Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy
Danseuse • Choreographer • Guru • Scholar
Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy is a danseuse par excellence, a versatile choreographer of repute, and a venerated guru of Bharatanatyam. Hailing from the princely city of Mysore, she has emerged as a phenomenon in the Indian classical dance world, with an illustrious career spanning more than five decades.
Her performances embody profound artistic ingenuity—marked by impromptu improvisations, intricate footwork, and expressive abhinaya. As a choreographer, she has created a diverse repertoire of productions that seamlessly blend spiritual and secular themes, reflecting her inventive brilliance.
A pioneer in integrating yoga with dance, Dr. Vasundhara trained under the legendary Shri Pattabhi Jois in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Her groundbreaking doctoral research explored the correlation between Yoga and Bharatanatyam, establishing her as both a scholar and practitioner of multidisciplinary depth.
Honours and Awards
Dr. Vasundhara has been recognised with some of the highest honours in India and abroad:
- Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2019) – conferred by the President of India
- Shantala Award – Karnataka’s highest state award for dance
- Karnataka Kala Tilak – youngest recipient of this honour by the Karnataka Sangeetha Nrithya Academy
- Asthana Nritya Ratna – conferred by Shri Shri Vishwapriyateertha of Shri Krishna Mutt, Udupi
- Rajyotsava Award – Government of Karnataka
- Kala Vipanchi – presented in Chennai by Padma Vibhushan Dr. Balamuralikrishna
- Shreshta Kala Pracharak – from Padma Bhushan Dr. Saroja Vaidyanathan (Ganesh Natyalaya, New Delhi)
- Chandana Award – by Doordarshan India
- Natya Jyothi – Australia
- Millennium Award – USA
In addition, she has been honoured internationally with the title of Honorary Citizen of Louisville, USA, along with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Mayor of Louisville.
Choreographic Excellence
Her pioneering solo productions include:
- Panchali – a unique adaptation of Yakshagana music into Bharatanatyam
- Ganga Lahari – a powerful retelling of the story of River Ganga
- Sama Veda – the only Bharatanatyam production exploring the fountainhead of Indian classical music
Her productions have won critical acclaim for their originality, depth, and spiritual resonance.
International Presence
Dr. Vasundhara is the only Bharatanatyam artiste from India invited to perform at the World Peace Conference in Paris under UNESCO , before 2,500 representatives from 137 countries.
She regularly travels across the globe—conducting workshops, summer schools, and performances in the USA, UK, Australia, Europe, and Asia. She has represented India through the ICCR (Indian Council for Cultural Relations) in countries including France, Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic.
In 2017, she mesmerized an audience of over 2,500 with a special yoga demonstration on International Yoga Day in Paris.
Dr. Vasundhara is a Visiting Guest Professor at the University of Alabama, USA, where she spends summers imparting her expertise in dance and yoga. She has also established international branches for Bharatanatyam and Ashtanga Yoga, including the Art of Vinyasa in Melbourne, led by her daughter-in-law, Meghala Bhat.
Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy stands as a torchbearer of tradition, innovation, and global cultural dialogue—her life’s work a testimony to Bharatanatyam as both an art and a way of life.