Dr. Sunanda Nair

Sunanda Nair is a leading exponent of Mohiniyattam or Mohini Attam and one of the few performers of this style of dance form. She was born in Mumbai. Sunanda is the disciple of noted Mohini Attam exponent Padmabhushan Dr.(Smt) Kanak Rele, credited for the revival and popularisation of this classical dance style of Kerala.

Profile
Sunanda had her initial training in Bharatanatyam at the age of six and since then has given many performances in this style of dancing. She is both a professional dancer and a teacher. She is also the Founder Director of Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts which has been training students in both Mohini Attam and Bharatanatyam. Sunanda established a dance school in Mumbai. The phenomenal strides achieved in these past 26 years is testimony to the selfless efforts in teaching the art in its purest form and dedication of the teacher in inculcating the best in the disciple, with sincerity and integrity. SPARC is now in its 5th year of operation in the USA. At SPARC, the rich tradition of Indian Classical Dance is safely preserved, which will be evident to the performer and the viewer, who experience the liberation and growth of righteousness as man, by manifesting the glory of God. Indian dance culture has been influenced by temple traditions and thematically depends on the rich mythological tales of the Hindus. Today, Indian dance forms have captured the global attention in all the cultural vistas of the world.

Performances
♦ Festival of India in the former USSR.
♦ Spring Friendship Art Festival in North Korea.
♦ Performances in Middle East, Singapore and U.S.A.
♦ Khajuraho festival in Madhya Pradesh.
♦ Konark festival in Orissa.
♦ Yuva Mahotsav in Jaipur, Jodhpur and Udaipur.
♦ Nishagandhi, Kerala Tourism, Trivandrum.
♦ Kalidas Samaraoh, Ujjain.
♦ Modera Festival, Gujarat.
♦ Mysore Dassera Festival.
♦ Nrityotsava, Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Bangalore.
♦ Indo-Indonesian Friendship Society.
♦ Vallathol Jayanti,Kerala Kalamandalam.
♦ SAARC Conference, Mumbai.
♦ Sangeeta Sabha, Poona.
♦ Swati Tirunal Sangeet Sabha,Trivandrum.
♦ Chakradhar Samaraoh, Rajasthan Sangeet Natak Akademi.
♦ India International Centre, Apna Utsav, New Delhi.
♦ Krishna Gana Sabha, Bharat Kalachar, Bharatiya Music and Arts, Madras.
♦ The National Centre For Performing Arts, Mumbai.
♦ Haridas Sangeet Sammelan, Mumbai.
♦ Kal-Ke-Kalakar, Mumbai.
♦ Nitya Nityati And Tanmai Arohanam Festival, Bangalore.
♦ India Habitat Centre, New Delhi.
♦ Shree Chitra Dance Festival, Trivandrum.
♦ Natyanjali Trust, Music Academy, Chennai.
♦ National Festival of Mohini Attam, Nehru Center, Mumbai.
♦ Soorya Parampara dance festival, Trivandrum, Kerala.
♦ India Habitat Center, New Delhi.
♦ Dharini, Cochin, Kerala.
♦ Monsoon Festival Art India, New Delhi.
♦ Raindrops Festival NCPA, Samved Mumbai.
♦ Bharatam, Trichur, Kerala.
♦ Sopanam, Bombay.
♦ Kalakshetram, Bombay.
♦ Asia Pacific Heritage Festival.
♦ Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy -July 2015, Bhopal.

Awards & recognitions
♦ 'Kalaasree'2011 from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akademi.
♦ 'Global Excellence Award' 2011,from GIA, New Delhi.
♦ "Kalaasagar" 2010 in memory of Late Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval.
♦ "Abhinaya shiromani" from Surya Performing Arts, Missouri, USA.
♦ Scholarship from Central Sangeet Natak Akademi for advanced training in abhinaya and choreography under her Guru Smt. Kanak Rele.
♦ 'Singar Mani' from the prestigious Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai.
♦ Nelluvai Nambeeshan Smarak Award for Mohiniattam.
♦ 'Natya Mayuri' Natyanjali Trust, Chennai.
♦ Best Ethnic Classical Arts Award, New Orleans, 2003.
♦ Louisiana State Artist Roster.
♦ Louisiana Touring Directory.
♦ Global Excellence Dance Award, New Orleans.
♦ Presidents Award for Community Service, Indian Assoc of New Orleans.