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Dr. Menaka Thakkar
Menaka’s own training in Bharatanatyam began at the age of 4 with older sister Sudha Thakkar Khandwani (1946–1953) in the Kalakshetra style. She then continued advanced training more generally in the Pandanallur style with Guru Nana Kasar (1953–1965). During the tenure of a three-year Fellowship Award by Bharat Sangeet Sabha of Bombay (1970–1972), she studied with Guru Tanjavur Kadhirvelu Pillai; and later, on intensive visits to Madras every year she studied Abhinaya with Guru Kalanidhi Narayan (1978–1990) and a wide variety of rare works of the Tanjore repertoire, with Guru Kitappa Pillai (1980–1990), who was the last surviving descendant of the celebrated “Tanjore Quartet” of the 18th century. Menaka studied classical Odissi, first in Bombay with Guru Ramaniranjan Jena, and then in Cuttak, (Orissa) with Guru Padmavibhushan Kelucharan Mohapatra (1965–1970). She continued training with him during periodic visits (1970–1990). She studied classical style of Kuchipudi initially with Guru C.R. Acharyalu of Ahmedabad, and later with Guru Vempatti Chinna Satyam. Her large number of honours include an honorary doctorate (D.Litt) in dance from York University, Tri-national USA-Canada-Mexico Residency Award, Toronto Arts Award, Face the Arts Award from the city of Toronto, President’s Award from Indo-Canada Chamber of Commerce, The Finalist for the Premier’s Award, nomination for Fukuoka Cultural Prize from Japan. In the early years in India, she was twice given the Singar Mani Award for excellence in Bharatanatyam (1968), and Odissi (1970).
Padma Bhushan C.V.
Chandrasekhar
Having been trained in Carnatic music and Hindustani bhajans, he has composed many jatisvarams and tillanas for Bharatanatyam and has been the sole music composer for his dance dramas both in the Carnatic and Hindustani styles. As one of India’s leading choreographers, he has won laurels nationally and internationally and has represented India at many international festivals. He has dealt with abstract themes in a most ingenious manner; his use of body movements and group movements to convey emotions and ideas is unique for a style otherwise solely dependent on the face and gestures for such a projection. He has also created new movements based totally on the basic Bharatanatyam technique. His major works of choreography in recent years include Ritu Samharam and Meghadutam of Kalidasa, Bhoomija (Ramayana) and Aparajita (Devi Mahatmyam). He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Bharatnatyam in 1993, by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy of Music, Dance and Drama, and received the Kalidas Samman in 2008. In 2011, he was honoured with the most prestigious Padma Bhushan Award by the Government of India.
Sujata has a compelling and arresting stage presence, with an exhilarating combination of intensity and spontaneity. Her dance is particularly noteworthy for her strict adherence to her guru’s style and vision. Her lyrical movements perfectly epitomize the grace and technical perfection of the Kelucharan Mohapatra gharana and her depth of expression is evocative and moving. Widely traveled over the world as a soloist and a leading member of the Srjan Dance Troupe, she has also been a leading dancer in most of her guru's great choreographies. Apart from her concert tours Sujata is also a much sought after teacher. Currently she is the principal of Srjan, the institute founded by Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra for imparting training in Odissi and also often conducts workshops in the major centers of Odissi teaching throughout India and abroad. In addition to her training in Odissi, Sujata holds a Master's Degree in Oriya literature from Utkal University and has extensively researched temple architecture relating to the dance form. Sujata performs with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company Odissi repertoire and conducts an annual residency at Nrtyakala.
Natasha has collaborated with Montreal’s Roger Sinha on three pieces. Her own choreography includes a group piece, Riaz, for the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and four solos for herself entitled Dance If You Must, Appropriating Edges, Obiter Dictum and White Space. Obiter Dictum was nominated for a 2003 Dora Mavor Moore Award for Outstanding New Choreography. In 2008, Natasha was the co-recipient of the K.M.Hunter Artists Award, which is presented to emerging individual artists in Ontario who have completed their training, begun to produce a body of work, and are starting to make a significant mark in their field.
Natasha has been described as “a brilliant diamond” (The Dance
Current, 2005)...“all honed to the bone
elegance and precision” (Vancouver Sun, 2004).
Neena is a Bharatanatyam dancer who has trained under the guidance of Dr. Menaka Thakkar for over 23 years. She is currently a lead dancer at Menaka Thakkar Dance Company in the Bharatanatyam, Odissi and modern repertoire. Neena has toured with the company to various cities across the United States. Canada and India and has been a part of the children’s programming series.
Chrishantini heads the Brampton Nrtyakala branch and also teaches at the Thornhill school. Chrishanthini was one of the earliest students of Nrtyakala and travelled as a young girl with Menaka and other students to perform in India and Canada. She later danced for Menaka Thakkar Dance Company. Her daughters Raveena and Meghana have followed in their mother’s footsteps and are currently senior students of the school.
Sukayena received her senior arangetram from Nrtyakala and has been a lead dancer with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company for over 20 years. She is an accomplished Bharatanatyam dancer who has also trained in body conditioning, kalariapayatu and yoga to perform in the contemporary repertoire.
Parinita trained at Nrtyakala for over 15 years and completed her senior arangetram in 2006. Since 2001 she has danced with the Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and has had the opportunity to compliment her training with workshops in Mohiniattam, Odissi, and Kalaripayatu from esteemed artists such as Jayashree Mundkur and Sujata Mohapatra.
Shanthini was a student of Nrtyakala for over 10 years and has been a lead dancer with Menaka Thakkar Dance Company for the past 10 years where she has had the opportunity to take part in many productions and tours to the U.S. and India. Her training in Bharatanatyam has been complemented by workshops in Mohini Attam, Mime, Kalaripayattu and Nattuvangam
Ayushi Sharma started learning Odissi in 1999 at Gandharva Mahavidyalaya, New Delhi under the guidance of Pyali De and Madhavi Mudgal. After coming to Canada, she joined Menaka Thakkar Dance Company and continued training at Nrtyakala under the tutelage of Menaka Thakkar and Sujata Mohapatra.
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Menaka
Thakkar, an internationally renowned and multi-honored dancer,
choreographer, teacher and institution builder has been a leader in
Indian dance in Canada for the past 39 years, where she has created a
whole generation of Indian dancers across Canada in the classical
systems of Bharatanatyam and Odissi. As a choreographer, she has created
a large number of original works and successfully experimented with new
form, movement and dance vocabulary, thus making fundamental
contributions to the development of neoclassical and contemporary forms
of Indian dance. Her own performances have ranged internationally over a
large number of cities and countries in a brilliant fifty-year
performing career. She is the founder-director of two most influential
institutions of Indian dance in Canada. Forty years ago she founded the
first school of Indian dance, NRTYAKALA, the Canadian Academy of Indian
Dance. Five years later, she
Professor C.V. Chandrasekhar has carved a special niche for himself in
the dance scene in India. He is a multi-faceted personality: a
Bharatanatyam dancer, dance teacher, choreographer, musician, music
composer, scholar, academic and administrator. He recently retired as
the Head of the Department of Music and Dance at the Faculty of
Performing Arts of the M.S. University of Baroda, India. He is one of
the many illustrious products of Kalakshetra, the internationally
renowned academy of Fine Arts in Madras. He is one of the few male
dancers of the country performing for the past four decades all over
India and in many countries in Europe and Asia. Also recognized as one
of the best teachers of Bharatanatyam for the past thirty years and
more, Chandrasekhar has many students trained at the universities of
Banaras and Baroda. 
One of
the leading soloists of the country, Sujata is an accomplished and
versatile Odissi artiste from Bhubaneshwar, Orissa. Disciple and
daughter-in-law of the legendary Padma Vibhushan Guru Kelucharan
Mohapatra, her interest in dance was nurtured at an early age by her
parents and she took to the stage as a child. Intensively trained and
groomed by her guru, she is the bearer of his priceless cultural
heritage. Sujata has also undergone training at the Odissi Research
Center.
Acclaimed as one of the leading dance artists of her generation Nova
Bhattacharya’s powerful and humanistic dance works offer an illuminating
view into the transformative journey of this Dora nominated performer
who has been described as “sly and dreamily contemplative” (Now
Magazine), “a contained goddess” (Globe and Mail) and “a mischievous
visitor from another world” (Märksiche Allemeine). Her repertoire
includes works from renowned choreog¬raphers including Peggy Baker, Mika
Kurosawa and her guru, Menaka Thakkar. Eager to explore the scope for
innovation within the bharatanatyam form and seeking to create works
that utilize classical vocabulary within a contemporary aesthetic,
Bhattacharya began choreographing in 1997. Critics have commented that
she is “adept at transforming bharatanatyam dance vocabulary into
stunning contemporary dance” (Globe and Mail) and “a choreographer of
fierce intelligence and integrity with a delightfully wicked sense of
humour” (The Dance Current). Many organizations including Danceworks,
Canada Dance Festival, Cahoots Theatre, Dusk Dances and Toronto Dance
Theatre (Four at the Winch) have commissioned her work. In 2008 she
established Ipsita Nova Dance Projects, the company’s productions have
been presented from coast to coast in Canada as well as in Europe and
Asia.
Natasha Bakht is an Indian contemporary dancer and choreographer. She
trained in Bharatanatyam under Menaka Thakkar for over 20 years, touring
internationally with her company. For three seasons she danced with the
Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company in London, England, renowned for its
groundbreaking work in Indian contemporary dance. She has also worked
with choreographers Yvonne Coutts, Joan Phillips,Wayne McGregor and
Robert Desrosiers and has appeared in their works in a variety of
festivals including, several Kalanidhi Festivals and the Canada Dance
Festival.
Shanthini Kangesan
Ayushi Sharma