Mr. K. P. Bhaskar, the President and Artistic Director of Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society is the pupil of great dancers like Udaya Shankar, Guru Gopinath and Kutralam Ganesam Pillai. He also studied Kathakali from Gurus Karippuzha Kuttan Pillai and Eavoor Raman Pillai, Manippuri dance from Guru Ambobi Singh and Kathak dance from Guru Bolonath. He learned Ballet from Lyra Belgresty, a white Russian who was a colleague of the great Pavlova and later settled in Bangalore. He has also learned Kandian Dance in Si Lanka and attended Malay and Chinese dance classes in Singapore.
Mr. Bhaskar has performed all over Asia, America, Australia and Europe. After working for Udaya Shanker's Dance Picture Kalpana, he joined the Nataraja Shakunthala dance troop in Madras and worked at the Gemini Studios as assistant Dance Director. During the Second World War he entertained the Indian Army in Middle East and Africa. While working in Ceylon (present Sri Lanka) he was invited to go to Australia and during that trip he came to Singapore.
At the request of the Indian Community, Mr. Bhaskar gave a three months course to Singaporeans and performed with them many times in Singapore and all over Malaysia. Later he established Bhaskars’ Academy of Dance in 1952 in Singapore with branches in many parts of Malaysia. In 1956, his wife, Santha, joined him and he brought other dance teachers to assist him in Malaysia.
With the help of his wife, who is also a very good dancer and choreographer, Bhaskars’ Academy of Dance gave hundreds of performances in Malaysia and Singapore. After Singapore’s separation from Malaysia, they concentrated their works in Singapore. Mr. Bhaskar had been an active participant in the government’s efforts for the cause of cultural developments in Singapore since 1952.
He was an active member of the Arts council in the Colonial government and the semi-independent governments. When the PAP Government came to power, Mr. Bhaskar was appointed as a member of the Peoples Association and the National Theatre Trust until 1986. He was the Chairman of the first Dance Advisory Committee under the Ministry of Culture.
He was the head of a Cultural mission to India in 1962/63 at the invitation of Indian Government and visited most of the important cultural organizations and institutions in India During the three month’s tour there as a guest of the Indian Government, Mr. Bhaskar was the head of the Indian Section of the Cultural Delegation to Borneo and to Kuala Lumpur.
Under Bhaskar’s Academy of Dance and later under Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society, Mr. Bhaskar has toured and participated in Indonesian Festivals twice and the Ramayana Festival at Bangkok, Thailand, Angkor Wat in Cambodia, and to India with their Dance Drama “Manohra” recently. His dance group has also gone to Japan and Australia. Many graduates of his society are now practicing dance in Japan, Australia, Europe, America and even in India. In 1999 ICCR invited his "Ramayana" Dance Show to be presented in many cities in India both North and South, including Ayodhya.
Mr. Bhaskar and his organization have done about 120 Arangetrams (debut to mark the graduation), over a hundred full productions and many hundreds of charity performances. His dance group was invited to perform for visiting dignitaries at the Istana and the Prime Minister’s National Day Rallies. Mr. Bhaskar was in the committee of many cultural bodies including the Kreta Ayer People's Theatre, National Theatre Trust, National Theatre Club, Singapore Arts Federation and Singapore Kathakali Yogam of which he was the president for 20 years. He is the President of Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society where about 2500 students learn various arts. He is also the Chairman of Bhaskar's Arts Academy which is the only Professional Indian dance company recognised by the government for Annual Grant. Bhaskar's Arts Academy is another non-profit organisation he has established under which an Art gallery and Kathakali Dance group are functioning at present.
He has written 3 books on Indian Dance and contributed many articles in art magazines and papers at National and International conferences. Mr. Bhaskar has written scripts and presented many solos and Dance dramas for television including a 13 part series on "Bharata Natyam" and a 26 part series named "Aspects of Indian Dance".
Mr. Bhaskar was bestowed with many prestigious awards in India, Malaysia and Singapore including the Pengat Jasa Gemilang (PJG) by the President of Singapore and "Natya Kalanidhi" by Sudhananda Bharathiar. He is the only theatrical artiste awarded the PJG in Singapore. In 1999 he was awarded Kala Vipanchi by the prestigious B.M.K. Trust of Chennai and by Prachin Kalakendra at Kolcatta.
Being a Yoga expert, he learned Meditation directly from Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and studied at the Teachers’ Training Course in the Himalayas. He learned Hatta Yoga from Guru Gopalakrishna and inmates of Bihar School of Yoga and Breathing techniques from Guru Suryamurthy.

Santha Bhaskar is a graduate of the Chempakassary Arya Kala Nilayam in Kerala and a student of the late Ramunni Panicker, Guru Kunchu Kurup and Kutralam Ganesam Pillai. Under these masters, she mastered Mohini Attam, Bharatha Natyam and Kathakali. She also holds a diploma in Karnatic music from the Tamil Nadu Government.
Joining her husband in Singapore in 1956, she taught and choreographed at Bhaskar‘s Academy of Dance, now known as Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.
Santha is well known for her contributions to the development of Indian Classical Dance in Singapore and Malaysia. She has also studied traditional Chinese, Malay dance in Singapore and Thai dance and music at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Odissi dance at the Rabindra Bharathy University in Calcutta. Besides dance and music she has had training in theatrical studies.
For her services and contributions to the arts scene in Singapore, she was awarded the prestigious Cultural Medallion in 1991.
In addition, the ”Natya Kalanidhi“ award by Kavi Yogi Shudhananda Bharathiyar in 1957, ”Kala Rani“ award by Indian Film Arts Society, ”Kala Ratnam“ award by the Singapore Fine Arts Society, are a few of the other awards she has received for her brilliant work in this field. She has conducted more than 100 Arangetrams for which she has composed many ’Margams‘, specially designed for each individual dancer. She also has choreographed more than 50 programmes for television. Her unique interpretation of traditional and modern dance has resulted in many of her dance dramas like Ramayana and Monohra which has made her well known choreographer in this region.
Presently, she teaches at the Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society and the National University of Singapore, Centre for the Arts; writes articles on dance for seminars and performing arts magazines.

Ambujah was introduced to the sacred Art of Bharathanatyam by Ms Kavitha Daran, a student of Mr & Mrs Santha Bhaskar. Later Ambujah joined Nrityalaya Aesthetic Society to continue her pursuit in Bharathanatyam. Ambujah's Arangetram (debut performance) was conducted in 1993. Ever since there has been no turning back for this devoted and committed dancer. Currently she is a Bharatha Natyam teacher in Nrityalaya Aesthetic Society.
She has played pivoted roles in many major productions of Nrityalaya's and Bhaskar's Arts Academy. She participated in Kumara Sambhavam I, Kumara Sambhavam IV. She and her friends performed in Sadhana, a dance recital dedicated to her guru. Ambujah has also been well received for her captivating performance in Kutrala Kuravanji Dance Drama in Johore Bhahru. Her short stint in Sabah, where she both performed and choreographed dance items for students was highly commended by the press.
Ambujah has also performed in different states in both North and South India, Cambodia as well as Indonesia. Her performances in these countries have been well received. Her majestic and stunning portrayal of the demon king 'Ravana' and emotional portrayal of the demure and vulnerable Sita in 'Parinamam'(Ramayana) were highly acclaimed. The opportunity to perform in Parinamam (Ramayana) in the state of Ayodhya in India, the very birth place of 'Rama' was an unforgettable experience for Ambujah. Her recent performance in Vikramoravasiyam (a Sanskrit drama), where she performed the lead role Urvasi, was well received by the local audience. Ambujah has been conferred the title of 'Nrtiya Kala Nipuna' and given the Post Graduate Cerificate Of Honours for her contributions in the field of dance by Nrityalaya Aesthetic Society

Neeraja completed her four year diploma course at "Kalakshetra College of Fine Arts," Chennai, India, an internationally recognized institution for fine arts. She has 12 years of full time teaching and performing experience for universities and schools in India. She has travelled all over Europe and Asia for performances. Currently, Neeraja is working as Dancer, Instructor and Choreographer at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.

Bakthan has completed Degree in Bharatha Natyam from the Bharathiar Palkalaikoodam, Pondicherry. He has also undergone training in Mohini Attam. He has completed the course on 108 Karnas from Nrithyodaya, Chennai. He has given many performances all over South India. He is now teaching Bharatha Natyam at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.

A post graduate of Nrityalala,Gayathri initially began her studies in Bharata Natyam at the age of four under the tutelage of Mr & Mrs KP Bhaskar. Gayathri has performed in many Nrityalaya productions including; "Manohra," "Parinaamam," & "Pancha Tantra." She has made her way onto the television screen in programmes such as "Bharatha Chudar" & "Aadellennum Jeevanadhi" as well. Gayathri's participation in Classical Indian dance has taken her around the world where she has performed in productions and festivals.She took the part of "Shakuntala" in National University's Mega production Shakuntalam. She is teaching Bharatha Natyam at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.

Shivashni started to learn dance at the age of four under the tutelage of Mr&Mrs Bhaskar. She participated in many major productions of Nrityalaya Aesthetics society and Bhaskar's Arts Academy. She took on the role of Muruga in Kumara Surubhavam (1993), and had also performed as the golden deer in a Chinese Opera production by the Opera Society (1998). She was part of the troupe which performed 'Manohra in Tamil Nadu and Kerala (1998); Ramayana (1999) in Indian cities (Delhi, Ayodhya, Bhopal etc..); and 'Ramayana' in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Ipoh (2002). She also took part in 'Pancha Tantra' staged in 1995. She is currently teaching Bharatha Natyam at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society.

The eldest son of the Late Nriyacharya Narayan Prasadji, Chand learnt the traditional art from his father and studied for the Sangeet Prabhakar degree from the Prayag Sangeet Samiti, following it with the Nritya Bhaskar - masters degree in music (Kathak Dance) - from Pracheen Kala Kendra Chandigarh for which he won the coveted gold medal. He has followed this with numerous other awards and has taught at Gandharv Mahavidhyalaya in Delhi and Pracheen Kala Kendra in Chandigarh. He is a frequent examiner for graduate and post graduate students of the leading Universities of India. He is presently working at the Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society as a choreographer, lecturing in Kathak and North Indian Music.

Biju S. Pillai is an excellent choice as a performer, choreographer and instructor in the art of Kathakali dance. He had his education at Kerala Kala Mandalam, the topmost institution of Kathakali in India and received his post diploma Certificate there, after 6 years of intensive study. He was sponsored by the Cultural Centres at Tanjavur and Calcutta to participate in the Island Tourism Festival in 1996. Biju took the main roll in the great classical- Drama Vikramovashiyam under Bhaskar's Academy of Dance directed by Kavalam Narayana Panicker. At present, he is teaching Kathakali Dance at Nrityalaya Aesthetics Society and hails as the only artiste of this highly individualized art form in Singapore and the region.

S K Santhosh is a graduate from Keral Kala Rangam, India and is a reputed Kathakali dance artiste. He has taken part in our Kathakali shows last year and has accompanied our troupe to Bali. His inclusion as a Kathakali Artiste will strengthen our ability to put more Kathakali shows in future.