K. J. Sarasa

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K. J. Sarasa
Born(1937-03-10)10 March 1937
Karaikal, Pondicherry, French colonial empire
Died2 January 2012(2012-01-02) (aged 74)
Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
NationalityIndian
Occupation(s) Dancer, Dance Teacher
Known for Bharatanatyam
Awards Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
Kalaimamani

K. J. Sarasa was a Bharatanatyam exponent and teacher from Karaikal, Puducherry, India. She is often referred as the first female Nattuvanar (traditional teacher in Bharathanatyam). She received several awards including the Tamil Nadu State Kalaimamani Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award.

Contents

Biography

K. J. Sarasa was born to nagaswaram artist Jagadeesan Pillai and Valliammal on 10 March 1937 at Karaikal in present day Puducherry. [1] [2] She was born into the family of famous singer K. N. Dandayudhapani Pillai. [3] Her father died when she was six years old. [4] A native of Karaikal, she came under the tutelage of Vazhuvoor Ramaiah Pillai and moved to Madras with him when he moved to Madras. [5] She trained in music, dance and nattuvangam (a traditional South Indian percussion instrument) under him for over 15 years. [1]

Sarasa died on 2 January 2012. [3]

Career

In Bharathanatyam, Sarasa is a follower of Vazhuvoor bani style. She produced and choreographed more than 50 dance dramas (natya natakam). [6]

Becoming Nattuvanar to Vyjayanthimala, in Karaikudi in 1952, she became the first female Nattuvanar (traditional teacher in Bharathanatyam). [1] [7]

In 1960 she founded the dance institute 'Sarasalaya'. [6] Through this institute she had conducted more than 1,000 arangetrams (first public performance) and 2,000 dance performances. [6] Former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa, actor Kamal Haasan, actress Shobana and Swarnamalya, choreographer Raghuram, and film director K. Subrahmanyam were among her disciples. [8] [1]

Awards and honors

She has received the Tamil Nadu State Kalaimamani Award and the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. [9] Two of her dance productions, Shakuntalam and Vikramorvasiyam won the Swarna Kamal award at the Kalidas Samaroh in Ujjain. [6]

As a mark of respect for her, Sarasa was appointed as the honorary director of the Bharatanatyam department of the Tamil Nadu Government Music College. [6]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Nattuvanar of rare calibre". The Hindu. 12 January 2012. ISSN   0971-751X. Archived from the original on 20 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  2. ↑ "K J Sarasa" (PDF). www.sangeetnatak.gov.in. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 May 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  3. 1 2 "Bharatanatyam exponent Sarasa passes away". www.ndtv.com. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  4. ↑ "Jayalalithaa's dance guru Sarasa dead". The Times of India. 3 January 2012. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  5. ↑ MyTimes, Team (2 January 2012). "MYLAPORE TIMES - Dance guru, nattuvanar K. J. Sarasa passes away". MYLAPORE TIMES. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 "K.J. Sarasa: The torchbearer of Vazhuvoor bani". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  7. ↑ archive, From our online (16 May 2012). "First woman Nattuvanar Sarasa passes away". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 20 June 2025.
  8. ↑ "Kamal's guru passes away". The Times of India. 14 January 2017. ISSN   0971-8257. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
  9. ↑ archive, From our online (16 May 2012). "A fitting tribute to the legendary K J Sarasa". The New Indian Express. Archived from the original on 19 June 2025. Retrieved 19 June 2025.
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