Kalayogi Guru Vidwan Raghunandan S

A performer of high calibre, a creative choreographer and a dedicated teacher, Shri Raghu Nandan S. is an artist devoted to the field of Bharatanatyam. He proudly continues the legacy passed down from his grandfather Natyacharya Guru H R Keshava Murthy who was a central S. N. A. awardee. He is the son and disciple of Karnataka Kalashree Dr. Guru Shri B K Shyam Prakash and Vidushi Smt Geetha Shyam Prakash· 

Raghu Nandan is Awarded with the prestigious “Kalaa Yogi” tile from Indian Council of Cultural Relation Bangalore in 2016· His other awards include :

  “Bharatashree” title - Hubli, Karnataka,  

  “Abhinaya Best Classical dancer” - Eluru, Andhra Pradesh 

        “Godavari Sanmaan” - Khajuraho, Mandhya Pradesh and

        "Male Performer of the year" - Purva School of Bharatanatyam, Vadodara

• Raghunandan is an auditioned artist of Doordarshan. He holds Masters of Fine Arts in Bharatanatyam , distinction in Vidwath  as well as Masters Degree in Sanskrit.

• Being trained in Mridangam as well, he is often invited as a guest Natuvanaar. 

• He also holds a  Bachelors degree in Telecommunication and Engineering and is also an I.T professional. 

• He has also to his credit, performed in 50 major dance dramas with lead roles for which he has won critical appreciation. He has represented India at Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa ,Sydney Australia and recently across various states of USA for dance performances, workshops and lectures. He has performed at prestigious festivals such as Nalanda Nrithyotsava, Mumbai, Natyanjali Festival, Karur, Rukmini Devi Arundale festival, Kolkata, Indradhanush, Delhi, Kala Poshakam, Chennai, Hampi festival and many more.

• His much acclaimed solo presentation of dance drama Aranya Kaand was critically stalwarts in the field of Dance and the art connoisseurs equally. 

• Having been training students and teaching Bharatanatyam for over two and a half decades, he has choreographed many Varnams, Padams, Javalis, Pushanjalis, Tillanas, keertanams, Suladis, asthapadis and devaranamas which are critically appreciated by one and all. Additionally, with his experience and exposure to Sanskrit and kannada literature, he has written many classical dance compositions in Sanskrit and Kannada language. 

• His major directorial venture with successful productions such as Parivartane, Purandara Pallavi, Rama Bharata Samaagama, Tripatti, Sundara Kanda , Nrithya Vipanchi , Aaranya Kaanda and Nrithya Bhakti Saara, have brought him critical appreciation.

• Being an ardent devotee of Shri Ram, he has himself directed ,choreographed and performed major dance dramas like Baala Kanda, Aranyakanda and Sundara Kanda which have been extensively showcased all over India and abroad. 

• Along with his wife Dr. Manasi Raghunandan who is an Odissi and Bharatanatyam exponent, the couple perform unique unison of Odissi and Bharatanatyam called Kala Sangam which is one of its kind.

• Additionally, he has also written a dance drama “Sri Jagannatha Charitam” glorifying the story of Lord Jagannath in Kannada. 

• His students have bagged the National CCRT scholarship from the Govt. Of India and have cleared KSEEB junior, senior and vidwath Bharatanatyam exams. Several of his talented students have successfully presented their Rangapraveshams, some of whom are making their mark at national level as well. 

• The Vaggeyya Nrithya Vaibhava Series is one of its kind where in the works of renowned music , dance and literary composers are set to dance by himself and taught to students for advanced learning.

• He also hosts annually Keshava Kalarnavam , Guru Gangadhar Pradhan tribute festival, Nrithya Shraavana, Nrithya Medha, Nrithya Vaividhyam and Nrithya Sammilana to encourage talents in dance.

• Currently. he is the Principal of Keshava College of Dance & Music and is the Director of Keshava Nrithya Shala, Bangalore and also the managing director of Samskruthi Bhavan Trust and BOE chairman at Bangalore University.