“Director” Of  NatyaManjari. Smt.Madhumathy Prakash, a well recognized Bharatanatyam performer and choreographer has considerable achievements to her credit. both as a leading dancer in solo performances and group presentations. From her young age she has accompanied her father to his classes which helped her master the techniques of dance, music and laya. Her teaching career in NatyaManjari started from 1989. Her affection towards her disciples is boundless and she is looked upon with reverence and love by her students of all ages.

Madhumathy Prakash has choreographed many dance ballets Of different types. While ‘Dasavataram’ , ‘Shiva Leela Vinodham’ , and ‘Sri Rama Charitam’ are based on the traditional themes, ballets like ‘ Geeta Nritya Samanvaya’ and ‘Svara Raga Sudhaalaya’ are based on unique concepts linking the svaras to various ragas and to the frame work Of Bharatanatyam. Apart from these, Other thematic presentations like ‘Guru AruleThiru Arul’ emphasizing the significance of Guru and ‘ChidambaraKuravanji’ , ‘Naada yogi Thyagaiya’ and many Other twenty five thematic ballets has won several appreciations from artist and public. ‘GuruAruleThiru Arul’ emphasizing the significance of Guru and ‘ChidambaraKuravanji’ , ‘Naada yogi Thyagaiya’ and many Other twenty five thematic ballets has won several appreciations from artist and public.

She holds the bachelor degree in Indian music and Master Of fine Arts in Bharatanatyam.

She is a recipient of several awards and honours:

• MGR endovement prize — 1991
• Best Dancer award of NaradaGana Sabha — 1992
• Best Dancer award Of Sri Krishna Gana Sabha — 1992
• Pradeep Vellodi award – 1993
• Smt& Sri Narasimha Chari award— 1994
• Kalanidhi trust award – 1994
• Karnataka Rajyotsava award 2008
• “NATANA SIRONMANI” by salangaioli trust – 2011.
• “NATYA KALAA CHOODAMANI” by Gana Mukunda Priya trust – 2012 for her achievements & dedication to the art Of Bharatanatyam.
• Best Women Achievement Award for the year 2013 from Indian Overseas Bank Chennai.
• “KALAA KAARA SUNDARAM” by Bharatanjali trust – 2013.
• “KALAI CHIJDARMANI” from Tamil Nadu Govt. dept of Art and Culture – 201 5

She has published two books, ‘Laghu Nritya Sangraha’ — a book on theory Of  Bharatanatyam and ‘Udupi Sphoorthi Ranjanam’ — a collection Of compositions Of her Guru rendering along with Svaraprayogams and detailed meaning.

She has been successfully teaching the Kancheepuram style Of Bharatanatyam imparting to her students both practical and theoretical aspects along with music and techniques of Nattuvangam. She has travelled widely to U.S.A„ African Countries, Sri Lanka and Japan for presenting Bharatanatyam performances and workshops.

For reference,

www.natyamanjari.in