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Nrithya Seva Mani by Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival to Kalasree Dr Sunanda Nair


Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival's Nrithya Seva Mani award will be presented to the renowned Mohiniyattam exponent Dr. Sunanda Nair. The title of Nrithya Seva Mani is bestowed upon an individual who has made a lasting contribution to Classical Dance through propagation and demonstration.


Senior disciple of Pathmabhushan Dr Kanak Rele, Dr. Sunanda Nair is one of the foremost exponents of the art today. She is the first student to complete Masters Degree in Mohiniyattam in India. She has completed her PhD from University of Mumbai for her thesis "Intrinsic Lyrical Feminism in Mohiniattam".



She was in high school, while she started the Srutilaya Institute of Fine Arts, which trains students both Mohiniattam and Bharatanatyam, in 1980.



She had performed all around the globe in prestigious venues and had received somany awards such as 'Kalarathnam’ from Kerala Kalamandalam(2016), 'Kalaasree' from the Kerala Sangeetha Natak Akademi(2011), 'Global Excellence Award' from GIA, New Delhi (2011), ’Kalaasagar' in memory of Late Kalamandalam Krishnankutty Poduval(2011).



Dr. Sunanda Nair who shuttles between India and USA, is the Founder of SPARC (Sunanda's Performing Arts Center). For last ten years, the efforts carried out by SPARC in handing over the rich tradition of Indian Classical Dance to the new generation in US has been huge.



The Award will be presented on April 11th, 2020 -7PM at Waetjen Auditorium, Cleveland University.








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