"Culture gives you an identity because of which your soul finds peace and a sense of belonging" 

- Manasi Pandya Raghunandan (Phd)

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Dr. Prof. Manasi Pandya Raghunandan is the co-founder of Abhivyakti Cultural Trust, Bangalore. She is the daughter and disciple of Guru Dr. Sharad Pandya and Guru Smt. Niru Pandya, Founder-Director of "Purva School of Bharatanatyam", Vadodara. 

As the Regional Director of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts, Regional Centre in Thrissur, Kerala, under the Ministry of Culture, Government of India, Dr. Prof. Manasi Pandya Raghunandan oversees both the administrative and academic facets of the centre. In this pivotal role, she spearheads efforts to preserve and advance regional traditional arts, fosters research, develops cultural assets, and leads projects linked with performance and Vedic studies. Recently, she was engaged in preparing the dossier for the nomination of Panchatantra for inclusion in the regional registry at the UNESCO Memory of the World (MoW) Programme, working alongside a team of senior members from IGNCA.

Before assuming this position, Dr. Raghunandan undertook diverse roles such as festival curation, arts consultancy, writing, and teaching at the university level. Her teaching portfolio encompasses foreign languages, soft skills, and performing arts. She has had the privilege of traveling globally with Indian classical dance, conducting master classes and performances in various countries, including the USA, Brazil, Spain, Serbia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Belgium, and others.

Dr. Raghunandan is honoured to be a member of the CID International Dance Council, UNESCO, Paris, France. She is also proud to have established the Abhivyakti Cultural Trust in Bangalore and conceptualized the "Abhivyakti" festival series in 2019-2020 in collaboration with Alliance Française de Bangalore, as well as the Abhivyakti National Seminar and Festival in 2017 in association with ICCR, New Delhi. Additionally, she contributes to the Advisory Board of Keshava College of Dance and Music, Bangalore.

With a penchant for languages, Dr. Raghunandan contributes research articles on culture while actively practicing Indian classical dance. Beyond her administrative role, she is an avid advocate of traditional culture, an accomplished artist, and a recipient of numerous awards and scholarships, both nationally and internationally. Her academic credentials include a PhD in Performing Arts from Mumbai University, under Nalanda Nrityakala Mahavidhyalaya, Mumbai under the able guidance and mentorship of Dr. Smt. Uma Rele. She holds a double Master’s Degrees in English literature from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Vadodara and in Dance from Rabindra Bharti University, Kolkata, along with diplomas and certifications in various languages.

Her competencies extend to project research, curation, development, negotiation with stakeholders, financial management, and a profound understanding of performing arts. Dr. Raghunandan has contributed articles to esteemed publications such as Vihangama by IGNCA, New Delhi along with articles Published by Aura books, California USA - topic titled “Emotions, A multidisciplinary inquiry and on the topic- “Classicism in Indian classical dance styles” published by Grand Academic Portal.

 Her commitment lies in fostering interdisciplinary studies rooted in Indian cultural and performance traditions, while also championing the preservation of intangible cultural heritage. 

As an artist, she has been teaching and training Indian classical dances, Bharatanatyam and Odissi for various courses and programs. 

• Preparing curriculum that brings knowledge about Indian cultural and artistic practices as well as insights into social-cultural, anthropological, ethnographical, folklore, etymological and philosophical aspects underlying around Indian dance.

• Hosting workshops and lectures on cultural informatics, cultural mapping, Artistic conservation and safeguarding practices, journalism for arts and culture, cross cultural and linguistic influences on dance, mythological, regional and spiritual impact of Indian customs in Indian dance and art forms

• Natuvangam, Tala, Sangeeta, Hasta Viniyoga, Pada Bheda, Griva Bheda, Dhrishti Bheda and more related to the technical aspects of practical dance techniques of Bharatanatyam and Odissi

• Master classes on costumes, ornaments, instruments and other aspects including dance techniques of Indian folk dance and theatre traditions.

• Creating series of presentations such as Colour codifications in Indian arts, Body kinetics and statics in Indian classical dance, Emotions in Indian dance and such.

• Preparing students for professional and formal presentations of dance. Curating festivals and opportunities for showcase of the said. Dance Lead character roles played in dance drama-s over the past decade: Sita, Surpankha, Shabari, Devi, Radha, Durga, Mahishasura Mardini, Ramani and more. For her key role in the ballet Sundara Kaanda – the divine journey of Lord Hanumaan, Manasi's performance of the role of Sita has been very well received and critically appreciated.

● Dance compositions and choreographies done by Manasi: Kala Sangam, Tribhangi, Patriotic Indian songs for dance, - Hum ko Manki, Viahsnava Jana Toh, Kalyani Pallavi, Shiva raksha strotam, Sandhya Devi, Kala Bharava strotam, Rama raksha strotam, Basaveshwar Vacahanas, Saptapadis, Hanumaan chalisa, Ashtadikpalaka-s are very well acclaimed.

● Conducted workshops, performance at - Spain, France, Pakistan, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, Russia, Serbia, Brazil, Singapore, Malaysia, U.S.A. as well as across India at several leading institutions.

● Bagged Indian central government’s .C.C.R.T Scholarship in classical dance

● Taught students from India and abroad and guided them for state/ International examinations in classical dance. A

● Invited to conduct master classes at ISKCON Brazil, Serbia, Spain, Pakistan, USA etc.

● Designed curriculum for Diploma and Bachelor’s level studies in Indian classical dance.

● Her students have bagged national central government scholarships in India for classical dance, as well as for state level examinations as well as nomination for CID UNESCO certification in dance studies and Doordarshan auditions.

Married to Vid. Guru Raghu Nandan S, a third generation artist, Manasi performs and creates dance presentations and platforms to nurture younger talents in dance and music and to imbibe cultural values and ethos with holistic learning.