Shanta Dhananjayan, Classical Dancer
Classical Dancer

Shanta Dhananjayan

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Co-founded the Dhananjayan Dance Company promoting Bharatanatyam and Kathakali worldwide.

Vannadil Pudiyaveettil Dhananjayan and Shanta Dhananjayan, collectively known as the Dhananjayans, are an Indian dance duo specializing in Bharatanatyam and Kathakali.

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A detail that
surprised us

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At age 12, Shanta had secretly decided she would marry V.P. Dhananjayan, but only revealed her consent four years later after returning from Malaysia.

The Story

1
🌿 In 1952, eight-year-old Shanta Dhananjayan was sent from Malaysia to Kalakshetra in Chennai, where she trained rigorously in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Carnatic music, graduating with distinction by 1968.
2
🌟 V.P. Dhananjayan, born in 1939 in Payyanur, Kerala, joined Kalakshetra in 1953 under a scholarship, studying under Rukmini Devi Arundale and Guru Chandu Panicker, mastering Bharatanatyam and Kathakali over 14 years.
3Their first joint stage appearance was in 1956 performing Rukmini Devi's "Seeta Swayamvaram" in Coimbatore, marking the beginning of a professional partnership that would last decades.
4💃 In 1966, the couple married at the Guruvayoor Temple in Kerala after Shanta returned from Malaysia, fulfilling a long-cherished partnership that began secretly during their teens at Kalakshetra.

🏅 Awards & Honours

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🔍 One thing most people don't know

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Shanta Dhananjayan was born in Malaysia but moved to India at eight to train at Kalakshetra, where she mastered Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and Carnatic music by 1968.

📸 Through the Years

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🗓️ A Life in Moments

🕊️
Birth
V.P. Dhananjayan born in Kerala
Born in Payyanur, Kannur District, Kerala, into a Malayali family of eight children.
1939
🕊️
Birth
Shanta Dhananjayan born in Malaysia
Born into a Malayali family with roots in Kerala, later moved to India for dance training.
1943
📚
Education
Shanta joins Kalakshetra
At age 8, Shanta was sent to Kalakshetra to begin formal training in Bharatanatyam and Carnatic music.
1952
📚
Education
V.P. Dhananjayan joins Kalakshetra
Received scholarship and began training in Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, and music under Rukmini Devi Arundale.
1953
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Career
First joint performance
Performed Rukmini Devi's "Seeta Swayamvaram" in Coimbatore, marking their debut as a dance duo.
1956
🌟
Other
Marriage at Guruvayoor Temple
Shanta and V.P. Dhananjayan married, solidifying their personal and professional partnership.
1966
⚡
Career
Choreographed "Jungle Book" in London
Blended Bharatanatyam and four other Indian dance forms for a UK-commissioned production with 300 shows.
1984
⚡
Career
Performed in "GHANASHYAM"
Collaborated with Pt. Ravi Shankar on this magnum opus blending Indian classical music and dance.
1989
More moments to come...
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🗝️Discoveries

Swipe to uncover hidden stories
01 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

Their 1984 "Jungle Book" production in London incorporated Bharatanatyam, Kathak, Kathakali, Manipuri, and Odissi, blending diverse Indian dance styles on a Western stage.

02 / 04
🔍LESSER KNOWN

V.P. Dhananjayan was initially a student of economics and politics alongside dance, holding a B.A. degree before dedicating himself fully to classical dance.

03 / 04
🏆ACHIEVEMENT

The Dhananjayans have performed with casts as large as 1,000 children in New York's National Dance Institute’s "CHAKRA" production, showcasing large-scale choreography.

No quote recorded for Shanta Dhananjayan yet.

🎙️ Speeches & Recordings

These recordings preserve the legacy of Bharat's icons
Padmabhushan Guru Smt Shanta Dhananjayan
More from this archive
Padmabhushan Guru Smt Shanta Dhananjayan
01
Padmabhushan Guru Smt Shanta Dhananjayan
5-5-19 | Interview with Sri Dhananjayan & Smt Shantha Dhananjayan - Part 1
02
5-5-19 | Interview with Sri Dhananjayan & Smt Shantha Dhananjayan - Part 1
The Artist's Soul - Dhananjayans
03
The Artist's Soul - Dhananjayans
Leda Shantala - Function & dance in honour of her Indian dance Gurus “The Dhananjayans”
04
Leda Shantala - Function & dance in honour of her Indian dance Gurus “The Dhananjayans”
14-02-19 @ 7.30 pm - The Dhananjayans Speak on Character Depiction in Natya
05
14-02-19 @ 7.30 pm - The Dhananjayans Speak on Character Depiction in Natya
Bhaava Haava | Nuances of Creative Abinaya | The Dhananjayans
06
Bhaava Haava | Nuances of Creative Abinaya | The Dhananjayans
Institutions: V.P. Dhananjayan on Kalakshetra
07
Institutions: V.P. Dhananjayan on Kalakshetra
Lecture Demo by Guru Dhananjayans
08
Lecture Demo by Guru Dhananjayans

🌱 What changed because of them

The Dhananjayans established Bharata Kalanjali in Chennai, creating a vital institution for Bharatanatyam training and choreography that nurtured new generations of dancers. Their internationally staged productions like the London "Jungle Book" ballet in 1984 introduced Indian classical dance forms to global audiences, influencing cross-cultural collaborations. Their detailed study and practice of the 108 karanas and traditional dance elements have deepened scholarly and practical understanding of Bharatanatyam's technical foundations.

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