Christina, a performer in her own right, now runs a school , Natyatharu School of Dance with students from across Western Melbourne who take great pride in learning the nuances of Bharatanatyam from her.
Christina imparts knowledge in Nattuvangam and Abhinaya under the Danseuse Smt. Indira Kadambi (Chennai)
She is also trained in Carnatic Vocal Music under Smt. Arundhathi Sriranganathan at the Indian Cultural Centre, Colombo and today she practices under the Smt. Sivaganga Sahadevan (Chandrabanu’s Bharathalaya Academy, Melbourne)
A dancer with a natural flair for the arts, Christina Shamala Prakanthan (Pakianathan), finds herself best while expressing through the classical idiom of Bharathanatyam. Beginning her training from the tender age of 2 ½ from her Guru, Smt. Husseini Hariram, a pupil of the Legend Padma Subramaniam, Christina continued her training from Smt. Anusha Tharmarajah, a postgraduate diploma holder from Kalakshetra. Thereafter, she was carefully chiseled and nurtured by Smt. Suryakala Jeevananthan, a Post Graduate Diploma Holder in Bharathanatyam from Bharathiya Kala Kendra, New-Delhi who is also the Founder of Shri Ram Shristi School of Dance in Colombo. In 2002, at the age of 15 she successfully did her Arangetram under Smt. Suryakala Jeevananthan.
What has impressed her teachers, is her genuine interest to learn and propagate the dance form and make sure that it is passed on to the next generation keeping in line with the tradition and at par with contemporary thoughts. Born in a blended city as Colombo in Sri Lanka, her exposure in the arts has been splendid. This has opened doors to learning in various ways. Her parents, Capt. Hugh Vijayanathan and Mrs Jannet Pakianathan has been a lover of arts and a supporter of Christina’s endeavours.
Christina, a performer in her own right, now runs a school, Natyatharu School of Dance with students from across Western Melbourne who take great pride in learning the nuances of Bharatanatyam from her.
- Over the years she has honed her skills in allied arts.
- She has been a part of ‘Attakalari Centre for Movement Arts’, Bangalore and was trained by Ms.Hemabharathy Palani.
- A Bharathanatyam ,Kuchipudi and Contemporary dance performer.
Christina imparts knowledge in Nattuvangam and Abhinaya under the Danseuse Smt. Indira Kadambi (Chennai)
Presently she is pursuing MFA (Bharathanatyam) under Madras University( Class of 2018) and is being mentored by Dr Lakshmi Ramaswamy (India’s first Fulbright Fellow in Bharatanatyam and Founder- Director of Sri Mudhraalaya, Chennai.
Christina, gets guidance from her Guru Smt.Suryakala Jeevananthan (lecturer – Annamalai University, Canada Campus)
Wonderful opportunity to learn, experience and emmerce yourself in the ‘Summer Intensive Residential Dance Workshop’ by the renowned Guru. Smt. Indira Kadambi in Bengaluru, India (July/Aug 2018). Limited spots available.