Sudharani Raghupathy.

BIOGRAPHY

First Indian student (1964-65) at the Ramdolph Macons’ Women College, Virginia (USA) and sponsored as an international student Sudharani Raghupathy majored in World History of Dance, studio arts, and the Martha Graham technique in Modern Dance.

Acclaimed as a ‘living legend’ Sudharani Raghupathy has been in the field of Bharatanatyam for more than five and a half decades. She has the rare distinction of having performed before the visiting dignitaries to India since 1956 and having given a command performance for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Smt. Indira Gandhi (1955). On an invitation from the UN SECRETARY General Kurt Waldheim (1981) she performed on the Human Rights Day at United Nations, New York. Sangeet Natak Academy has recorded her ‘Navasandhi’ Nritta (1981-82). Her dance-dramas – ‘Ramayana’, ‘Krishna Vande Jagat Gurum’, ‘Shakthi Prabhavam’, ‘Vande Guham Umasutham’, ‘Ekameva Nadvayam’, and ‘Shankara Loka Shanka’ among many others have been acclaimed world over.

Her ‘Ramayana – Balakanda’ was documented as a video cassette by Centre for Cultural Resources and Training, New Delhi and was released by Shankaracharya of Kanchi Jayendra Saraswathi Swamiji (1993). As an outstanding artistic contribution to Bharatanatyam, Sudharani Raghupathy has produced and directed a TV serial (first TV serial on dance) in 21 episodes screened on Doordarshan

Performing artist, choreographer and senior guru in Bharatanatyam, Sudharani Raghupathy is also a member of the Society of National Council for Science Museums, Committee on National Policy on Culture, and Programme Advisory Committee for Doordarshan Kendra, Chennai.