Golden Jubilee celebration of Nrithyodaya, Mumbai

Nrithyodaya, The Academy of Performing Arts, Mumbai celebrated its golden jubilee along with Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha on 12 June 2026. Founder Jayashree Rajagopalan and her team put up a commendable performance showcasing the fifty-year journey in a two-and-a-half-hour capsule.

The emergence of the Bharatanrityam style through Padma Subrahmanyam's research connecting architecture, sculpture and painting was clearly narrated by three male dancers as sootradars. 

A swarajati that Jayashree had improvised to help beginners practice adavus, a Suddhananda Bharati padam, excerpts from a Ram Charit Manas varnam, Shakuntalam, Bhakta Sakha Vitthala, a medley in the regional languages were some of the items presented. Audio-visual projection linked the items presented with the growth of the institution.

The grand finale was a special item choreographed by Padma Subrahmanyam for this occasion where Jayashree danced along with her sister, daughters and granddaughters. It was a delight to see the entire family perform together on stage.

Jayashree's is a family of artists and academics — her daughters, sons-in-law and grandchildren are variously trained in Bharatanrityam, Carnatic vocal music, violin, mridangam and tabla. 

At the formal function following the dance presentation, Chairperson of Sangeet Natak Akademi, Sandhya Purecha was conferred the title of Sanmarga Darshi by Nrithyodaya, Mumbai. In her acceptance speech, Sandhya remarked that Jayashree had always been her 'go-to' person for clarifications on the Natya Sastra. Congratulating Jayashree for her sadhana, she said, “Fifty years is not merely a measure of time, but a measure of dedication, tapasya, vision and unwavering commitment to the preservation and promotion of this timeless artistic heritage.”

Chief Guest Padma Subrahmanyam spoke warmly about her disciple, expressing her pride and happiness at witnessing Jayashree's growth and stature in the dance fraternity.

V. Shankar, Chairman of Sri Shanmukhananda Fine Arts and Sangeetha Sabha presiding over the function, noted that Nrithyodaya, Mumbai had become a live centre for culture, tradition and knowledge. He said that Jayashree had totally absorbed every aspect of her revered guru, as was evident on stage that day.

A prime disciple of Padma Subrahmanyam, Jayashree, fresh from her invigorating learning and performing experience in Madras, found the arts scene in Bombay rather staid and lacklustre. With the blessings of her guru, and retaining the name of the parent institution, she began teaching Bharatanrityam as envisioned by her guru.

Her students soon began winning prizes in competitions, bringing wider recognition to the Bharatanrityam style in Mumbai. Jayashree's solo shows and group productions were widely welcomed. Considerable research went into the group productions that Jayashree choreographed. Her mother Leela Gopalan, a musician, linguist and composer in her own right, tuned much of the music for these.

It was an uphill task initially, as the basic awareness taken for granted in Madras was less prevalent in Bombay. She incorporated variations to the structured pedagogy created by Padma Subrahmanyam to sustain the interest of the non-Tamil students. Theory was taught alongside practice, so that students learned not only the execution of a movement but also its context and purpose. Music was a compulsory subject. Allied subjects like nattuvangam, cultural heritage, designing props and make-up were also taught. Regular exams were conducted and the diploma certificate from Nrithyodaya is recognised by the university.

Jayashree has given numerous lecture demonstrations, taking Bharatanrityam to connoisseurs as well as lay art lovers. She has been a faculty member and visiting professor in various Universities. In 2008, Jayashree obtained her doctorate for her thesis on aharya abhinaya as delineated in the Natya Sastra. She has collaborated with dancers from other styles, creating a community of dancers in the city. This led to her heading the Mumbai shakha of ABHAI.

During COVID, she made effective use of the digital platform and hosted Young Researchers Forum, a series of 36 lectures, providing a platform for young researchers to present their papers.

Bharatanatyam for schools is an outreach programme that offers art as a part of the school curriculum. Fitness through sastra is designed for corporates, inspired by the Natya Sastra, bringing ancient wisdom into contemporary practice.

Anugraham, an annual presentation, showcases vaggeyakaras through music and dance. Sphurita is an attempt to create an opportunity for young aspirants.

Nrithyodaya continues to expand its activities through new initiatives, guided by its founding vision of nurturing curiosity, discipline and creativity through the performing arts. Fifty years after its inception, the institution remains committed to combining rigorous training with research, outreach and innovation.