DEEPA SASHINDRAN - INDIAN CLASSICAL DANCER

Deepa Sashindran (Malayalam: ദീപ ശശീന്ദ്രൻ; born 3 July 1974), prime disciple of Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Bhargavi, is an Indian dancer, teacher of Indian classical dance form Kuchipudi, art motivator and entrepreneur.

Deepa stepped initially into classical dance form of Bharatanatyam at the age of 5 under renowned Gurus Kalamandalam Usha Datar and Dr.Savithri Ramaiah and then started learning from age of 8 kuchipudi form of dance under the renowned Kuchipudi exponent Smt. Manju Bhargavi for a period of three decades and currently being trained by Guru Vempati Ravi Shankar.

Innumerable solo performances came her way both in India & Abroad as well as essayed lead roles in dance dramas and was also the co-artist of her Guru and performed alongside on many prestigious festivals & occasions. Karnataka Govt Kuchipudi Text book committee has incorporated her dance pictures in the Kuchipudi text book of the state. She was invited to the First International Kuchipudi dance conference of North America held at Houston- Texas organised by Samskriti and was part of the delegation for paper presentation and rendered solo performances.

She is the founder of Kuchipudi Parampara Foundation for imparting training and propagation of Kuchipudi art form in Bangalore with accomplished advisors as part of the committee, recently the foundation has extended its services in conducting master classes at Swathi Thirunal Academy in Calicut headed by Sri Kaithpram Damodaran Namboothri, as an Independent tutor, her services has been utilised by many veteran artists of Bangalore. She is also involved in bringing out innovative dance festivals, workshops, which are most look forward events in Bangalore.

She was conferred with many titles and awards such as the Best Kuchipudi Artiste of Karnataka from Yuvaranga, Nritya Shiromani National Award at Cuttack and Sathyabhama Award by Kuchipudi danseuse Padmasri -Sobha Naidu at Vishakapatnam. In 1995 she was accredited artist of Doordarshan .

Apart from Dance, she is a Law Graduate with PGD in Industrial Relations and Personal Management, Human Resources Specialist in Software industry and currently an Entrepreneur in Human Capital Management Services and owns the company Karma Kreators.

Awards and Credentials

• Best Kuchipudi Artiste Yuva Ranga

• Nritya Shiromani National Award

• Sathyabhama Excellence Award

• Nrithya Vilasini