Devayani Kumari is an internationally renowned Indian classical dancer who has received extensive training in Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi, South Indian classical music, and Western dance forms. She has performed extensively across India, Europe, UK, and other parts of the world. Some of her notable achievements include being selected as the first Asian dancer by the Arts Council of Great Britain to promote Bharatanatyam in the UK and receiving the Padma Shri award, one of the highest civilian honors in India, for her distinguished services and achievements in art.

1. Telefax: 00 9111 26910538 Mobile: 00 91 98 10911944
Email:devayani_dance@rediffmail.com, kumari.devayani@facebook.com
www.devayanidance.com, www.facebook.com/People/Kumari.Devayani, www.youtube.com/watch?vz6t0
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Professional Training & Education
Paris: * Conversatory of Music and Dance. Schola Cantorum, Classical & Modern Ballet.
Workshops with ALwin Nikolais and Martha Graham disciples.
Flamenco dance classes with Lutys de Luz.
Training in South Indian Classical Dance - Bharata Natyam under Amala Devi and Malavika.
* Masters of Arts, French Honours (with distinction), PHD level, Sorbonne
University.
Certificate of English, Cambridge University. Certificate of German, Goethe
Institute.

2. Madras: Training in Bharata Natyam under Guru K. Ellapa Mudaliar, Kalaimamani V.S. Muthuswamy Pillai.
Training in the Art of Abhinaya (Mime.) under Srimati Kalanidhi Narayanan.
Training in Karanas (sculptural poses) under Kumari Swarnamukhi.
Training in Kuchipudi Dance under Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam.
Training in vocal South Indian Classical music under Padmavibushan Dr. Balamuralikrishna.
New Delhi: Training under Guru V. Sadasivam. Studied the refinements of Bharata Natyam under Dr.
Yamini Krishnamurti & at Sri Ram Bharatya Kala Kendra
EXPERIENCE
Films: Lead role as actress, dancer, singer of an Indian film (Telugu)
“America Ammayi “- “A girl from America”.
T.V.: Bharata Natyam shows, FR 3 (France), DOORDARSHAN (India),
B B C, I T V, Zee T V, Asia T V, (UK, US), NET (Greece)
Stage: International Bharata Natyam performer:
Performances and tours all over India, in Nepal, Bangladesh, in the whole of Europe, of the United
Kingdom and in the Scandinavian countries. Participation in major Festivals in India and International
Festivals in Europe, U.K.

3. AREA OF SPECIALISATION
Promotion of Indian Dance and Culture in England & Internationally:
Seminars, workshops, lecture demonstrations, master classes.
Selected as First Asian Dancer by The Arts Council of Great Britain to promote Bharata
Natyam in UK. Conducting classes a t ‘Dance City’ Newcastle upon Tyne National Dance Agency. Workshop
with ‘Ballet Rambert’. T.V. and stage shows.
Selected by the Ministry of Tourism, Govt. of India for the Incredible India Campaign titled
‘Real People’. Publication in the TIME &Newsweek magazines. Hoarding in Times Square, New
York.
PUBLICATIONS
“Letters from a father to his daughter” by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Official translator English - French for a
publication in French for Festival of India in France. Commissioned by the Government of India for the I.C.C.R.
(Indian Council for Cultural Relations).
AWARDS AND GRANTS
 Awarded the Indo-French Cultural Exchange Programme

4.  Scholarship. Studied in Madras
 Awarded the I.C.C.R. Scholarship for four years, New Delhi
 Grant from the French Embassy, New Delhi
 Award at International Choreography Contest, Nyon, Switzerland
 ‘Award for exemplary contribution to the Art and Tradition of Bharata Natyam’, S.C.Z.C.C., India
 ‘Award for Exemplary Contribution to the Art and Tradition of Bharata Natyam’, N.C.Z.C.C., India
 Selected First Asian Dancer to promote Indian Classical Dance in England, Arts Council of England
 Financial assistance for the production “DEVADASI”, Department of Culture, Ministry of Human Resource
and Development, New Delhi
 Award for Achievement of Excellence, Andhra Pradesh Cultural Society
 Classified “Eminent Artist” by The Ministry of Culture, New Delhi, Govt. of India
 Awarded the IMM Top Cultural Ambassador Award for Excellence in presence of the Deputy Prime
Minister of India
 Selected by the World Culture Open Organizing Committee to represent India in Traditional Classical
Indian Dance in the World Culture Open 2004, Seoul, Korea
 National Women Excellence Award for Culture, Tradition & Art Promotion
 PADMA SHRI AWARD conferred by the President of India to the most distinguished artists in recognition
of their distinguished services and outstanding achievements in the field of Art.
INTERVIEWS

5. Countless interviews to the Press, Radio, Television in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, U.K.,US, all the European and
Scandinavian countries, Estonia.

6. Countless interviews to the Press, Radio, Television in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, U.K.,US, all the European and
Scandinavian countries, Estonia.