Vasundhara Doraswamy to Receive Excellence Award 2026

Why in News?

• Renowned Bharatanatyam artist, choreographer and scholar Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy will receive the Padmabhushan Guru Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan Excellence Award 2026.
• The award will be presented by the Nataraj Music & Dance Academy (NMDA) during the Vysakhi Nrithyotsav Indian Dance Festival in Visakhapatnam on September 26–27, 2026.

Who is Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy?

• Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy is a renowned Bharatanatyam exponent, choreographer and scholar based in Mysore, Karnataka. She has worked in the field of Bharatanatyam for more than five decades.
• She is known for her work combining Bharatanatyam with Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. She also completed doctoral research on the relationship between these two disciplines after training under yoga exponent K. Pattabhi Jois.

Major Contributions

• Dr. Doraswamy has created several solo choreographies, including:
  • Panchali
  • Ganga Lahari
  • Sama Veda
• Her performances and research have contributed to the promotion and wider understanding of Bharatanatyam in India and abroad.
• She has also performed at international platforms, including the UNESCO World Peace Conference in Paris.

Awards and Honours

• Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy has received several honours, including:
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi Award
  • Shantala Award
  • Honorary Citizenship of Louisville, Kentucky

About Vysakhi Nrithyotsav

• The Vysakhi Nrithyotsav Indian Dance Festival is organised annually by the Nataraj Music & Dance Academy (NMDA) in Visakhapatnam.
• The festival aims to promote Indian classical dance and recognise the contributions of artists in the field.

Significance

• The recognition of Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy highlights the contribution of Indian classical artists to the preservation, research and global promotion of traditional dance forms such as Bharatanatyam.
• Her work also demonstrates the connection between Indian classical dance and traditional yoga practices.

About Bharatanatyam

Bharatanatyam is one of India’s major classical dance forms, originating in Tamil Nadu.

• It combines dance, music, expressions, rhythm and storytelling. 
• It uses hand gestures (mudras), facial expressions and body movements to convey emotions and stories. 
• Traditionally, many performances were based on Hindu mythology and devotional themes. 
• The dance form developed significantly through the temple and Devadasi traditions of South India. 
• Rukmini Devi Arundale played an important role in its revival and popularisation in the modern era. 
• Today, Bharatanatyam is performed and taught widely in India and across the world. 

Conclusion

Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy's recognition celebrates her five decades of contribution to Bharatanatyam and her efforts to promote Indian classical dance in India and abroad.

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