Guru Smt. Iswarya Kumar
Smt. Iswarya Kumar started Naatiyalaya Academy when she moved to Columbia, SC in 1998. She brought the intense, disciplined, meticulous training that was imparted to her from age 4, by the grand masters of Bharatanatyam, her gurus Guru Kalyanasundaram and late Guru Mahalingam Pillai and trained under an eminent Guru, the noted Bharatanatyam exponent Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam & Kalaimamani Shobana. She has also conducted many workshops and lecture demonstrations in Hope Collage in Holland, MI & School Craft College in MI & in U of M Ann arbor. Her classes in Abhinaya, interpretation and choreography are eagerly attended by senior dancers, teachers and students.Smt.Iswarya received a prestigious dance scholarship from the Government of India.
Academically, Smt.Iswarya holds a Baccalaureate degree in Engineering, from AU, India and MS.from USC. She also has passed on her great talent to many pupils. As a highly regarded Bharatanatyam artiste, Naatiyalaya's productions are known for its soulful execution, and ability to kindle in the audience's "rasa" or the aesthetic experience, – the very essence of Bharatanatyam.
Over the past 14 years she has nurtured, trained and developed hundreds of young children into elegant dancers and provided them with opportunities to perform at various venues both at national and international stage. Being a consummate artist, Iswarya's disciples were inspired to continue the tradition of this art form by being both professional dancers and teachers in United States after performing their Arangetrams (solo dance debut). Smt. Iswarya Arun received the "Best Guru" award from the Madras Music Academy, Chennai, India in 2001.
Academically, Smt.Iswarya holds a Baccalaureate degree in Engineering, from AU, India and MS.from USC. She also has passed on her great talent to many pupils. As a highly regarded Bharatanatyam artiste, Naatiyalaya's productions are known for its soulful execution, and ability to kindle in the audience's "rasa" or the aesthetic experience, – the very essence of Bharatanatyam.
Over the past 14 years she has nurtured, trained and developed hundreds of young children into elegant dancers and provided them with opportunities to perform at various venues both at national and international stage. Being a consummate artist, Iswarya's disciples were inspired to continue the tradition of this art form by being both professional dancers and teachers in United States after performing their Arangetrams (solo dance debut). Smt. Iswarya Arun received the "Best Guru" award from the Madras Music Academy, Chennai, India in 2001.