CHIEF GUEST

Chief Guest

Mrs. ShiyamaThayaalan

Mrs. Shiyama Thayaalan, an outstanding dancer and choreographer, is the founder and Artistic Director of Bhaarati School of Indian Classical Dance in Toronto. She has been teaching the art of Bharathanatyam 20 years in Canada. Shiyama initiated learning Bharathanatyam at the tender age of 6 from Smt. Bharathy sivayoganathan who transferred her to the Dance School of Kalabavanam to enhance the art and completed the teacher’s grade under the guidance of Smt Shanthini Sivanesan.

Shiyama passed the teacher’s grade examination conducted by the North Ceylon Oriented Music Society with first division and was conferred the prestigious title of Bharathakalavithakar. Shiyama then continued to upgrade her skills and explore Bharathanatyam at the University of Jaffna in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. She joined the Dance School of Bharathakalanjali where she contently obtained her diploma in Bharathanatyam under the guidance of the famous Natyacharya V. P Dhananjayan and Smt. Shantha Dhananjayan in Chennai, India.

The Dhananjayan’s presented her with the title Natya Poorna. She was also awarded titles by many other organizations. At Anamalai University, she completed her Masters in Bharathanatyam and post-graduate in Yoga. Shiyama Thayaalan continues to be a lifelong learner and teacher of this beautiful art form.