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Smitha Rajan, one of India's finest and internationally acclaimed Mohiniyattam performers is an accomplished dancer who is a strict traditionalist in her style. She is well known for the structural integrity and spiritual intensity she brings to the stage. Smitha is in this field for more than three decades and stands out by carrying the true essence and structure of this dance form that her grand mother (Late) Guru Kalamandalam Kalyanikuttiamma, had retrieved from the stage of extinction. Smitha's lineage naturally blessed her to pursue dancing at a very early stage of her life. Being in a family where dance was the life, for Smitha learning dance was as natural as learning one's mother tongue. She is the granddaughter of one of India's supreme classical dance performers, Padmasree (Late) Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and the mother of Mohiniyattam, (Late) Guru Kalamandalam Kalyanikuttiamma. She holds the unique distinction of being trained by these legends of Indian classical dance world. Her mukhaabhinaya and gestures were fine-tuned by the great Krishnan Nair himself. Smitha started learning Bharatanatyam from the |
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age of 4, from her aunt Guru Kala Vijayan (recipient of the Sangeeth Natak Academy Award) and performed her Arangetram in Bharatanatyam at the age of 5. Her mother, Guru Sreedevi Rajan, a renowned dancer and teacher, taught Smitha her first lessons in Mohiniyattam and Smitha performed her Arangetram in Mohiniyattam at the age of 6. She had her training in Kathakali from her legendary grand father, Late Padmasree Kalamandalam Krishnan Nair and his disciples, Damodara Pisharadi and Fact Padmanabhan. Smitha also learnt Carnatic music from Professor (Late) Kalyanasundaram for over seven years. She has also learned Kuchupudi in her grandparent's institution, Kerala Kalalayam in Tripunithura, Kerala, for over four years. Smitha is a member of numerous cultural organizations and is associated with many television networks in India and abroad and has received numerous awards and honors. Well versed in Kathakali and Bharatanatyam as well, she actively performs all over the world in both Mohiniyattam and Kathakali. Since her early teens, her primary focus has been Mohiniyattam and commitment to the rich heritage handed over to her by her legendary grandmother. Smitha resides in Saint Louis, USA, with her husband, Mr. Jyotis Balasubramanian and her two children, Jaidev and Abinav. She is the artistic director of the institution, "Nrithyakshetra (Temple of Dance)". Smitha tours India every year, attends major dance festivals within India apart from her world tours.
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