Sharadha Ganesan

Sharada Ganesan, daughter of Guru Shri Kalasadan Mani graduated in Bharatanatyam - B F A, from Nalanda Mahavidyalaya in the year 1981-82.

At present, as a senior teacher in Kalasadan Institute of Fine Arts, founded by her father in 1954, she is engaged in training numerous students in Bharatanatyam and in choreographing group & dance drama presentations.

In the early part of her career, she has given solo performances and played leading roles in dance dramas like Thulasi Mahatmyam, Shiva Shakti Natanam etc., that were staged by Kalasadan. Now, for almost forty years, she has been teaching dance at several centers in Mumbai and at times, she has also trained cine artistes & celebrities for their dance-oriented roles.

She has been honored by organizations like Inner Wheel Club & Maharashtra Seva Sangh, Mulund, for her contribution in promoting Indian culture. She has been a member in the panel of examiners for degree level in Mumbai University.

In pursuance of her father‘s desire that she learns different classical forms of dance, besides being trained in Bharatanatyam at Nalanda College under the stewardship of Dr. Kanak Rele, she learnt Kuchipudi from Guru C R Acharyalu, Odissi from Guru Shankar Behra and Kathak from Guru Shrivatsava.

Dr Kanak Rele, who has always been an inspiration to her, had this to say about Sharada – “ Her style is chaste and marked with rare dignity with no razzle dazzle of speed or showmanship. The concept of ‘ Sharanagati Bhakti’ which is the guiding spirit

of this temple art is developed to a high degree in her renditions. One can look forward to her, also as an accomplished lady nattuvanar, to take a rightful place in the firmament of nattuvanars . Her dedication is equally matched by her deep sense of respect and loyalty to her Gurus and Institution”.

Her husband Ganesan who works for Dabur India Ltd. is a moorsing artiste and her daughter Nandini is also a Bharatanatyam dancer who is a Doordarshan graded artiste and an empaneled artiste with the ICCR.