Priyadarsini Govind

Priyadarsini Govind was born in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. She began learning Bharatanatyam at age six and performed her arangetram (debut) at nine.{{cite web |title=The dance of life |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/supplement/story/20131118-the-dance-of-life-768420-1999-11-29 |website=India Today |date=29 November 1999 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Dance of her heart |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-arts/chen-dance/dance-of-her-heart/article4294256.ece |website=The Hindu |date=11 January 2013 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She trained under Kalanidhi Narayanan, focusing on abhinaya , and Swamimalai K. Rajaratnam of the Vazhuvoor school for Nritya .{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.sruti.com/index.php/printeditions/sruti-back-issues-individual/priyadarsini-govind |website=Sruti |access-date=14 April 2025}} Govind holds a commerce degree from the University of Madras and a diploma in mass communication.

Priyadarsini Govind is a prominent Bharatanatyam dancer known for her precision in Nritya and nuanced abhinaya, often exploring themes of devotion and human emotions in performances like “Krishna Nee Begane Baaro” and Kshetrayya padams.{{cite web |title=Quietude enhances Priyadarsini Govind's performance |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/quietude-enhances-priyadarsini-govinds-performance/article67747846.ece |website=The Hindu |date=22 January 2024 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Emotive portrayal |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/Emotive-portrayal/article16737180.ece |website=The Hindu |date=9 December 2011 |access-date=14 April 2025}} Trained in the Vazhuvoor style, she has choreographed works that incorporate rhythmic variations while preserving traditional forms.{{cite web |title=Fit to form - Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/Fit-to-form-Priyadarsini-Govind/article15377383.ece |website=The Hindu |date=11 February 2011 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind aces the exquisite art of abhinaya |url=https://www.dtnext.in/wellbeing/2015/10/31/priyadarsini-govind-aces-the-exquisite-art-of-abhinaya |website=DT Next |date=31 October 2015 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She has performed at festivals and venues across India, the United States, Singapore, and Europe.{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.sangeetnatak.gov.in/public/uploads/awardees/docs/1704546036_Priyadarsini%20Govind.pdf |website=Sangeet Natak Akademi |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=When art and artiste meet |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/When-art-and-artiste-meet/article17313246.ece |website=The Hindu |date=27 January 2017 |access-date=14 April 2025}} Notable international performances include the Erasing Borders Festival in New York (2012), where she presented a Kshetrayya padam and a thillana, and Navaroz with Natya Dance Theatre in Chicago (2008).{{cite web |title=Erasing Borders Festival With Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/17/arts/dance/erasing-borders-festival-with-priyadarsini-govind.html |website=The New York Times |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Natya Dance Theater and Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/03/arts/dance/03naty.html |website=The New York Times |date=2 November 2008 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She performed solo in Washington, D.C. (2005), showcasing nayika emotions, and collaborated with vocalist T. M. Krishna there in 2012.{{cite news |title=Priyadarsini Govind: From One, Many |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2005/04/12/priyadarsini-govind-from-one-many/62526856-8859-4edc-9275-88ef011603a9/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=12 April 2005 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite news |title=Performance Review: T.M. Krishna and Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/performance-review-tm-krishna-and-priyadarsini-govind/2012/09/24/bbb4614c-0666-11e2-9eea-333857f6a7bd_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=24 September 2012 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

From 2013 to 2017, Govind served as director of the Kalakshetra Foundation, the first non-alumnus or non-faculty member in the role.{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind is new director of Kalakshetra |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/priyadarsini-govind-is-new-director-of-kalakshetra/article4901602.ece |website=The Hindu |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind appointed director of Kalakshetra |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/priyadarsini-govind-appointed-director-of-kalakshetra/articleshow/21008375.cms |website=The Times of India |date=11 July 2013 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She oversaw arts education, expanded outreach programs, and documented Kalakshetra’s costume and production traditions.{{cite web |title=The costume quotient |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/the-costume-quotient/article6850838.ece |website=The Hindu |date=22 January 2015 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Kalakshetra celebrates its 80th year |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/Kalakshetra-celebrates-its-80th-year/article13969323.ece |website=The Hindu |date=25 February 2016 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She introduced initiatives to promote classical arts in local schools.

Govind has conducted Bharatanatyam workshops and lecture-demonstrations, including at SPIC MACAY events in Madurai and Kodaikanal, emphasizing inclusivity in arts education.{{cite web |title=Bharatanatyam dancer Priyadarsini Govind on SPICMACAY tour in Madurai |url=https://www.thehindu.com/life-and-style/bharatanatyam-dancer-priyadarsini-govind-on-spicmacay-tour-in-madurai/article22814700.ece |website=The Hindu |date=21 February 2018 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini is making classical dance accessible to everyone |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/creating-a-bond-with-students-through-dance/article22980531.ece |website=The Hindu |date=8 March 2018 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind on the value of art, inclusivity and the UNESCO honour |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/priyadarsini-govind-on-the-value-of-art-inclusivity-and-the-unesco-honour/article20478657.ece |website=The Hindu |date=24 November 2017 |access-date=14 April 2025}} In 2022, she collaborated with director Sruti Harihara Subramanian on the dance film Yavanika - The Screen of Illusion, exploring themes of self and illusion, adapted for digital audiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.{{cite web |title=Priyadarsini Govind on the making of 'Yavanika' |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/yavanika-the-screen-of-illusion-priyadarsini-govind-dance-on-film-sruti-harihara-subramanian/article65895162.ece |website=The Hindu |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She has also researched the contributions of devadasis to Bharatanatyam, highlighting their artistic legacy, and discussed art’s role in fostering emotional resilience.{{cite web |title=Relevance of a devadasi's work |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/relevance-of-a-devadasis-work/article31107081.ece |website=The Hindu |date=21 February 2020 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=I am capable of blocking out things that are not pleasant |url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/i-am-capable-of-blocking-out-things-that-are-not-pleasant/article18050815.ece |website=The Hindu |date=15 April 2017 |access-date=14 April 2025}}{{cite web |title=Art must go |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/art-must-go-701387.html |website=Deccan Herald |date=7 October 2018 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

Govind has received several awards for her contributions to Bharatanatyam, including:

• Kalaimamani from the Tamil Nadu State Government (1998).

• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2012).{{cite web |title=Ilayaraja, Rajshekhar, Mansur get Akademi |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/entertainment/ilayaraja-rajshekhar-mansur-get-akademi-2380850 |website=Deccan Herald |date=24 February 2022 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

• Nritya Choodamani from Sri Krishna Gana Sabha (2015).

• Excellence Award from the Rotary Club of Chennai (2018).{{cite web |title=Excellence award for Priyadarsini Govind |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/excellence-award-for-priyadarsini-govind/article22515924.ece |website=The Hindu |date=16 January 2018 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

Her work has been recognized for its technical skill and emotional depth.{{cite web |title=Resounding steps |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/features/resounding-steps-2241661 |website=Deccan Herald |date=28 March 2021 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

Govind was married to Muktha Govind, a film producer, until his death in 2016.{{cite web |title=Film producer passes away |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/chen-society/film-producer-dead/article5893081.ece |website=The Hindu |date=21 May 2016 |access-date=14 April 2025}} She has emphasized resilience in her career, focusing on her art despite personal challenges.{{cite web |title=Inner strength |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/blogs/blog-touchy-notes/article4908341.ece |website=The Hindu |date=12 July 2013 |access-date=14 April 2025}}

• Yavanika - The Screen of Illusion (2022), a dance film with Sruti Harihara Subramanian.

• Performances of traditional pieces like “Krishna Nee Begane Baaro” and Kshetrayya padams, exploring varied nayika emotions.

• Choreography for Kalakshetra productions, preserving Rukmini Devi Arundale’s vision.

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Category:People from Chennai

Category:Recipients of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award

Category:Year of birth missing (living people)

Category:Living people

Category:Indian dancers

Category:Indian classical choreographers