Vinaya Narayanan

Vinaya Narayanan started her dance journey at the age of five under the able tutelage of Guru Kalamandalam Vinodini. She started learning the style of Bharatanatyam first, later getting initiated to the dance styles of Mohiniyattam and Kuchipudi. A serious turn towards dance happened at the age of fifteen when Vinaya realised her calling for the style of Mohiniyattam. The catalyst for this change was the chance meeting with her present Guru, Padma Shree Bharati Shivaji. Vinaya chose to specialise in Mohiniyattam under Guru Bharati Shivaji, adapting to a new style and repertoire system. This journey of hers continues to this day.

Vinaya realised her passion for teaching early on, from the age of nineteen,  and started with it under her Guru’s guidance at her Institute, The Centre For Mohiniyattam’s branch at Calicut, Kerala. Ever since then, Vinaya has been a passionate teacher and performer, conducting regular classes, doing solo as well as group performances with her Guru. Currently she is conducting Mohiniyattam classes in both online & offline modes, to students across the globe. The offline classes are conducted at her dance institute in Bangalore, ‘Samarpana Mohiniyattam Kalari’.

Vinaya now has a group of passionate students striving along with her to take Mohiniyattam to greater heights. Together they have formed a collective named Samarpana Mohiniyattam Collective, aiming to uplift the community of Mohiniyattam artists through different activities.

Vinaya is a recipient of scholarship of Mohiniyattam (2002-2004), sponsored by the Dept. of Culture, Govt. of India.

Major International Performances
  • South Asian Countries: Performed with Guru Bharati Shivaji on an official visit of the
    Vice-President of India, Mr. Krishnakanth, to Indonesia (Jakarta, Bali), Thailand (Bangkok) and Cambodia (Phnom Penh) as part of the G-8 Summit – 2001
  • Russia: As part of the “Festival of India”, presented with Guru Bharati Shivaji the dance-drama “Swan Lake” in Mohiniyattam style at the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, and the Conservatory Theatre, St. Petersburg – 2005
  • United States of America (U.S.A): Performed with Guru Bharati Shivaji at Stony Brook University in New York, at the Palace Theatre in Connecticut and at Philadelphia – 2009
  • Germany & Russia: Performed with Vijayalakshmi as part of the Swan Lake Dance Drama in several places in Germany and Russia (Stuttgart, Munich, Berlin & Konigsberg in Germany & St. Petersburg & Novosibirsk in Russia) – 2013
  • Japan: Performed at Okinawa, The KitaSenju Theatre, and at Gunma Temple in Tokyo as part of The Festival of India in Japan – 2014
  • Germany: Performed at the opening ceremony of the Hannover fair in Germany, as part of the “Make In India” Project, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the German Chancellor, Angela Merkel – 2015
  • Croatia: Performed with Guru Bharati Shivaji at “The Festival of India” organized by the Indian Embassy at Zagreb, Bjelovar & Varazdin – 2019
Major Performances within India
  • India Habitat Centre, New Delhi – Several times (1998-2005)
  • India International Centre, New Delhi -Several times (1998-2005)
  • Music Academy, Chennai – 1998
  • Republic Day Celebrations, New Delhi – 2000
  • Teen Murti Bhavan, New Delhi – 2002
  • Guru Shishya Parampara, Chandigarh – 2002
  • Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai – 2002
  • Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai – 2003
  • NIT, Ragam Festival, Calicut – 2003
  • UGC Seminar, Calicut University, Calicut – 2003
  • South Indian History Congress Seminar, Calicut – 2003
  • Taramati Bardan, Hyderabad – 2004
  • Ananya, Nritya Dhare 5, Seva Sadana, Bangalore – 2009
  • Yagnaraman July Fest, Sri Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai – 2009
  • Chinmaya Centre for World Understanding, New Delhi – 2009
  • Aatta Mahotsavam, Thodayam Kathakali Yogam & Chinmaya Mission, Calicut – 2010
  • Samskruthi, Sivarathri Festival, Bangalore – 2010
  • Sanskrit University, Kaladi – 2010
  • Tagore Anniversary Celebrations, Calcutta – 2011
  • Konark Dance Festival, Orissa – 2012
  • Nrityasangama Dance Programme , Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Chennai – 2012
  • Ananya Dance Festival , Purana Quila, Delhi – 2012
  • Chavara Cultural Centre on World Dance Day, Calicut – 2013
  • Srivijaya Kalanikethana, Shimoga – 2013
  • Navaratri Festival of Isha Yoga Centre, Coimbatore – 2013
  • Mohininrithyati (KSNA, ICPA & Dept. of Kannada & Culture), Bangalore – 2013
  • World Dance Day, Natya Vriksha, Young Dancer’s Festival, New Delhi – 2014
  • Kerala Sangeet Natak Academy, Palakkad, Thrissur & Shornur – 2014
  • Tharang Utsav, Bangalore – 2014
  • Samvaad Festival, Centre For Mohiniyattam, Delhi – 2014
  • Mohini Nrityati, KSNA at Trivandrum & Kolkata – 2014
  • Kuchipudi Siddhendra Yogi Natyotsav, Natyakshetram, Kuchipudi Village – 2015
  • Summer Festival of Music & Dance, Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Nilgiris Kendra – 2015
  • The Old Fort Dance Festival, New Delhi – 2015
  • Mohiniyattam Seminar at Kerala Kalamandalam, Thrissur, Kerala – 2015
  • The Summer Festival of Music and Dance, India International Centre, Delhi – 2016
  • Hampi Festival, Government of Karnataka – 2016
  • Sangeet Natak Akademi, Delhi, Lecture Demonstration with Guru Bharati Shivaji – 2018
  • Indian Cultural Dance Ensemble, Aatmalaya Academy, Bangalore – 2018
  • Navvarsh Mahotsav, Sri Ganapathi Seva Samithi Temple – 2019
  • Samvaad, Centre for Mohiniyattam, Delhi – 2019
  • Sutra, Naatya & Sangeet Utsav, ICPA, Bangalore – 2019
  • “The Platform” – Festival of Dance at Shoonya, Bangalore – 2019
  • Kerala Kalamandalam – Guru Bharati Shivaji’s Book Release 2020
  • Workshop on Kerala Talams for Medasvi School of Dance, Singapore- 2021
  • Lecture Demonstration for Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit – 2021
  • Navvarsh Mahotsav, Bangalore – 2022
  • Angaharam, Lecture Demonstration on Kerala Talams for Dyuthi Centre, Calicut, Kerala – 2022
  • Rashtreeya Samskriti Saptaha, Natyataranga Sagara – 2023
  • Anubhava, Amrutavarshini Foundation for Arts, Seva Sadan, Bangalore – 2023
  • Yuvaka Sangha, Viveka Auditorium, Bangalore – 2024
  • Kalandika Academy of Arts, Mysuru – 2024
  • Natyaniketan Anniversary, JSS Auditorium, Bangalore – 2024
  • Marghazhi Festival, Medai, Bangalore – 2024
  • Kaishiki, In collaboration with Natanam Institute of Dance, Medai, Bangalore – 2025