festival conducted by the SAI Nrithyotsav, Bangalore.
  • Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan, Coimbatore.
  • Sankara Eye Hospital, Coimbatore.
  • Sankaram, 2015.
  • ICCR Horizon Series, Bangalore.
  • Dasyam Swathi Nrityolsavam, Chennai
  • ICCR Horizon Series, Bangalore.
  • Dasyam Swathi Nrityolsavam, Chennai
  • Andal Kovil Srivilliputhur
  • Tharang Utsav, Bangalore.
  • Nirantharam Festival, Bangalore
  • Nada Neeranjanam, Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam.
  • Bangalore poetry festival
  • Cheoreography festival by Ponnaiah Lalithakala Academy
  • Rajalakshmi Fine Arts, Coimbatore.
  • Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai
  • Hampi Utsav
  • Nrityotsava by Nilalaya Nritya Kendra, Tumkur
  • Inaugration of Sankara Eye Hospital, Indore
    • T.V.Performances
    • Doordarshan – Chandana (Is a graded artiste of Doordarshan)
    • Sun T.V.
    • “Roopavahini”, State television of Sri Lanka.
    Other Performances
    • World Uni-lever conference
    • World Paediatric conference
    • International Conference for Orthopedic surgeons
    • International Conference for Plastic surgeons
    • Builders Association
    • Nephrologists Conference
    • Performed at Several National Conferences of Round Table India and also for Rotary International.
    • Performed at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of “Sarasalaya”.
    • Performed at the Inauguration of Sankara Eye Centre, Guntur, Andhra Pradesh.
    • All Vice-Chancellors of Universities in India conference conducted at Coimbatore.
    • World Peace Conference by Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan.
    Dance Ballets
    • Kutrala Kuravanji
    • Meenkashi Kalyanam
    • Shakthi
    • Rukmini Kalayanam
    • Sambhavami Yuge Yuge
    • Shivam Shankaram
    • Divine Vision
    • Bharathathil Bharathi (a solo production)
    • Vikramaoorvashiyam
    • A ballet in praise of Mother India
    • Epic Women , a Central Government sponsored production Chaturvidha Purushartha
    • Kaumaram
    • Vatsalyam
    • Aatma
    • Namami Narmade
    AWARDS
    Bharatha ratna award
    Natya ranjani award
    Natya tharakai award
    GALLERY