Kripa Baskaran is the founder and Director of Natyarpana Dance Company.

Kripa started training in Bharatnatyam at the age of 7 and gave her major solo debut (Arangetram) when she was 14 with instruction from gurus Smt. Chandrakala and Thanjai Sri.Hemnath. She then pursued the art form in depth with the guidance of Guru Dr. Ambika Kameshwar.Kripa started teaching Bharatnatyam as a high school graduate and has volunteered teaching in RASA under the guidance of her guru Dr.Ambika Kameshwar. Kripa had the privilege to work independently with downs syndrome, cerebral palsy and Autistic Children and teens in Chennai imparting classical dance therapy with the main focus on holistic development.

She has been dancing for the past two decades and her years of learning from Dr.Ambika enriched her with the history of Choreography, dance theory, Art of presentation, classical music, nattuvangam and Stage management. She has also done nattuvangam for renowned dancers like Dr. Ambika Kameshwar and Smt. Vijayantimala Bali.

Her passion for dance took a wider dimension when she formally started the Natyarpana dance company in 2003 with a primary goal to educate and enhance audience appreciation of classical arts, to share classical Indian culture with others beyond the immigrant community and build bridges between cultures and to create an atmosphere of peace and spirituality through classical arts. Through Natyarpana dance company, Kripa trains several students who are extraordinary dancers today.

Kripa is applauded as an astute choreographer and a performer for her excellence in presentation and perfection and dedication towards the art.

Bharatnatyam Gurus: Dr.Ambika Kameshwar, Sri.Thanjai Hemnath, Smt.Chandrakala, Smt.Prema.S

Positions held in the US:

  • Current:
    Kripa Baskaran will be offering a 3 credits course at the Department of Dance, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee.

  • Dance Instructor, Department of Dance for the continuing education division at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

  • Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction’s special education division staff

  • Guest lecturer at the University of Wisconsin department of Dance at Madison and Milwaukee.

Kripa’s Performance History outside the United States

INDIA

  • Madras Mylapore fine arts club

  • Narada Gana Sabha, Madas

  • Tanjore Bull temple

  • Chowdiah hall, Bangalore

  • Partasarathi Swami Sabha

  • Music Academy, Madras

  • Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Madras

  • Shree Krishna Gana Sabha, Madras

  • Sri. Ramana Maharishi shrine, Bangalore

  • Mamallapuram dance festival

  • Kapali temple, Mylapore

  • Natyanjali Trust

  • Shivali cultural trust

  • RR Sabha, Madras

  • Rotary Club of Madras

  • Soviet cultural academy

  • Vani Mahal

  • Seva Sadan, Bangalore

  • Nungambakkam Cultural Academy

UNITED KINGDOM

  • Bharatnatyam at Nilima Devi's center for Indian Classical dances, Leicester, UK - September 1995

  • Clarendon College, Nottingham, UK - November 1995

  • Dance workshop at Derby, UK - November 1995

  • Nottingham Play House, UK – Nov 1995

OTHER

  • Bharatnatyam recital for Auckland Ganesha temple fund raising, NZ, April 15 2001

  • Classical dance recital at the ISCON temple, Christchurch, NZ, April 22, 2001

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