Cultural Fiesta at the International Dance Festival 2014


The International Dance Festival 2014 held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Bangalore (Bengaluru) on 29th November was a total treat for someone wholly into India's classical arts. The event was themed on 'legends', and  was a joint effort by the International Dance Alliance (IDA) and the Padmalaya Dance Foundation, which featured 30 artists from the city of Bangalore and Mysore, apart from some in the United States. There were 4 distinct dancing styles showcased with music compositions set over 4 centuries.

This occasion also happened to be a tribute to Late Ms. Leela Shekhar, the Founder Chairperson, IDA.

The special performances of the event included:

Dr. Vasundhara Doraswamy and Group, from Mysore



Janani Jayanth and Poornima Kaushik, who were also instrumental in organizing the event, and take taking of the artistry involved



Smt. Mrinalini Sadananda and Group from the US



Guru Padmini Ramchandran and Group, Bangalore

The special guest list had names like Smt. Radha Shridhar (Director of Venkatesha Nayta Mandira & Chief Guest), other than Smt. Hyma Ramakrishna and Shri. PC Ramakrishna, who were guests of honor.

The Leela Shekhar Memorial Award was also conferred upon Kalasri Pustakam Rama, for her contributions to classical music and dance.


Noted names like Lalgudi Jayaraman, Mysore Vasudevachar, Swati Tirunal, and Narayana Theertha, were also celebrated via their musical masterpieces. In fact, Smt. Padma Murali who happens to be an Advisory council member of the IDA's Bangalore chapter, and the founder of the Padmalaya Dance Foundation, mentioned their names in connection to their contribution to music. She then made special note of this festival as a platform for new talent and the maestros to perform together, something she notes is a rarity these days. 


About International Dance Alliance:

International Dance Alliance Ltd, (IDA) is a non-profit educational organisation dedicated to International exchange and goodwill through and dance and allied projects. It has been successfully conducting annual thematic dance festivals for 11 years in Bangalore.  The festival has staged more than 500 classical dance groups (Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi) of repute so far and has always drawn huge audiences to it. Smt. Padma Murali, of Padmalaya Foundation brought IDA to Bangalore in 2003 and is currently assisted by Smt. Janani Jayanth and Smt. Poornima Kaushik, both executive members at the organisation. Every year, IDA holds ‘International Dance Week’, a vehicle of understanding and goodwill among the people and nations of the world.

About Padmalaya Foundation:

Set up in 1985 at Bangalore, India, by Guru Smt. Padma Murali, Padmalaya Dance Foundation has trained over 1,000 students across the cities of Bangalore, Mumbai, Kolkata and Aurangabad in India. Intensive courses have also been taken up by visiting students from Europe, UK and USA. Assisted by her daughter Janani Murali Jayanth and her daughter-in-law Poornima Kaushik and other team members at the Foundation, Smt. Padma conducts classes, workshops and events across Bangalore, Chennai and other cities in India. The Ministry of Culture, ICCR and other national and international organisations have supported several of Padmalaya's productions, which are eagerly awaited in the dance circles.


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