Vidushi (Padmashri) Geeta Chandran, 62, is a distinguished dance guru, scholar, choreographer, and Carnatic vocalist who channels her passion into elevating the world through Bharatanatyam. Recently celebrating 50 years as a professional dancer, she reflects on her journey with gratitude. “God has been incredibly kind to me. I always knew that my language would be classical Bharatanatyam. I chose to use this art form to explore and express profound issues that moved me, shaping them into creative offerings—what I call performance-dialogues.”
Introduction to dance
Geeta’s journey with Bharatanatyam began at the age of five when her mother enrolled her under the guidance of devadasi Guru Smt. Swarna Saraswati. “It was a profound experience where I was immersed in this sacred art form without the pressure of performance. Swarna Amma poured an ocean of wisdom into my tiny hands, and I, an eager student, was diligently guided by my strict mother. By the time I performed my arangetram at 12, I had learned numerous treasures—alarippus, jatiswarams, varnams, and a variety of padams. But the learning was pure, unburdened by expectations.”
She started performing on stage at around six or seven years old and continued throughout her formal education and even while working at Namedia and NTPC. Eventually, she left her job to fully immerse herself in dance. “It was a risky decision because in the arts, there is no clear path—only the challenge of constantly swimming against the current and enduring long periods of waiting in the wings,” she reflects.
Geeta’s training under her dance gurus has been rigorous and deeply enriching. Speaking with profound reverence about her mentors, she shares, “I have paid tribute to my first Guru, Smt. Swarna Saraswati. From Guru K.N. Dakshinamurti Pillai, I learned stagecraft and performance strategies. I was the prime disciple of Guru Jamuna Krishnan, whose remarkable research on the padavalis of North Indian poets allowed me to expand Bharatanatyam beyond its traditional South Indian repertoire. The legendary Smt. Kalanidhi Narayanan refined my abhinaya skills, while in rhythm, I was fortunate to be guided by Karaikudi P. Sivakumar.
My accompanying musicians—O.S. Arun, Sudha Raghuraman, and Venkateshwaran Kuppuswamy—have been a source of inspiration in my dance, as have percussionists S. Shankar, Ramamoorthi Sriganesh, and Manohar Balatchandirane, who have been close collaborators. Above all, my spiritual Guru, Acharya Shri Shrivatsa Goswami of Vrindavan, has been a guiding force, always illuminating the path when artists find themselves lost in darkness.”
Beginning of a journey
Her journey as a professional dancer began 25 years ago with Her Voice, a commissioned performance-dialogue for a Wiscomp Conference on women and war. Over the years, she has created several thought-provoking works, including Imagining Peace (on the futility of violence), Kaikeyi and Ravana (challenging stigma and villainisation), Mythologies Retold (addressing female foeticide), Anekanta (highlighting the Indian Constitution’s vision of inclusivity), Gandhi: Warp & Weft (exploring Gandhian values and choices), Simhika: Daughter of the Forest (focusing on justice and rights for forest tribals), Jatayu Bharatam (celebrating 75 years of India’s independence), and Our Voice (examining contemporary women’s rights issues).
Her most recent work, Songs of the Millstone, unveils the suppressed desires of rural women, expressed through their songs as they labour—grinding grain, weaving on handlooms, and toiling in agriculture. Often unpaid. And unheard.
Classical dance has seen significant growth in recent years, and Geeta seamlessly bridges the art form with India’s rich heritage. “Classical dances embody India’s diverse cultural tapestry. Each style reflects local aesthetics—handlooms, jewellery, associated crafts, regional music, and traditional instruments unique to its region. Beyond that, the essence of classical dance is deeply rooted in Indian heritage, drawing from our myths, epics, and sthala puranas, infusing them with life and spirit. Every dancer is a heritage ambassador and deserves to be recognised as such,” she explains.
Committed to arts education
A visionary artist, Geeta upholds tradition while transcending linguistic boundaries, crafting choreographies that spark meaningful societal dialogue. As the Founder-President of Natya Vriksha in New Delhi, she wears many hats—arts administrator, mentor, and philanthropist—dedicated to integrating art education into formal curricula.
“Today’s youth in India are a privileged generation, equipped with unique skills and incredible opportunities. Technology has empowered them in unprecedented ways. However, what they lack is a constant connection to culture and heritage—something our formal education system fails to instil. This is why I am deeply invested in reimagining the pedagogy of arts education in schools. Can our schools produce performing artists? The answer is no. Artistes are nurtured through the Guru-Shishya Parampara. This fundamental gap in our education system has resulted in students who are completely disconnected from their cultural roots,” she asserts.
Throughout her career, Geeta has collaborated with a diverse array of artists, forging meaningful creative partnerships. “I have been fortunate to work with dancers, musicians, craftsmen, authors, poets, painters, theater personalities, academicians, philosophers, linguists, and costume and fashion designers. But there’s a caveat—collaborations should be meaningful. I believe in shared artistry that resonates philosophically, not in partnerships driven merely by marketing,” she emphasises.
Gaining recognition
With her deep-rooted journey in dance, Geeta’s cultural initiatives are profoundly shaped by India’s rich heritage. “I am deeply inspired by the spirit of Indian culture and heritage. Everything I am, do, or express is a reflection of the collective wisdom and knowledge of this extraordinary civilization we belong to. Its seamless connection between past, present, and future, its deep reverence for the environment, its rich philosophies and spiritual traditions, and its enduring message of compassion and hope—each of these aspects fuels my inspiration every moment, both awake and in dreams.”
Geeta’s illustrious career is adorned with numerous prestigious awards, including the Padma Shri (2007), the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2016), and the Tagore National Fellowship (2017-2018). Adding to this esteemed list is the Nritya Choodamani honour, conferred by Krishna Gana Sabha, a renowned cultural institution in Chennai. This distinguished award is reserved for artists who have made significant contributions to the preservation and advancement of the art form and society at large.
“Each year, Krishna Gana Sabha bestows the prestigious Nritya Choodamani title upon a distinguished artist. I was genuinely surprised when Sabha Secretary Shri Y. Prabhu and CEO Saashwathy Prabhu informed me that I had been unanimously chosen for the 2024 honour. It was especially unexpected since I am often seen as an ‘outside’ dancer in Chennai—my karmabhumi has been Delhi, with a national presence,” she shares.
When asked about how she feels receiving the honour, Geeta responds, “Awards do momentarily flatter the ego, but that’s fleeting. What they truly do is inspire me to push myself further, to strive harder. They serve as catalysts that drive me to work more diligently.”
