C. V. Chandrasekhar Biography 
C. V. Chandrasekhar is one of India's senior most Bharatanatyam dancers and teachers. He is also known as dance scholar, composer, and choreographer. He retired as Head of the Faculty of Performing Arts of M.S. University, Baroda in 1992. He, along with his wife Jaya Chandrasekhar have been one of the top Bharatnatyam dancing couples during the decade of 1970’s and 1980’s. Their two daughters have also performed with them during this period. Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Bharatnatyam in 1993, the Kalidas Samman in 2008 and Padma Bhushan by the Government of India in 2011 are the major honours received by him.
He was born on May 22, 1935. After post-graduation, he took a Post graduate diploma in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra in Chennai under the mentorship of Rukmini Devi Arundale. Budulur Krishnamurthy Sastrigal and M.D. Ramanathan trained him Carnatic music. He also received training in classical dance from Karaikkal Saradambal and K.N. Dandaydhapani Pillai from Kalakshetra. He started his career in the year 1947 when classical dance forms were completely dominated by women in south India. He also worked as faculty in Banaras Hindu University and M.S. University of Baroda. He retired from M.S. University of Baroda in 1992 as Head and Dean of the Faculty of Performing Arts.
Apart from one of the versatile dancer and guru of the time, he is also known as a musician and choreographer. He has also conducted several research works on Indian arts. He has been invited to many international universities as well to take classes. Now, it’s his seventh decade in the world of art and still active. He now runs his own dance institution, Nrityashree, in Chennai.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 25, 2014
