Padmini Chari

My early training since the age of six, in classical Indian dance, was had in India, the country of my birth.  My first solo full length public performance took place when I was twelve years of age.  I lived with my husband in Germany for 11 years and performed extensively in Germany and Austria. I taught Classical Indian Dance in Munich, Germany and Vienna, Austria for about 8 years. Subsequently, I emigrated to the United States with my family and settled in Houston.

I established a Dance School in Houston which celebrated its 25th year of its existence last year with a dance drama that I directed and choreographed.  My school also has a branch at New Orleans, Louisiana.  I have conducted the graduation solo programs of 60 students so far and  choreographed five dance dramas in Houston.  During these years I have also performed in several parts of the USA. I teach exclusively in the Kalakshetra tradition.

In addition to my dance career, I have also acted in major roles in several Tamil plays staged in Houston over the years.  I was the President of a Tamil cultural Organization in Houston – Bharathi Kalai Manram.  My school has staged several benefit dance programs for charitable and humanitarian causes in Houston and New Orleans.

Education and Training in Dance

Gurus:

“Padma Sri” Adyar K. Lakshman
Director, Bharatha Choodamani,
Academy of Indian Fine Arts, Chennai, India.

“Padma Bhushan” Kalanidhi Narayan
Director, Abhinayasudha, Chennai, India.
Specialized training in Abhinaya, Interpretive Dance.

Activities as a Dance Teacher

1982 – 2007

• Founder and Director of “Nritya” School of Indian Dance with branches in Houston: Northwest, Sugarland and Sirrom Studio.
• Fortnightly weekend Dance Workshops in New Orleans,  at “Nritya – Louisiana”.

1972 – 1981

• Director of School for Indian Dance, Mΰnich, Germany.
• Regular Dance Workshops in the Dramatic Center, Vienna, Austria.

Activities as a Performer

Major Dance Programs and Workshops in Europe
1970 – 1981

• Leopold Theater, Mΰnich, Germany.
• Dramatisches Zentrum, Vienna, Austria.
• Olympic Summer Program, Mΰnich, Germany.
• Cultural Forum of the City of Bonn, Germany.
• Bregenz International Folk Festival, Bregenz,Austria.
• India Cultural Week, Mΰnich, Germany.
• Seezentrum Culture Center, Hard, Austria.
• Dahlem Museum, Berlin, Germany.
• City Culture Center, Goettingen, Germany.
• Kulturzentrum, Linz, Austria.
• Konzerte der Stadt Kleven, Kleven, Germany.
• Tanzfest Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.
• Opera Curiosa, Mΰnich, Germany.
• Austrian – Indian Association, Vienna, Austria.
• Afro – Asiatic Institute, Vienna, Austria
• International Dance Festival, Coenca, Spain.
• Summer Workshop, Torronteras, Spain.
• Musik Konservatorium, Bregenz, Austria.

Dance Activity at the Nritya School of Dance, USA
1982 ~ present

• 53 students have finished their graduation at the school
• The school has participated regularly in the Annual Houston International  Festivals and the Annual Asian – American Festivals since 1982
• Performed in the Mardi Gras Celebration, Galveston,TX
• Performed in the New Orleans Jazz Festival
• Participated in the Bellaire Festival, Houston
• Won awards in local and national dance competitions
• Performed in several cultural and community organizations in Houston
• Conducted dance workshops by renowned Gurus from India.

Fund-raising events for charitable causes

• Crime-Stoppers of the City of Temple, TX.
• UNICEF Program to benefit Bosnian Child victims, Houston, TX.
• House of Ruth for Homeless Children, New Orleans,LA.
• For Battered Women at Fort Bend Women’s Center, Houston, TX.
• For Gujerat earthquake victims, San Antonio,TX.
• For Katrina victims, Habitat for Humanity, New Orleans, LA.
• For destitute women and children of Udavum Karangal, Chennai, India.
• For the Sri Meenakshi Temple, Pearland, TX.

Special Recognitions in connection with dance activity.

• Awarded the “Honorary Citizenship” of the City of Temple, TX., by the Mayor (1984).
• Proclamation of the New Orleans City Council (1995).
• Commendation by Mike Foster, the Governor of Louisiana (1996).
• Was acclaimed by the Anchorage newspaper “Critics” as having given the best dance performance of the year in Anchorage, Alaska.
• Proclamation of Nritya Day by Mayor Bill White, Houston, TX, 2006.
• Was awarded the title of “Nalla Pennmani” by a leading Women’s Magazine in Chennai, India, 2006.
• Was awarded an Established Artist Fellowship Grant by the Houston Arts Alliance, 2007.

Major Projects:

(Own Choreography and production of Bharatha Natyam Ballet with students of Nritya.)

Shakthi Houston (1989)
Krishnanjali Houston Tx (1994) & New Orleans, La (1995)  & Baton Rouge, La (1996)
Varunapuri Kuravanji Houston, Tx (March 2006 & June 2006)
Swagatham Krishna Houston,Tx (2007)
Maata Parashakthi (November 2008)