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Sulakshana Jayaram is regarded as amongst the foremost young exponents of Bharatanatyam. She is acclaimed for her compelling dynamism in technique, charismatic stage presence and an emotive throb that marks her dance. Impeccable precision in footwork and angashuddham, flawless execution of adavus and a deeply internalized absorbed rendition of various bhavas and sancharis performed with rare skill, blend with harmonious synchrony into perfect unison in her dance. "A star is born, Ethereal, Pure joy to behold, Flawless execution .. Scintillating .. Connoisseurs' delight, Mesmerizing, Born to dance, inherent sense of laya and tala, Enthralling, Picture of perfection and composure...Impeccable, Evocative, Natural flair for abhinaya" are some epithets used by critics to describe her dance. An art connoisseur writes - "The lines of the dance etched by her limbs (angashuddham) were matched by her undoubted talent and palpable commitment which shone through. Incidentally, 'Sulakshana' means one with beautifully defined features, when this is matched by the finesse of her dance it is truly an elevating experience." Sulakshana is an accredited 'A' grade artist with Doordarshan, India and is an empaneled artist with the India Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). She has been presented by premier Sabhas at most major Dance Festivals in India. She has also performed internationally in the USA and Germany. She represented India as a cultural ambassador in Germany for an ICCR sponsored performance tour, under the aegis of the Indo-German Society (DIG) in November 2006. That art does indeed transcend all barriers was proven in her brilliant performances which were highly appreciated and received with standing ovations. In the words of a German Rasika "What a wonderful world! What a wonderful Dance! My English-I am Sorry, it is gone at the moment. But I feel like a millionaire..."  Her foray into the world of Bharatanatyam was at the tender age of five under the guidance of Guru Smt.Sushila of Kalamandalam, Kerala. Thereafter, she trained in the Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam under the tutelage of Gurus Shri Pandanallur Sreenivasa Pillai and Smt.Indira Rajan. For a brief period she trained with Guru Bhagavatalu Shri Seetarama Sharma to learn the intricacies of the Nattuvangam or the art of wielding cymbals. She has also trained with Guru Smt.Jayanti Subramanian and honed her skills in the art of Abhinaya. Sulakshana also trained in Carnatic vocal music from Guru Shri Rajagopalan. Sulakshana's mother Smt.Shanta Jayaram, a trained Hindustani classical vocalist, played a pivotal role in helping shape Sulakshana's aesthetic sensibilities and ideal on the inextricable unity that poetry and music share with dance.She had her debut stage performance or 'Arangetram' on the 15th of September 1989 in the blessed presence of Smt.M.S Subbulakshmi and Shri Sadasivam. She has since given over 200 solo performances presenting her art form in the premier Dance festivals in India and abroad, that include performances under the aegis of:
She has had the rare privilege and blessing of being invited by His Holiness Swami Sidda Bodda Nanda, after he witnessed her dance recital at the Thanjavur Brihadeeshwara temple organized as part of the South zone cultural festival, to perform at the ashram of His Holiness Shri Poojya Swami Dayanand Saraswati at Annaikati, Coimbatore. Swami Shri Dayanand Saraswati blessed the artist saying "...She is a gifted person and also highly committed to classicism. Many talented people do not find the art absorbing due to lack of commitment. There are a lot of committed people who do not have the natural gift of talent. Sulakshana has the commitment to her art and also has the gift of talent in abundance. I feel she is going to be not just a beneficiary but a contributor to her art..." Her recent group choreographic works include "Shivoham" based on the Nirvana Shatakam by Adi Shankaracharya, and "Kaikeyi's Lament - Not unheard" an original interpretation, both of which were premiered at the prestigious IDA festival (Chennai) in the years 2009 and 2011 respectively. She has conducted Bharatanatyam workshops in Milwaukee, USA and given lecture demonstrations to visiting students of the University of Winchester, UK on invitation from the Loyola College, Chennai. While adhering to the classicism of the Pandanallur tradition of dance, Sulakshana's exploration and discovery of this medium of art is replete with constant inquiry and experimentation. Her constant endeavor has been to delve into the great depths of this majestic art form and contribute in its propagation with utmost devotion and passion. In Sulakshana's own words - Each time I dance, I celebrate the incandescent beauty, joy and majesty of this rich art form with fervor, passion and a deep sense of devotion, and I find many moments of tranquility and ecstasy. My dance is, my Shiva.
My eternal truth. My prayer. In quest of that truth, I journey.. Shivoham. |
