Deepa Sashindran


Deepa Sashindran is an Indian dancer and prime disciple of Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Bhargavi. She is a teacher of the Indian classical dance form Kuchipudi, an art motivator and entrepreneur.

Early life and education

Deepa stepped initially into classical dance form of Bharatanatyam at the age of 5 under renowned Gurus Kalamandalam Usha Datar and Dr.Savithri Ramaiah and then started learning from age of 8 kuchipudi form of dance under the renowned Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Bhargavi for a period of three decades and currently being trained by Guru Vempati Ravi Shankar.

Career

Innumerable solo performances came her way both in India & Abroad as well as essayed lead roles in dance dramas and was also the co-artist of her Guru and performed alongside on many prestigious festivals & occasions. Karnataka Govt Kuchipudi Text book committee has incorporated her dance pictures in the Kuchipudi text book of the state. She was invited to the First International Kuchipudi dance conference of North America held at Houston- Texas organised by Samskriti and was part of the delegation for paper presentation and rendered solo performances.
She is the founder of Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation for imparting training and propagation of Kuchipudi art form in Bangalore with accomplished advisors as part of the committee, recently the foundation has extended its services in conducting master classes at Swathi Thirunal Academy in Calicut headed by Sri Kaithpram Damodaran Namboothri, as an Independent tutor, her services has been utilised by many veteran artists of Bangalore. She is also involved in bringing out innovative dance festivals, workshops, which are most look forward events in Bangalore.
She was conferred with many titles and awards such as the Best Kuchipudi Artiste of Karnataka from Yuvaranga, Nritya Shiromani National Award at Cuttack and Sathyabhama Award by Kuchipudi danseuse Padmasri -Sobha Naidu at Visakhapatnam. In 1995 she was accredited artist of Doordarshan.
Apart from Dance, she is a Law Graduate with PGD in Industrial Relations and Personal Management, Human Resources Specialist in Software industry and currently an Entrepreneur in Human Capital Management Services and owns the company Karma Kreators.

Awards and Credentials

"Draupadi’s emotions during the various phases of her life were depicted right from her youth up to tasting victory at the Kurukshetra war. The poignant scene where a perplexed Draupadi introspects at the end of the war whether she was after all really a winner or loser,gives a different dimension and perspective to the character. One would not be surprised if this becomes one of the hallmark pieces of kuchipudi art form with the aesthetic combination of good lyrics,choreography and music".

Priyalasya

"It is really amazing that how ‘Mahabharatha’ which has been so prolifically portrayed in various mode and channels right through the ages still holds the audience in awe and wonderstruck with its relevance even in the contemporary times with the larger than life characters of the Epic. The emotions, predicaments, the ironic twist of fate, the folly of human efforts, Divine guidance, and among all the interpretations of various authors continue to influence the exploring minds of individuals for centuries now. Lucidly brought out the true character of Draupadi, her sensitivity, dignity, forbearance and above all the purpose of her role in the great epic."
Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation a Non Profit Trust has been envisaged with intent to propagate and promote the Kuchipudi form of classical dance. The Foundation is presently offering systematic training, master classes in Bangalore and Calicut to bring forth artists of high caliber. The activities of the foundation are not limited to classes/workshops/performances/productions/festivals but many more innovative executions as deemed necessary for propagation of the art form with professionally run advisory committee of eminent personalities of the fraternity. The foundation a Non Profit Trust is founded by artistic Director Deepa Sashindran
The foundation has extended its services in conducting master classes at Sri Kaithapram Damodaran Namboothiri’s Swathi Kala Kendram at Calicut, Kerala.
Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation presented the first edition of "Divinity in Kuchipudi" series Festival titled Natya Parampara Utsav- 2014 with eminent Kuchipudi artists from the fraternity and felicitated senior Guru of Kuchipudi Village.
Maiden dance drama presentation "Agnijyotsna"- on the epic Queen Draupadi, a production of Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation has received rave reviews for its originality from conception-lyrics, music-choreography-presentation and paved way for new character innovation without digressing from the purity of the dance form.
Youngest member of the Academy child prodigy Lakshmika got featured in the editorial page of the latest 2014 Attendance book "Telugu Traditions" Authored by Ashish Mohan Khokar and guest edited by Padmasri Ananda Shankar Jayant.

Dance festivals

Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival - 2012

As a tribute to her Dance Guru, Manju Barggavee, Deepa Sashindran organized the Natya Vedam Annual Dance Festival 2012 on 18 and 19 May in Bangalore, featuring eminent artists of classical and contemporary dance forms.

Natya Parampara Utsav - 2014 till date

Natya Parampara Utsav, has been organised by Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation for the promotion of arts. "Divinity in Kuchipudi" was on 24–25 May 2014 at Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, featuring eminent artists of kuchipudi dance forms.

Reviews