- Keerthanam
- The Guru
Shemi Ajith Neelambari
Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam dancer, teacher, and Director of Keerthanam Kalai Arangam in Chennai.
A graded Doordarshan artist trained in the Kalakshetra line, she has spent more than a decade teaching and performing with Saradhi Academy, Chennai.
- Art forms
- Bharatanatyam and Mohiniyattam
- Grade
- Graded artist, Doordarshan
- Education
- Postgraduate in Bharatanatyam and in Malayalam Literature
- Director of
- Keerthanam Kalai Arangam
About
Performer, teacher, mentor
Shemi Ajith Neelambari is a graded Doordarshan artist and a postgraduate in Bharatanatyam and Malayalam Literature, from the University of Madras and Annamalai University.
She has been part of Saradhi Academy, Chennai, for over a decade as a performer, teacher and mentor. She is the Director of Keerthanam Kalai Arangam, which is devoted to promoting classical dance and music.
With decades of dedication to the classical arts, she continues her work as a performer, teacher and cultural leader, through her institutions and her own ongoing training.
Training
Her gurus
A classical dancer is known by the teachers she learned from. This is the line Shemi carries.
-
Gurukula
Her first training, in the traditional gurukula system.
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Kalagramam Institute
A five-year diploma in Bharatanatyam.
Kalakshetra mentorsKamaladeviPushpalathaSeetha Sashidharan
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Advanced training
She further honed her art under three masters.
GurusKalaimamani KameswaranSuresh Sreedhar R.Dr. L. Narendhra Kumar
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Mohiniyattam
An accomplished Mohiniyattam artist as well.
GuruKalamandalam Kshemaavathi
-
University
Postgraduate studies in Bharatanatyam and Malayalam Literature, at the University of Madras and Annamalai University.
-
Keerthanam Kalai Arangam
Today she passes the art on to her own students.
Recognition
Honours
- Natya Praveena
- Natya Manjeera Award
- Navashakthi Kalabharathi Award
- Nritha Vidhushi
She has also won several school-level awards.
Performances
On stage
Shemi has performed widely across India and abroad, through the Margazhi season and at festivals and sabhas such as these.
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan
- Krishna Gana Sabha
- Margazhi festivals
- Chidambaram Natyanjali
- Mamallapuram Dance Festival
- Cultural showcases in Malaysia
ProductionsAvalSringaramBharatiyan
- Jury member at major cultural events, including the Kerala State Kalolsavam.
- Regularly takes part in programmes organised by the Kerala and Tamil Nadu Tourism Departments.
Research
Papers presented
-
Taking Bharatham to the Grassroots through the Bani
University of Madras,
On her work to open classical dance training and performance to everyone.
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The Aharyam and Indigenous Concepts of Bharathanatyam: A Study Based on Art and Culture
Bridge International Conference of Indian Fine Arts, Bangalore (Periyar University)
Learn with Shemi
Shemi teaches at Keerthanam Kalai Arangam in Thirumullaivoyal, Chennai. Write to us to ask about Bharatanatyam classes for children and adults.
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