Karnataka Kalasri,
Prof. Dr. Choodamani Nandagopal
Prof. Dr Choodamani’s highest service to the nation is working for the UNESCO Dossier on Ramappa Temple and a scholarly volume on Ramappa Temple covering Tangible and Intangible cultural Heritage played a key role in recommendation for the Inscription of RAMAPPA TEMPLE AS UNESCO WORLD HERITAGE SITE in July 2021
Karnataka Kalashri Prof.Choodamani Nandagopal, a reputed Art Historian, with M.A. Sociology, M.A. History and Archaeology, a PhD from Art History and Archaeology, Mysore University. She is the first researcher in Dance from Karnataka and South India (1985). She is the first scholar to receive the Nehru Fellowship at Victoria & Albert Museum London, UNESCO Fellowship at Paris; She is the founder of Art History Department in South India in fine arts education. She has 25 International publications, 6 valuable publications in Kannada and 100 published papers to her credit. She has guided 20 PhD and 20 M Phil scholars. Her first book ‘Dance and Music in Temple Architecture’, an edited volume on Classical Dance Heritage of Karnataka is the first publication on the Baanis of Karnataka including Mysore Baani and her recent book ‘Dance and Dance Techniques’ is in high demand. She served as Academic Head Chitrakala Parishath, later at Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, worked with Guru Maya Rao for the course in Choreography under Bangalore University. Retired as Dean School of Humanities & Social Sciences set up performing Arts Department at Jain University. Her online Research Methodology Course for performing Arts has gained importance and research scholars are benefitted across universities in India and overseas.
She was invited and honoured by Kalakhetra Foundation Chennai for her presentation on ‘The Salient features of Mysore School of Bharatanatyam’ in Baani Festival 2016. She was the recipient of Rukminidavi Arundale Award from AttanDance, She was one of the artists honoured at prestigious Kalakshiti celebrations. Government of Karnataka, conferred her the Lifetime Achievement Award, Dana chintamani Attimabbe Prashsti for her contributions to Karnataka Culture. Recently she received ‘Shastra Kaustubha Award by Ananya Cultural Academy Bangalore in the name of Sangita Kalaratna, renowned art critic B V K Shastri.
She is a trained Bharatanatyam artiste, senior most disciple of Guru Bharatakalamani Dr. Radhakrishna, of Kolar Parampara having the lineage of Yajaman Kolar Kittappa. She has given 500 performances and was the first PhD in fine arts in Karnataka. She is the President of Karnataka Bharatagama Pratishthana, an organization propagating the classical dance heritage of Karnataka including Mysore Dance tradition. She performed as Natyarani Shantala in a Ballet at Belur Chennakeshava Temple. She presented her research findings in many universities and institutions including Madras Music Academy and Krishnagana Sabha Chennai, conducted workshop on navarasabhinayaat Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan London. She was associated with Dr. Kanak Rele in the Core Committee of UGC for formulating the Educational System in Performing arts and Visual arts for the country, also for IGNOU School of performing Arts and Visual Arts Delhi. She Chaired several Boards of Fellowship and Grants Committee for Performing Arts Ministry of HRD and Ministry of Culture Govt. of India. She is the name in multidisciplinary studies in India and abroad that includes Indian Dance tradition.