Classical dance programmes of a high order are staged in fine arts societies, temples, and festival venues of national and international repute as part of propagating the great Indian Classical Arts. The programmes of S.S.D. are famous for its perfection, aesthetic beauty, mass appeal, meticulous and scientific planning, contemporary relevance and cost effectiveness.
The programmes tailored to suit different occasions are:-
| PROGRAMME | OCCASION |
| Mega dDance Programme | National and International Festivals, Fund Raising Events, Cultural Exchange Programmes |
| Solo Performances | Solo Performances Festivals, Temple Programmes, CulturalExchange Programmes, Workshops |
| Thematic Programmes | Annual celebration of Educational Institutions |
| Nrithya Sandhya | All occasions |
Cultural Events & Dance Festivals
SSD promotes the following festivals and cultural events :
Inter National Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival (S.S.D.M.F).
SAAC Festival – A festival of accredited young professional artistes.
Natya Samarppanam
Vision 2020 Festival
SAAC Festival – A festival of accredited young professional artistes.
Natya Samarppanam
Vision 2020 Festival
Vision 2020
This new venture of SSD plans to identify and promote 20 professional dancers by 2020. The following dancers have been identified as Grade A Artistes for this purpose
Amrutha Suresh
Teacher & Dancer
New productions – Yajnaseni
Akshara V.R
Teacher & Dancer
New productions – Mandodari, Chaliye Kunjanumo
Vaishnavi Sukumaran
Teacher & Dancer
New productions – Ahalya, Gurukarunyam
Anila Joshy
Teacher & Dancer
New production – Ammathan Sneham ( Velutha Kutti)
Prathibha N.S
Teacher & Dancer
New production – Sivaprasadpanchakam
Meenakshi V. Pradeep
Teacher & Dancer
New production – Kannaki
Sreekutty Muraly
Teacher & Dancer
Kannaki
Anjana P. Sathyan
Teacher & Dancer
Kannaki
Vision 2020 Artistes other than Teachers in 2019
1. Neethu P.R
2. Sarishma Satheesan
3. Rahna Nandakumar
4. Arunima K.S
5. Gopikakrishna
6. Parvathy Sabu
7. Athulya Shaji
8. Anusree Sivadas
9. Anagha V. Easanan
10. Anusree V
11. Adithya A.
12. Malavika . A.S
2. Sarishma Satheesan
3. Rahna Nandakumar
4. Arunima K.S
5. Gopikakrishna
6. Parvathy Sabu
7. Athulya Shaji
8. Anusree Sivadas
9. Anagha V. Easanan
10. Anusree V
11. Adithya A.
12. Malavika . A.S
13. Meenu Sajeev
14. Sivapriya M.R
15. Adithya V.R
16. Athulya Binoy
17. Divya Shaji
18. Jessni Varghese
19. Nandana Ajayan
20. Akhila Salim
21. Athira Sivadas
22. Radhika s Krishnan
23. Sneha Babu
24. Gopika Das
14. Sivapriya M.R
15. Adithya V.R
16. Athulya Binoy
17. Divya Shaji
18. Jessni Varghese
19. Nandana Ajayan
20. Akhila Salim
21. Athira Sivadas
22. Radhika s Krishnan
23. Sneha Babu
24. Gopika Das
25. Neethu P.V
26. Gouri Priya M.S
27. Aiswarya Rajesh
28. Shreya Asok Nair
29. Lakshmi Pradeep
30. Arya Jayan
31. Sisira Shanmughan
32. Drisya C.S
33. Nandana S Kalapurayi
34. Vaishnavi M. Nair
35. Bhavana Unnikrishnan
36. Devabhadra K Jayan
26. Gouri Priya M.S
27. Aiswarya Rajesh
28. Shreya Asok Nair
29. Lakshmi Pradeep
30. Arya Jayan
31. Sisira Shanmughan
32. Drisya C.S
33. Nandana S Kalapurayi
34. Vaishnavi M. Nair
35. Bhavana Unnikrishnan
36. Devabhadra K Jayan
Festival at a Glance
1. SSDMF 2003
2. SSDMF 2005
3. SSDMF 2007
4. SSDMF 2010
5. SSDMF 2011
6. SSDMF 2013
7. SSDMF 2015
8. ISSDMF 2017
Padmabhushan Awardee Dr.Padma Subramaian inaugurating the SSDMF - 2003
International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival (ISSDMF)
The National Festival, started in 2003, is a fitting tribute to the great maestro, Jagadguru Adi Sankaracharya, who was instrumental in promoting the unity and integrity among all the cultural sectors of our country. This festival is organised every alternate year at Kalady, the birth place of Adi Sankara, on the banks of the holy river Periyar. Each S.S.D.M.F so far has gathered huge assemblage of connoisseurs of classical arts – a viewership of 5000 per day directly and 1,00,000 persons via different audio-visual media. On an average 500 dancers and musicians take part in each festival on specially built stage of 1500 sq.ft. A large pandal is constructed to accommodate over 5000 discerning audience. The Festival was elevated into International Sree Sankara Dance & Music festival in 2017.
Organisers - Who is Who
PROMOTER & CHIEF CO-ORDINATOR –- PROF.P.V. PEETHAMBARAN DANCE CO-ORDINATOR – SUDHA PEETHAMBARAN
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR – DR.C.P. UNNIKRISHNAN
CHAIRMAN – PRESIDENT P.T.A., SSD
CHAIRMAN, ADVISORY COMMITTEE – Honourable M.L.A., Angamaly
Participants
Group I - Internationally recognised artistesGroup II - Accredited Professional Artistes, SAAC
Group III - Senior dancers, SSD
Group IV - Junior dancers, SSD
Group V - Vision 2020 Artistes
Performers Since 2003
1. Padmabhushan Awardee Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Chennai (Bharathanatyam).
2. Padmabhushan Awardee V.P Dhananjayan & Padmabhushan Santa Dhanajayan , Chennai (Bharathanatyam).
3. Padmabhushan Awardee T.V. Sankara Narayanan, Chennai (Carnatic Music).
4. Padmabhushan Awardee Madurai T.N Sheshagopal, Chennai (Carnatic Music).
5. Padmasree Awardee Malavika Sarukkai , Chennai (Bharathanatyam).
6. Dr. Vasundhara Dora Swami, Mysore (Bharathanatyam).
7. Sri Sreedhar & Amt.Anuradha Sreedhar, Bangalore (Bharathanatyam).
8. Smt. Gopika Varma, Chenna- (Mohiniyattam).
9. Dr. Neena Prasad, Thiruvananthapuram (Mohiniyattam).
10. Padmabhushan Awardee Swapna Sundari, New Delhi– Vilasini Natyam
11. Padmasree Awardee Bharathi Shivaji, New Delhi – Mohiniyattam
12. Padmasree Awardee Smt. Manju Bhargavee, Bangalore – Kuchupudi
13. Smt. Priyadarshini Govind, Chennai – Bharathanatyam
14. Padmasree Awardee Kalamandalam Kshemavathy
15. Padmasree Awardee Dr. Geetha Chandran – Bharathanatyam
16. Smt. Methil Devika, Palakkad – Mohiniyattam
17. Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, New Delhi – Bharathanatyam
18. Smt. Aiswarya Warrier , Baroda– Mohiniyattam
19. Smt. Deepika Reddy, Hyderabad- Kuchupudi
20. Dr. Alekhya Punjala, Hyderabad – Kuchupudi
21. Guruji Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharji, Kokata- Kathak
22. Sri Renjith & Smt. Vijna, Chennai – Bharathanatyam
23. Smt. Sunanda Nair, America- Mohiniyattam
24. Smt. Jayaprabha Menon, New Delhi – Mohiniyattam
25. Dr. Draupadi Pravee & Dr. Padmini Krishnan, Kerala – Bharathanatyam Kuchupudi Fusion
26. Smt. Saritha Misra, Bangalore- Odissi
27. Smt. Reshma U. Raj, Dr. Jishnu Sajaykumar, Aparna Muraleedharan – Partakshina ( Fusion)
28. Smt. Sreelakshmi Govardhan- Kuchupudi
29. Sri Harirag Nandan – Carnatic Music
30. Smt. Dakshina Vaidyanathan Bhagel – Bharathanatyam
31. Sri Mankompu Rajan – Nadaswaram Recital
32. Sri Changanassery Madhavan Namboothiri- Carnatic Recital
33. Smt. Revathy Sreenivas Raghavan & team, Mumbai – Bharathanatyam
34. Sri Parswanath Upadhye & team, Bangalore- Bharathanatyam
35. Mysore Chandan Kumar – Flute recital
36. Smt. Shiranai De Costa & Chithrini Veerathunga, Srilanka - Srilankan Dance
37. Smt. Paris Laxmi- Flamenco Dance
38. Smt. Aditi Bhagwat – Kathak
39. Smt. Rukmini Vijayakumar, Bangalore – Bharathanatyam
40. Smt. Sanchita Bhattacharya , Kolkata- Odissi
41. Smt. Pratheeksha Kashi – Kuchupudi
42. Smt. Sudha Peethambaran, Kalady, Kerala
2. Padmabhushan Awardee V.P Dhananjayan & Padmabhushan Santa Dhanajayan , Chennai (Bharathanatyam).
3. Padmabhushan Awardee T.V. Sankara Narayanan, Chennai (Carnatic Music).
4. Padmabhushan Awardee Madurai T.N Sheshagopal, Chennai (Carnatic Music).
5. Padmasree Awardee Malavika Sarukkai , Chennai (Bharathanatyam).
6. Dr. Vasundhara Dora Swami, Mysore (Bharathanatyam).
7. Sri Sreedhar & Amt.Anuradha Sreedhar, Bangalore (Bharathanatyam).
8. Smt. Gopika Varma, Chenna- (Mohiniyattam).
9. Dr. Neena Prasad, Thiruvananthapuram (Mohiniyattam).
10. Padmabhushan Awardee Swapna Sundari, New Delhi– Vilasini Natyam
11. Padmasree Awardee Bharathi Shivaji, New Delhi – Mohiniyattam
12. Padmasree Awardee Smt. Manju Bhargavee, Bangalore – Kuchupudi
13. Smt. Priyadarshini Govind, Chennai – Bharathanatyam
14. Padmasree Awardee Kalamandalam Kshemavathy
15. Padmasree Awardee Dr. Geetha Chandran – Bharathanatyam
16. Smt. Methil Devika, Palakkad – Mohiniyattam
17. Smt. Rama Vaidyanathan, New Delhi – Bharathanatyam
18. Smt. Aiswarya Warrier , Baroda– Mohiniyattam
19. Smt. Deepika Reddy, Hyderabad- Kuchupudi
20. Dr. Alekhya Punjala, Hyderabad – Kuchupudi
21. Guruji Ashim Bandhu Bhattacharji, Kokata- Kathak
22. Sri Renjith & Smt. Vijna, Chennai – Bharathanatyam
23. Smt. Sunanda Nair, America- Mohiniyattam
24. Smt. Jayaprabha Menon, New Delhi – Mohiniyattam
25. Dr. Draupadi Pravee & Dr. Padmini Krishnan, Kerala – Bharathanatyam Kuchupudi Fusion
26. Smt. Saritha Misra, Bangalore- Odissi
27. Smt. Reshma U. Raj, Dr. Jishnu Sajaykumar, Aparna Muraleedharan – Partakshina ( Fusion)
28. Smt. Sreelakshmi Govardhan- Kuchupudi
29. Sri Harirag Nandan – Carnatic Music
30. Smt. Dakshina Vaidyanathan Bhagel – Bharathanatyam
31. Sri Mankompu Rajan – Nadaswaram Recital
32. Sri Changanassery Madhavan Namboothiri- Carnatic Recital
33. Smt. Revathy Sreenivas Raghavan & team, Mumbai – Bharathanatyam
34. Sri Parswanath Upadhye & team, Bangalore- Bharathanatyam
35. Mysore Chandan Kumar – Flute recital
36. Smt. Shiranai De Costa & Chithrini Veerathunga, Srilanka - Srilankan Dance
37. Smt. Paris Laxmi- Flamenco Dance
38. Smt. Aditi Bhagwat – Kathak
39. Smt. Rukmini Vijayakumar, Bangalore – Bharathanatyam
40. Smt. Sanchita Bhattacharya , Kolkata- Odissi
41. Smt. Pratheeksha Kashi – Kuchupudi
42. Smt. Sudha Peethambaran, Kalady, Kerala
International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival- 2020 April
Entries Invited from professional dancers for stage performanceDancers of Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kuchupudi, Kathak, Odissi, Manipuri, Sathriya, Gujarathi, Flemenco, Srilankan Dance, Punjabi, Other Indian & Foreign Dance forms can apply stating the detailed biodata, clippings of one or two important performances, the minimum expected remuneration etc. Merit is the only consideration. Younger and senior dancers shall be considered. Both Indian & foreign dancers shall be considered. NRIs can also apply.
Email – ssdkalady@gmail.com. Courier, if any, shall be addressed to Prof. P.V.Peethambaran, Promoter, ISSDMF, Sree Sankara School of Dance, Kalady -683574, Kerala, South India. Ph:0484-2464189, 2462501, 2466793. Mob: 9562967315, 7902337376, 9562967563
Visitors
Many tourists, specifically interested in classical arts and architecture visit the Sree Sankara Natyamandapam, a unique possession of our institution. Workshops, Seminars, Lecture- demonstrations, Appreciation classes and Short-term training programmes are conducted at Sree Sankara Natyamandapam for tourists.Silver Jubilee Celebrations of Sree Sankara School of Dance, Kalady
A host of classical dance / music programmes were organised as part of Silver Jubilkee Celebrations of the School. The festivities lasted for 2 years commencing from Dec.26, 2016.A Birds Eye View of the Celebrations.
1. Inauguration by HIS EXCELLENCY ASWATHY THIRUNAL GOWRI LAKSHMI BAYI on Dec. 26, followed by classical dance programmes.
2. Video Fest conducted on April 4,5,7, 2017
3. Silver Jubilee Dance Festival – Series 1- May 20-23, 2017
4. Silver Jubilee Dance Festival & Seminar – Series 2 – Sept. 7,8,9, 2017
5. Choreofest – Series 1 – Sept. 23-25, 2017
6. Silver Jubilee Drawing Competition – Oct.18, 2017
7. Choreofest – Series 2 - Nov. 24, 2017
8. Violin Recital – Padmabhushan Awardee Sri T.N.Krishnan –Nov 19, 2017
9. Sakalakala- Performance of 58 art forms – Dec. 22-24, 2017
10. International Sree Sankara Dance & Music festival- Dec. 26-30, 2017
Guest of Honour – Hon. Speaker Sri P.Sreeramakrishnan, Hon. Opposition Leader
Sri Ramesh Chennithala, Hon. Minister Sri Kadannappali Ramachandran, Hon. Tanzanian Ambassador to India – Mr. Baraka H. Luvanda. 1500 artistes participated
11. Natya samarpanam for National Integration - April 19,20, 2018
12. Kids Fest – May 23, 2018
13. Gurmat Sangeeth Recital – Dr. Alankar Singh, Punjab – July 7, 2018
14. Carnatic Recital – Smt. Visalakshi Nithyanand ,Chennai – Oct.14, 2018
15. Silver Jubilee Valedictory Celebrations - 2018 Dec.28, 29, 30 . Inauguration by Sri Kummanam Rajasekharan, Honourable Governor of Mizoram.
Inaugural Session
Valedictory Session
ISSDMF 2020 Venue : Mega Stage and Pandal Near SSD.
APRIL 25 - MAY 1
Artistes performing in the Mega Festival
1. Miss Parvathy Menon ,Cochin - Kuchupudi (Solo) - April 25
2. Sridevi Nrityalaya Chennai - Bharathanatyam(Group & Solo) - April 25
3. Miss Dimple Saikia,Kolkata - Sattriya (Solo) - April 26
4. Paramita Maitra&team (Nrithyangen Kathak Kendra), Kolkata - Kathak(Group & Solo) - April 26
5. Miss Sayani Chakraborty,Kolkata - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 27
6. Sri Swojen Raghubhanshi - Nepali Dance - April 27
7. Dr. Kalmandalam Rachitha Ravi, Thrissur - Mohiniyattam(Solo) - April 27
8. Dr.RLV Ramakrishnan, Chalakudy - Mohiniyattam - April 28
9. Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, Chennai - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 28
10. Smt. Manju. V. Nair, Malappuram - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 29
11. Mr. Imran Syafiq Mohd. Bin Affandi, Malaysia - Malay Dance(Solo) - April 29
12. Mrs. T. Reddy Lakshmi, NewDelhi - Kuchupudi (Solo) - April 29
13. Miss. Devika Sajeevan, Kannur - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 30
14. Smt. Sandhya Manoj, Malaysia - Odissi(Solo) - April 30
15. Smt. Anupama Menon, Irinjalakuda - Sopanalasyam(Solo) - May 1
16. Prof. Tamanna Rahman & Mrs. Manomi Tanjana Orthy, Bangladesh - Manipuri - May 1
Curtain Raiser Programme - (Solo Performance of 19 younger Artistes) - 2020 April 17-23
2. Sridevi Nrityalaya Chennai - Bharathanatyam(Group & Solo) - April 25
3. Miss Dimple Saikia,Kolkata - Sattriya (Solo) - April 26
4. Paramita Maitra&team (Nrithyangen Kathak Kendra), Kolkata - Kathak(Group & Solo) - April 26
5. Miss Sayani Chakraborty,Kolkata - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 27
6. Sri Swojen Raghubhanshi - Nepali Dance - April 27
7. Dr. Kalmandalam Rachitha Ravi, Thrissur - Mohiniyattam(Solo) - April 27
8. Dr.RLV Ramakrishnan, Chalakudy - Mohiniyattam - April 28
9. Dr. Janaki Rangarajan, Chennai - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 28
10. Smt. Manju. V. Nair, Malappuram - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 29
11. Mr. Imran Syafiq Mohd. Bin Affandi, Malaysia - Malay Dance(Solo) - April 29
12. Mrs. T. Reddy Lakshmi, NewDelhi - Kuchupudi (Solo) - April 29
13. Miss. Devika Sajeevan, Kannur - Bharathanatyam(Solo) - April 30
14. Smt. Sandhya Manoj, Malaysia - Odissi(Solo) - April 30
15. Smt. Anupama Menon, Irinjalakuda - Sopanalasyam(Solo) - May 1
16. Prof. Tamanna Rahman & Mrs. Manomi Tanjana Orthy, Bangladesh - Manipuri - May 1
Curtain Raiser Programme - (Solo Performance of 19 younger Artistes) - 2020 April 17-23
Important Personalities who inaugurated our Festival in earlier years / graced the Festival as Guest of Honour
1. Honourable Sri. Kummanam -Rajasekharan, the then Governor of Mizoram - Silver Jubilee Valedictory Festival of SSD
2. Princess AswathiThirunalGouri Lakshmi Bayi, of Travancore Palace - Inauguration of the Silver Jubilee Celebrations
3. Sri P. Sreeramakrishnan, Honourable Speaker,Kerala Legislative Assembly - International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival - 2017
4. Sri Kadannappilly Ramachandran, Honourable Minister for Ports, Govt.of Kerala - International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival -2017
5. . Sri Ramesh Chennithala, Honourable Opposition Leader, Govt. of Kerala - International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival -2017
6. Mr. Baracka H.Luvanda, Honourable Tanzanian High Commissioner to India - International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival -2017
7. Guru Padmasree Awardee Kalamandalam Kshemavathy - International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival -201
8. Justice K . Sukumaran - National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2017
9. Guru KalamandalamMohanaThulasi - National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival - 2015
10. Padmabhushan Awardee Natyacharya V.P Dhananjayan- National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2013
11.Padmasree Awardee KalamandalamKshemavathy - NationalSreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2011
12. Prof.K.V Thomas, the then Honourable Union Minister of State for Agriculture , Govt. of India - National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2010
13. Sri. S. Sharma, the then Honourable Minister for Fisheries, Govt. of Kerala- National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2007
14. Honourable Sri. OommenChandi, the then Chief Minister of Kerala - National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival -2005
15. Padmabhushan Awardee Dr. Padma Subrahmanyam - National SreeSankara Dance and Music Festival 2003 (The First Festival)
16. Musician MavelikkaraPrabhakaraVarma - Nrutholsav 2001
17. Dr. N.P Unni, the then Vice Chancellor , SreeSankaracharya Sanskrit University , Kalady - Nrutholsav 1999
18. Dr. V.N Rajasekharan Pillai , the then V.C , M.G University - Nrutholsav 1997
19. Dr. N. P Unni , the then V.C , SSUS - Nrutholsav 1996
20. Dr. K. G. Adiyodi , the then V.C , CUSAT - Nrutholsav 1995
21. Dr. V. S Sharma , the then Chairman , Kerala Kalamandalam - Nrutholsav 1994
22. Justice Kurian Joseph , the then Additional Advocate General - Nrutholsav 1994
The then Speaker Sri. Therambil Ramakrishnan, the then Cultural Minister Sri. A. P. Anilkumar, the then Health Minister Sri. K. Ramachandran Master, the then Minister Sri. K. Babu, the then Minister Sri. Jose Thettayil were some of the other important personalities who graced the Festival apart from MPs, MLAs and Cultural Leaders.
Cultural Ambassadors of SSD - A new project of SSD
As part of promoting dancers who propagate the great Indian classical within & outside India, Prof. P. V. Peethambaran introduced the scheme ' Cultural Ambassadors of SSD" on 23 rd May 2022, a day which coincides with the 30 th formation day of the School. The scheme, the first of its kind in Kerala and perhaps, the first of its kind in India was inaugurated by the Honourable Justice PS Gopinathan in connection with the Second International Sree Sankara Dance & Music Festival at Kalady. 18 danseuses / dance teachers / choreographers were identified as Cultural Ambassadors of SSD.Cultural Ambassadors of SSD - 2022
I) Kavitha Sindhuraj, Chennai 2) Simi Nirmal, Angamaly 3) Ambily Rajeesh, Kozhikod 4) Seemol Varghese, Piraroor 5) Remya Varma, Guruvayoor 6)Reshmi Babu, Karukutty 7) Manju KK, Nedumbassery 8) Dr V. S.Pravitha, Okkal 9) Dr. Dhanya Srikant, Newzealand 10) Pooja Vineesh, Desom 11) Anju K. K., Vaikom 12) Dr. P Padmaja, Palakkad, 13) Resmi Narayanan, Edathala, 14) Shivada, Alappuzha 15) Dhanya Sandeep, Newzealand 16) R. L. V. Geethu Sarun, Kannur, 17) Amala Mary Jose, Canada 18) Chinchu Sadanandhan, Kanjirappally. View more photos