ABOUT
Strongly emotive and visually compelling, Lingalayam’s creative body of work incorporates dance, live-music, text and design, and is created and performed by artists of world-class standing. The Lingalayam repertoire draws from the ancient dance forms of Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi, and is directed by legendary guru – dancer, choreographer, and teacher - Anandavalli.
Lingalayam is an Australian arts organisation, whose focus is the nurturing and strengthening of the appreciation and knowledge of Indian culture, through art works of traditional genesis, presented in the context of our contemporary society’s cultural tapestry. Lingalayam holds the principles of cultural integrity and professional standards as paramount to the success of its creative endeavour and its future vision.
As a central focus, the work of Anandavalli and the artists of Lingalayam, express the unique role of women and dance in ancient India. These feminine themes are explored through vibrant Indian mythology, to unveil both the universal and specific strengths of women. This is named and celebrated as Shakthi and is a vital basis for the content of many of Lingalayam’s creative works.
Anandavalli is an internationally-renowned dancer, choreographer and teacher of Bharatha Natyam and Kuchipudi, with a carer spanning over 48 years. She began her training at the age of seven and was discovered by the late Professor P.Sambamoorthy, one of the greatest authorities on Indian music and dance, who later recorded that Anandavalli ‘was born with bells on her feet’. Her mother Lingambikai, daughter of the late Professor C. Suntharalingam, accepted the responsibility of cultivating the natural ability of this child prodigy.
Anandavalli had her Arangetram at age nine under the tutelage of Vishwa Kala Bharathi Neila Sathyalingam, and the legendary Mylapore Gowrie Ammal. Anandavalli’s education blossomed under the training of Adyar K. Lakshmanan and Guru Vempati Chinna Satyam - by the age of twelve she had toured Germany, Paris and London. For her debut at the Victorian Albert Museum Lecture Theatre, the inimitable Ram Gopal presented her as ‘the young dance phenomenon.’ Her talent was spotted by the well known international ballet choreographer, John Cranko, whose untimely demise prevented her grand solo presentation at the Stuttgart State, Little Theatre. Her repertoire was further enhanced under the guidance of the renowned gurus, Vazhuvor Ramaiya Pillai, Vazhuvoor R. Samarraj and Udupi Laxminarayan. Anandavalli owes a great debt of gratitude to her gurus, who have nurtured her as a dancer and choreographer...
GURU
Anandavalli