Sreelakshmy Govardhanan is a Kuchipudi artist based out of Kerala, India. She is trained under distinguished Gurus such as Guru Sri Pasumarthy Rattaiah Sarma, Srimati Vyjayanti Kashi and Srimati Manju Barggavee, in Kuchipudi. Sreelakshmy is one of the rare artists who have gone in search of the roots of Kuchipudi, and has been fortunate to learn it from the most authentic artist belonging to the Kuchipudi yakshagana, Sri Pasumarthy Rattaiha Sarma. Being an artist from Kerala and travelling to Kuchipudi village to learn the classical art form of Andhra and to master it takes a lot of hard work, dedication and perseverance. The art form to her is like second skin. Sreelakshmy Govardhanan is widely acclaimed for her ability to bring alive the charm and beauty of Kuchipudi. She has been described as “a dancer who has harnessed the power of Abhinaya”. Many coveted titles like Bharatham Yuva Kalakar, Sri Jayadeva Rashtriya Yuva Prathibha Puraskar, Natya Ratna, Singar Mani and Nalanada Nrutya Nipuna have come her way. Besides performing at prestigious dance festivals in India she has also performed on many international stages in countries including Germany, Switzerland, UK, Jordan and Arab states of the Persian Gulf. Recently she led the team that performed Kuchipudi at MAKE IN INDIA program at Hannoer Messe 2015, in the presence of Prime Minister of India. She also has conceived and curated many dance related workshops and events and was the coordinator of ‘Rasavikalpam’ an annual dance workshop and National dance festival organized by Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi for three consecutive years. Sreelakshmy is the founder and Director of Avantika Space for Dance, a platform dedicated to learning, performance and research.
Kuchipudi workshop at Calicut for Chinmaya Mission (2010)
Talks on Kuchipudi
Exploring the roots and elements of Kuchipudi Yakshagana.The department of Theatre Sri Sankara College Kalady (2015)
Theatrical in Kuchipudi; Travel through Bhamakalapam. National symposium, Dept of Philosophy, Sri Sankara College Kaladi. (2015)
Innovations and sensibilities needed when you venture into Choreography, for 'Krishnayanam' occasion of honoring scholar Sri Kanjoor Krishnan Namboothiripad. Kerala (2015)
Women in Arts, Trail and Travail at Ammanur Gurukulam, Center for Koodiyattam. Kerala (2014)
Guest lecture at Govt College of Fine Arts Thrissur on Indian Aesthetics and Sculpture studies based on Bharatas Natya Sastra. (2013)
Paper presentation on Importance of Art Education in School. (2013) for SCERT Kerala. Govt of Kerala.
Talk on Hasthas used in Kuchipudi and a comparative study of Nritta Hastas mentioned in Natya Sastra, Abhinaya Darpanam and Hasta Mukthavali. Mudra, Guruvayur Devaswam.
Talk on Healing power of Dance for Center for Vedic Studies and Astrology, Irinjalakuda
Art and Society talk at Govt Girls high school Irinjalakuda
About Kuchipudi and how to tap your unattended potential for Govt High School,Puthukad
Major Kuchipudi performances
Celebrating 65 years of Diplomatic relationship between India and Jordan" Indian embassy programs at Amman and Aqaba, Jordan (2015)
MAKE IN INDIA at Hannover Messe 2015, Opening ceremony. Germany (2015)
Nrithya Bharathi at Kamani auditorium, New Delhi (2015)
Music Academy hall for Kalavardhini, Chennai (2015)
Feel India for Ministry of Tourism, New Delhi (2014)
Bishnupur Utsav at Bishnupur, West Bengal State Govt Program (2012)
Bali Yatra at Cuttack, Odisha (2012)
Navarathri Nrityotsav Guruvayoor Temple (2012)
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi , Rasavikalpam 2012, Thrissur
Swaralaya Palakkad 2012
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Nehru Yuva Kendra Calicut 2012
Shravana Mahotsav Mahakaleswar Temple Ujjain
Confluence of Kuchipudi and Sattriya, Theatrical Production Kannur (2012)
Dept of Culture, Bharat Bhavan, 'Marunaadan Nrutha Sangamam' Kannur (2012)
International Dance Festival, Darpana, Ahmadabad (2012)
Tuncan Parambu Festival Tirur (2012)
National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Umang Series, Mumbai (2011)
Swaralaya National Music and Dance Festival Palakkad (2011)
Raindrops Dance Festival by Samved Society, Mumbai (2011)
Swami Haridas Sammelan, Mumbai (2011)
Soorya Krishnamoorthy conducting soorya festival , Thiruvananthapuram (2011)
Sri Koodalmanikyam temple festival,annual national Music and Dance Festival, Irinjalakuda (2011)
For Palakkadan Nattarangu at Doha, Qatar (2011) For NACO, Kuwait ( 2011)
Uday Shankar Dance Festival organized by West Bengal Government and Music and State Academy Kolkatta (2010)
J.T.Pac Soorya Festival "Parampara" organized by Soorya Festival Kochi(2010)
Nishagandhi Auditorium organized by Tourism Dept, Kerala Thiruvananthapuram(2010)
Kuchipudi recital at IIC organized by India International Centre New Delhi(2010)
Kuchipudi recital at Aurobindo Auditorium for Spirituality beyond religion International Congress, Auroville, Pondichery (2010)
Winter Splashes Kuchipudi Recital organized by Govt of Kerala, Tourism Dept (2009)
Margazhi Festival Chennai Music and Dance Season for "Dasyam" At Music Academy Mini Hall (2009)
Soorya Krishnamoorthy Organized by Soorya Thiruvananthapuram(2009)
6th Ekamara Nrutya Mahotsav by Suravi, Bhubaneswar(2008)
Nalanda Nrityotsav by Nalanda Dance Research Center. Mumbai (2008)
Devdasi National Dance Festival Bhubaneswar (2008)
Indo- Swiss Friendship Program by ART INDIA, Bern, Switzerland 2007
Janmashtmi Celebrations by ISKCON Zurich, Switzerland 2007
Onam Celebration Programme for KELI, Basil(2007)
International Dance Festival at Tanzhouse, Düsseldorf, Germany (2003)
Nehru Centre, London, UK (2003)
Full-length choreography and thematic productions and choreographs
Sita Swayamvaram, a thematic production that adheres to the intricacies of Kuchipudi
Yakshagana. This production was presented at Music Academy hall for Kalavardhini in Chennai.
Silapathikaram, A full-length solo thematic work based on the Tamil epic Silapathikaram. The work anchors around the tale of two Nayikas Kannaki and Madhavi. It deals in depth the emotion and turmoil both the women go through in different segments of their life. When one was raised as Goddess the other renounced her worldly life and joined Buddhism. The work travels through Time, Cultural and Political Scenario, Dharma, Love, Anguish,
Saptagiri Mountains gain immense significance in any civilization, owing to their massive presence, volume and much splendour they have to offer. In India, kshetras that are on mountain-tops also play a major role in the texture of the life on that mountain. Such mountains are considered sacred, as they have become abodes to the deities on them. One such deity is Lord Venkateswara and the unique feature of the lords abode is that it is not situated on one mountain, but on seven mountains that aligned in the shape of Adiseshu, the divine serpent. The Saptagiri have gained a place of highest importance in Andhra Pradesh, and the Lord of Kali Yuga is revered like none other. Saptagiri brings to dance the legend, history and importance of these hills. The presentation Sapta Giri is a confluence of legend, history and present.
Poothana Moksham is one of Sreelakshmy's most critically acclaimed choreographies based on the story of Poothana. Here she interprets the character of Poothana as a woman who gets mesmerized with the happiness of Vrindavana and forgets her intention for being there. A motherly instinct in her arouse when she meets baby Krishna but she realizes that she has no choice but to kill the baby. In the end Lord Krishnan takes her Prana and delivers her Moksha.
Mandodari Sabdham is the story of the delicate beautiful princess Mandodari and Ravana, the ruler of Lanka. Sabdham brings life to the beauty of nature and the living beings in it. It is the story of a frog that turns into a beautiful woman. Ravana was taken by the beauty of her and propose her to marry him. Mandodari Sabdham is a traditional sabdham and has been re-choreographed by Sreelakshmy.
Rama Margam is a repertoire based on the epic Ramayana. The repertoire is a blend of tradition and innovation. The Margam throws light into the life of many characters from The Ramayana. The title suggests, it's a Margam (repertoire) set on the stories of Rama and also it means 'take Rama as the Margam (path) for salvation’
Madhura Vamsi- A repertoire that is built around the beauty and the mellifluous Murali of Lord Krishna… The repertoire travel through different stories of Krishna and about the sound of flute that penetrates into our hearts… Murali, that removes the sorrow and bestow us with happiness. That Murali that reverberates everywhere, finally we realize that it is from nowhere else but from our within, where he safely resides…
