Guru Dr. Sanjay Shantaram PERSONAL BRIEF:

Guru Dr. Sanjay Shantaram
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF SHIVAPRIYA
PERSONAL BRIEF:
Dr. Sanjay was initiated to the nuances of Bharatanatyam at the tender age of 7 under the
guidance of Guru Smt. G.S. Rajalakshmi and in the later years Guru Smt. Narmada.
With constant support from his parents,Dr. Shantaram and Mrs.Swarna Shantaram, he
never looked back but excelled in the field of art as well as academically.
He then on continued to act in both Kannada and Telugu films as a very popular child actor
having acted with eminent directors like B.S. Ranga, K. Balachander, Sri Renuka Sharma, Sri K.V.
Raju, Sri T. Krishna (Telegu), Sri .D. Rjendra babu etc, in jubilee films like “ Eradu rekhegalu”,
“Maneye Manthralaya”, “Muthaide Bhagya”, “Thayinudi”, “Benkiyalli Aralidha Huvu” a few to
mention.
A Dentist by qualification, he never stopped dancing at any point of his life and his passion got
him several awards and accolades. He holds the credit of securing first rank in both Junior and
Senior levels of Bharatanatyam conducted by the Karnataka Secondary Examination Board, and
also won the prestigious gold medal at the ALL INDIA LEVEL DANCE COMPETITION,
Navyanataka Samithi, Hyderabad.
He has exclusively toured America in 1986, 1989, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010 and twice in 2011,
owing to his skills as a dancer, conducted several workshops at Phoenix Oklahoma, Raleigh,
New Jersey, San Jose, St.Louis, Austin, San Antonio, Washington University etc. Also he had
toured United Kingdom exclusively in 1988, for the company INDIA DANCE WALES and Muscat in
1996. He also performed at Bali, Indonesia, Srilanka, Singapore, Andamans and Bern, Switzerland.
As a Kuchipudi dancer, he received training from his gurus, SUNANDA DEVI and VEENA MURTHY
VIJAY and forayed into this type of dancing too, giving both the styles and their dues and making
sure both the styles are executed authentically.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND AWARDS
He is also a recipient of State Government Scholarship and has the credit of giving more than
2000 shows for various organisations/companies/conferences.
He is also a recipient of the prestigious ARYABHATA as well as the ROTARY vocational award in
the field of art.
Also a recipient of Popular the Ramgopal Award
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Nrithya Kishora – from the academy of Indian dances - Hyderabad
Appreciation award - The Hindu society- North America - 1986
Appreciation award - by vidhyaranya kannada koota - 2007
Kala Aarathi Rathna - Aarathi school of dance - USA - 2010
Shri Venkatakrishna Kshetra Aasthana Natyacharya - USA - 2010
Appreciation award - Kannada Koota - New York - 1986
Appreciation award - Kannada cultural association - New Jersey - 1986
Appreciation award - Telugu fine arts society – Holliston - 1986
Appreciation award - Venkateshwara Temple - Pittsburg - 1986
Appreciation award - New Heaven Indian community – USA - 1986
As an actor
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Nava Rasa balaka
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Kannada kala kandha from popular associations like “Dr.Rajkumar Abhimanigala Sangha” etc…
In India has performed at prestigious National festivals such as –
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India International Cultural Exchange programme by Jeeva foundation
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Shivapriya Ensemble
•Rangabhivandhanae
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National Dance Festival - Nruthyantara
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Natya Saraswathy Kuchipudi Fest
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HAMPI UTSAVA
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Natarajotsava, pallavotsava, purandarotsava – Mysore
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Shivali festival – Chennai and Delhi
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Island festival – Andaman and Nicobar Island twice
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Rani Chennamma festival – Dharward
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Mysore Dusshera festival
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Bruhan Natyanjali festival – Tanjore
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Natyanjali festival – Chidambaram
International Performances:
US Tour 1986, 1989, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, twice in 2011 and 2015 owing to his skills as
a dancer, conducted several workshops at Phoenix Oklahoma, Raleigh, New Jersey, San Jose,
St.Louis, Austin, San Antonio, Washington University etc.
He had toured United Kingdom exclusively in 1988, for the company INDIA DANCE WALES
Muscat in 1996.
He also performed at Bali, Indonesia, Srilanka, Singapore, Andamans and Bern, Switzerland.
STORY OF SHIVAPRIYA
Shivapriya, the brain child of Dr. Sanjay, was started humbly twenty four years ago with a handful
of students. Today the institute has blossomed into a full-fledged dance school training more
than 200 students in the divine art forms of Bharatanatyam and Kuchupudi along with innovative dances as well as insights into choreography, both traditional and thematic. What started off
as hobby to Dr. Sanjay developed into a deep passion and commitment thus enabling the dance
school to grow into nearly 200 students and form eminent teachers.
The students here are initiated into the nuances of temple Art form of Bharatanatyam which
has a history of several centuries and being a creation of pious sage Bharata after Lord Brahma
created the fifth veda called the Natyaveda and gave it to Bharata. The dance form has received
acclaim and Shivapriya feels blessed to be one among the several dance schools to be imparting
the knowledge of art selflessly and devotedly.
Students are exposed to Pandanallur style of Bharatanatyam and are taught different levels by
Dr. Sanjay, N. Sajini, S Radhika and Kruthika. The school recently opened its branch at Kunigal is
handled by gurus Devaraju and Gopalakrishna. The well trained teachers are all senior disciples
of Guru Dr. Sanjay Shantharam and follow his principles of hard work, Impartiality, commitment
and Humbleness all which have made Institution a popular one it is today.
The school conducts several dance festivals, workshops and lecture demonstrations by Eminent
Gurus who are invited from outside and also exposes the students to vsrious other forms of art
such as Mime, Kuchipudi, Kalari, Power Yoga etc., all relate to Indian dances.
Students are trained to take up the Karnataka State Government Junior,Senior and Viwath exams and also State and Central Scholarships. They are provided several platforms to perform
based on their talent and also exclusively to present their debut-The- Arangatrum. The school
has kids attending from the age of 5 yrs to Adults 30 plus, all learning at different batches and
levels.
The dance school is situated at Kumara park, the heart of Bengaluru, well connected by public
transports.
PRODUCTIONS BY SHIVAPRIYA SCHOOL OF DANCE
Sandesha
Shankari
Alladin – The tale of Magic Lamp
Prahlada Charitam
Matsyakanya -The Mermaid
Saptaa