Rasika Dance Academy

Rasika Dance Academy 

Classes Conducted in Baulkham Hills Each Week. Admission open to all ages and all backgrounds. For details Email: Manjula1907 at hotmail dot com

Manjula Viswanath is an accomplished dancer in the field of Bharatanatyam in the Vazhuvoor style. A recipient of numerous awards she has been given the prestigious title of “Natya Kishori” from Government of Karnataka. Through an impressive career spanning almost twenty-two years, Manjula has more than four hundred unique recitals, lecture demonstrations and workshops to her name. She has performed widely both in India, Singapore, Malaysia, New Zealand and Australia. She is a graded artiste of the Doordarshan Kendra, Bangalore and is on the panel of Indian Council for Cultural Relations [ICCR]. Awards have followed Manjula Viswanath although she looks at these as milestones and a challenge to do better.

Manjula began learning dance at an early age of five, from her guru’s K.J. Sarasa (Madras),Kalanidhi Narayanan (Madras) and Smt Padmini Ravi of Bangalore, India. Later she underwent training from K.J Sarasa, Savithri Jaganath Rao ( Kalakshetra). Her talent and dedication to this art have earned her a place among the most accomplished dancers of her generation known for her unswerving devotion, natural grace, beauty and her faithfulness to the demands of tradition, firm discipline and enquiry.

Perfect nimble movements combined with her fantastic expressions, helped by her intrinsic charisma and irrepressible cheerfulness, create spellbinding Manjula magic. It is not just technique or perfection that makes Manjula Viswanath’s performances unique, her total involvement, infusion of emotional depth into characters, the gamut of emotions that she presents with consummate ease and also a host of other qualities defy definition.

Manjula Viswanath is today the Director of the Rasika Dance Academy, a school  dedicated to the teaching of Bharathanatyam in the Vazhavoor style in Sydney Australia since 2001. Many of her student’s have graduated from the school since.  The school has successfully conducted various shows and ballets, out of which Dasavataram was a run away success. The school also helps to raise funds for different charities using dance as a medium.

Performances in India:

• Sri Sathya Sai Baba in the spirit of Unity Concerts at Bangalore and Puttaparthi.
• International Event Mastabhishekha of Lord Gomateshwara at Sravanabelgola in Karnataka, India.
• Major Khajuraho Dance Festival – Pathathkal Dance Festival at Hampi in Karnataka, India.
• Cultural events organized by the Government of Karnataka State, India to mark 50 years of India Independence.
• A contemporary ballet called “Marichika”, which was staged all over India to packed houses.
• Manjula has also given over 250 performances to mostly foreign dignitaries depicting the richness of Indian Culture and heritage.
• Regular invitee at the “Kuteeram” which is located outside of Bangalore city and built by the Late Protima Gauri Bedi.
• Narada Gana Sabha during Chennai Music Season at the Bharath Kalachar, Chennai.
• Citibank “Festival of Dance” Bangalore.

Performances Outside India:

• Tamil Sangham Sydney Australia
• Annual Victor Harbour Folk Festival (International Music & Dance Festival) sponsored by Indian Council for Cultural Relations Adelaide Australia
• World Telegu Conference in Singapore Jan 2003
• Cultural Festival in Darwin, Australia in June 2003.
• Indian Tamil Association Kuala Lumpur Malaysia 2004
• All India Association in Auckland, New Zealand 2002

Press Reviews:-

Manjula Viswanath has received rave reviews by the leading newspapers in Bangalore, India where she blossomed into one of the best Bharathanatyam dancers India has seen.

• “Manjula Viswanath provided an interesting insight into Bharatanatyam” — The HINDU
• “Manjula Viswanath was superb and provided a clear distinction between Tandava and lasya aspects” —The HINDU
• Excellent visualisation of a compact dance narrative with all the salient details, very impressive and dignified dance choreography (Aangika), pleasant costumes (Aahaarya), appropriate Vachika (spoken word) and well-established expression of the mental state (Saatvika) along with fine musical accompaniment made the production of Silappadhikaram by Manjula Viswanath, a thoroughly enjoyable experience. Manjula had conceived a crystal-clear picture of storyline, with essential sections of the epic and linking them with beautiful technique. Manjula, backed by her rich experience in the ballets, simply stole the show, with her poise, and elegance “. Statesman (Delhi)