Completing 36 years in the sphere of dancing

Chelvatamby MANICCAVASAGAR

Natya Kala Mandhir, the centre for performing and visual arts which was founded in the year 1976 by the nationally and internationally reputed dancer Srimathy Vasugy Jegatheeswaran completes 36 years in the sphere of dancing. To mark the occasion there will be a variety of dances performed by her students at the New Kathiresan Hall, Bambalapitiya Colombo 4, on November 10 at 5 pm.

Srimathy Vasugy Jegatheeswaran

Srimathy Vasugy Jeatheeswaran, directress of Natya Kala Mandhir took up dancing as her career at the tender age of three. Her first guru was his mother late Vijayalakshmi Shanmugampillai who was an excellent dancer trained in contemporary Indian dance and Bharatha Natyam.

In fact, she owes his artistic and creative vision to her mother and to her father late K. Shanmugampillai.

After initiation into dance by her mother and having made her mark as a young student she proceeded to India, where she obtained the title Bharatha Choodamani and the diploma in dancing and Najjuvangam under the tutelage of gurus such as Tan Jore Srimathy Jegathambal, Adyar K. Lakshman and Srimathy Dhananjayans to achieve this level of proficiency.

On her return to Sri Lanka, her ambition was to impart her knowledge and training to as many students as possible and popularise Bharatha Natyam in Sri Lanka. To achieve this objective, she established her own school of dancing called Natya Kala Mandhir in 1976 and successfully produced several acclaimed dancers and also she has staged Bharatha Natyam Arangetrams for more than 115 students.

In recognition of her abilities, she was invited to impart her skills at Sarasavipaya, the school of fine arts, Holy Family Convent, Bambalapitiya and at the Indian Cultural Centre. Further, she was greatly honoured by many prominent personalities for her contribution in the field or dancing.

In 1990, she was awarded the most prestigious award ‘Kalasuri’ by the government of Sri Lanka. She was also conferred with the titles of ‘Bharatha Booshana Thilakam,’ Narthana Nayaka’, ‘Nadana Kalai Arasi’, ‘Kalai Chemal’, ‘Ratnadeepam’ and in 2006, she was conferred with the title of Kalai Arasi from the famous South Indian Dancer Dr. Padma Subramaniam in Chennai.

Other awards included Bunka Award in 1997 by the Japan - Sri Lanka Friendship Cultural Fund. She has been an active member of the Sri Lanka Arts Council and in 2000, she was appointed as a Justice of the Peace (All Island).

Furthermore, she and her students have had the privilege of participating in international performances in many parts of the world such as India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Canada, Sweden and Australia.

Indeed, Natya Kala Mandhir today stands not merely as an Institution, but also as a strong spirit destined to remain strong and sound for many more years.