Faculty
Dr. Jayachandran Surendran
Associate Professor
Alliance School of Liberal Arts and Humanities
Dr. Jayachandran is a practisioner of dance who works on the formal nature of Art. He is a Lecturer at Center for Exact Humanities, IIIT, Hyderabad.
With an Electronics Engineering background, Jayachandran started his career as a Software Engineer with Wipro.
He joined Kalakshetra Foundation as a part of Research and Documentation Department, later served as Asst.Professor at Kalakshetra. Jayachandran started Bharatanatyam training under Smt.Meera Narayanan and Sri.Gopinathan. Later his dance education was broadened under the tutelage of Smt.Leela Samson, Prof.C.V.Chandrashekar and Smt.Jaya Chandrashekar and Smt.Bragha Bessell.
Jayachandran did Diploma in Saiva Siddhanta, B.A. History, M.A. History, M.A Philosophy, M.A. Bharatanatyam and a PhD in Dance. His research focuses on form-neutral style-neutral universal dance fundamentals. As part of his research, the pedagogical tool he designed for teaching universal dance fundamentals was granted a design patent from India Patent Office, and is the first dance teaching tool in India to receive a design patent.
He has also researched significantly on the Temples of Tiruvarur and Chidambaram and has presented lectures on the same. His paper ‘Tiruvarur sthalam as interpreted in Smt.Rukmini Devi’s choreography’ has won him the best lecture-demonstration award from the Music Academy. His paper on ‘Architecture and Choreography – a comparative analysis’ has been featured in the web–site www.shabda.co.in. He was featured in the ‘The Silent Burn Project #AKC20’ a video in celebration of 20 years of Akram Khan Dance Company, UK.
As a performer Jayachandran has done many solo shows. He has choreographed many solo and group thematic works. A sought after speaker and a resource person, Jayachandran has delivered several lectures, conducted many workshops and training under the auspices of several reputed Art organisations. Jayachandran continues to research, write papers, teach and lecture on subjects of his interest.
List of Journal Publications:
- Mar 2024 - To Move is to Measure: Dance as a scale to Measure Cognitive Space and Time, Sangeet Natak Akademi Journal (UGC Care indexed)
- Mar 2016 - Baani and the multifarious predicates in the discourse of Bharatanatyam, Kalakshetra Journal, Chennai
List of Magazine Articles:
- Mar 2024 - Universal dance movement training for the beginners, MADAL, Prayathnam, Chennai
- Sep 2018 - Understanding the interiors of ‘aadal/aattam/aata’: the Core, Content and Context, MADAL, Prayathnam, Chennai
- Dec 2017 - Social Evolution of Performance as a Profession, Trinity Arts Academy, Chennai
List of Keynote addresses:
- Aug 2021 - Nrityotkarsha, Vedic Wellness University, Florida, USA
List of Invited Talks:
- Aug 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Sampada Lec-dem series, The Sruti Foundation, Chennai
- Jun 2021 - Sapta Tandava Vivarana - Attam, Bodhi, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Text and Textile of Natya, Chitralekha Studio, Hyderabad
List of Workshops offered:
- Aug 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Menon Brothers Trust, Coimbatore
- Aug 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Kripa Center for Performing Arts, Chrompet, Chennai
- Jun 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Navadarshana Dance Intensive, Palo Alto, USA
- Jun 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Anjali Center for Performing Arts, Houston, USA
- Jun 2024 - Weaving Adavus, New Jersey Natya Sangam, New Jersey, USA
- Jun 2024 - Hastabhinaya, New Jersey Natya Sangam, New Jersey, USA
- Jun 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Natyanjali, Dallas, USA
- Jun 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Navadarshana Dance Intensive, Edison, USA
- Apr 2024 - Weaving Adavus, Aham Divine Foundation, Ambattur, Chennai
- Jul 2023 - Adavus, KG Foundation, Paulo Alto, USA
- Jun 2023 - Hundreds of Adavus un-woven to a few: Adhyaathma School of Performing Arts, New Jersey, USA
- Jun 2023 - Adavus, New Jersey Natya Sangamam, New Jersey, USA
- May 2023 - Adavus, KG Foundation, New Jersey, USA
- Oct 2021 - Shiva Tandava Vivarana-Attam, Nrityaangan, Mangalore
- Sep 2020 - Attam-Idea, Ideology, Practise, Navadarshana, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Attam and dances of India, Saraswatham Foundation, Chennai
List of Instruction Sessions: (Training offered in the Pedagogical Method):
- Since Jun 2023 - Meenakshi Grama, Spatika Centre for Performing Arts, Chennai
- Since Jun 2023 - Charanya Sooreyakanthan, Beatz Academy, Chennai
- Since Dec 2022 - Niveditha Sathish, Aham Divine Foundation, Chennai
- Since Mar 2021 - Sneha Ramachandran, New York, USA
- Since Mar 2021 - Pracheta Bhat, Sankhya Dance Company, Pune
- Since Nov 2020 - Saikripa Prasanna, Kripa Centre for Arts, Chennai
- Since Sep 2020 - Renjith Choorakkad and Vijna Vasudevan, Saraswatham Foundation, Chennai
List of Patency:
- ATAM pedagogical tool - Design Patency: Received Certificate of Registration of Design, Design no: 413513-001
Lectures and Papers Presented:
- Sep 2021 - ‘Positioning Yadhukula Kamboji varnam’ as a part of Varnam Seminar organised by Smt. Leela Samson’s, Spanda Dance Company, Chennai
- Sep 2021 - ‘Measured Memory and Constructed Imagination’ - the Idea and Practice of Indian Temple Architecture, Samvada Srinkala Webinar 2.0, CTES College of Architecture, Mumbai
- Aug 2021 - ‘Vishvakarma Tradition’ - the idea behind the Temple Architecture, presented at School of Architecture, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru
- Aug 2021 - Emerging careers in Dance, Keynote address, Nrityotkarsha Webinar, Vedic Wellness University, Florida
- Jul 2021 - Beyond Worship, Temples are a vault of Heritage and Culture, Wishwatalks, Hyderabad
- Jul 2021 - Understanding Keertanam – A discussion (in Tamizh), Sri Priyalaya Arts Academy, Trichy
- Jul 2021 - Sapta Tandava of Shiva, Nrityangan, Mangalore
- Jun 2021 - SPICMACAY lecture – Understanding Folk Forms, SPICMACAY
- Jun 2021 - Decoding Sapta Tandava, Anusham, Chennai
- May 2021 - Theruvil Varano – a trail of the Lord unschackling fear and death, Samarpana Foundation, Chennai
- Apr 2021 - Natanamadinar – a dicussion, GV Ramani Natya Kala Foundation, Mumbai
- Nov 2020 - Interdisciplinary approaches in Indian Art Practices – Sunil Lohar and Jayachandran, Kalayog Art Collective
- Nov 2020 - Koota – the confluence, Pallavi of Annamacharya – Part 2, Kala Vedika
- Nov 2020 - Koota – the confluence, Pallavi of Annamacharya – Part 1, Kala Vedika
- Oct 2020 - Poetry, Interpretation, Mysticism through the Tevaram of Gnyanasambandar, Iyengar Center for Fine Arts, Bangalore
- Oct 2020 - Aattam: Jaya Jagadesha Hare – The idea of Sri Krishna in Gita Govind, Navadarshana
- Oct 2020 - Aattam: Maamadi mugamo kanalaai veesudhadi – The idea of Manmatha Sainyas Navadarshana
- Oct 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 6, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Oct 2020 - Ananda Natana Prakasham – In search of the Image of the Aakasha, Samskrithi – Samskara Sourabha webinar series
- Oct 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 5, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Oct 2020 - Aattam: Maaran Kanaigalai Toovuraan – The idea of Manmatha Navadarshana
- Oct 2020 – Hijacking God (a discussion), The Silent Burn Project for Akram Khan Dance Company Akhram Khan Dance Company
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Svamiyai azhaithodi vaa – The idea of Svami in discussion Navadarshana
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 4, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Aananda Natana Prakasham – The idea of Akasha Lingam, Navadarshana, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 3, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 2, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Natanamadinar – The idea of Nataraja of Cidambaram, Navadarshana, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Aattam: Lecture 1, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Sep 2020 - Text and Textile of Natya, Chitralekha Studios, Hyderabad
- Sep 2020 - Let’s talk about Dance (a talk series), RLV College, Thirupunithura
- Jul 2020 - Chat with Smt. Sreekala Bharath for her series – An Instagram Chat, Thejas_srekalabharath: Instagram chat
- Jul 2020 - Rasa – a brief Resume, Navadarshana’s webinar on Rasa
- Jul 2020 - Nature of ‘the Nayika’, Navadarshana’s guest lecture series
- Jun 2020 - Dance as a Knowledge System – Part II, Anusham, Chennai
- Jun 2020 - Dance as a Knowledge System – Part I, Anusham, Chennai
- Jun 2020 - Dance as a Knowledge System – Part II, Guru V Ramani Natya Kala Foundation, Mumbai
- Jun 2020 - Dance as a Knowledge System – Part I, Guru V Ramani Natya Kala Foundation, Mumbai
- Jan 2020 - Discussion on Art with Jonathan Hollander, LV Prasad Studio, Hyderabad
- Jan 2020 - Dance as a Knowledge System, STEM Institute, Bangalore
- Dec 2019 - Bhakti as a Rasa, Natya Darshan Conf, Chennai
- Oct 2019 - Spirituality: Depiction, Practise and Essence in Dance, Naandi Festival, Irinjalakuda
- Oct 2019 - Spirituality: Depiction, Practise and Essence in Dance,Laya Lasya Lahari, Veena Seshadri Institute
- Jun 2019 – Chaturam, Inaugural Talk for Bhavanrithyalaya, Bangalore
- Apr 2019 - Abhinaya – an internal resume, EFLU, Diamond Jubilee Celebration, Hyderabad
- Dec 2018 - Margam as a trail to Mangalam, MGR Janaki College for Women, Chennai
- Dec 2018 - Abhinaya as an enquiry on Reality, Navadhisha 2018, Trinity Arts Academy
- Sep 2018 - Text Reading for Dance, Abhinetri Arts Academy, Hyderabad
- May 2018 - Inaugural Talk – The Art Infinite , The Art Infinite, Trivandrum
- May 2018 - Nadai, Udai, Bhaavanai, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- May 2018 - Sense of Abhinaya through Textual Traditions, Bharatanjali, Mysore
- May 2018 - Dance as a Measurement, Bharatanjali, Mysore
- May 2018 - Choreographic ideas of Rukmini Devi, University of Mysore
- Apr 2018 - Art and Education, Savita International School, Chennai
- Apr 2018 - Manmatha, Arkay Convention Centre, Chennai
- Apr 2018 - Manmatha, Shri Shankarlal Sundarbai Shasun Jain College for Women, Chennai
- Mar 2018 - Tiruvarur Sthalam as interpreted in Smt. Rukmini Devi’s Choreography, Thinking Cap Series, Hyderabad
- Feb 2018 - Tiruvarur Sthalam as interpreted in Smt. Rukmini Devi’s Choreography, Pravidya, Banglaore
- Feb 2018 - Kudamuzha, Government Museum, Chennai
- Feb 2018 - One who dances measures – an age old art survey, Government Museum, Chennai
- Dec 2017 - Social Evolution of Performance as a Profession, Navadhisha 2018, Trinity Arts Academy, Chennai
- Oct 2017 - Kanchi – Imagination of Kanchi from a performers memory, Tamil Heritage Trust, Chennai
- Oct 2017 - Text Reading for Dance, Abhinetri Arts Academy, Hyderabad
- Sep 2017 - Foundations of Arts: Dance, University of Madras, Chennai
- Aug 2017 - Dance and Temple Rituals, Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai
- Jul 2017 - On Dance and related thoughts, International School, Isha Foundation
- Jul 2017 - Foundations of Arts: Dance, Sanskriti School, Isha Foundation, Coimbatore
- Jun 2017 - Foundations of Arts: Dance, CEH, IIIT, Hyderabad
- May 2017 - Sense of Imagination, Abhinetri Arts Acedemy, Hyderabad
- Oct 2016 - Kalakshetra Mentorship Lecture part-4, Kalakshetra Foundation
- Sep 2016 - Kalakshter Mentorship Lecture part-3, Kalakshetra Foundation
- Aug 2016 - Kalakshter Mentorship Lecture part-2, Kalakshetra Foundation
- Jul 2016 - Kalakshter Mentorship Lecture part-1, Kalakshetra Foundation
- Oct 2015 - Nayika, Natyasangraha, Hyderabad
- Sep 2015 - Textual Traditions as an input for Abhinaya, Divyanjali, Chennai
- Aug 2015 - The Male dancing tradition in India, Gandharva Festival, Abhinetri Arts Academy, Hyderabad
- Jul 2015 - Dance as a Knowledge System, Manjeeram, Hyderabad
- May 2015 - Forms of Shiva, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai
- Mar 2015 - Tiruvarur Sthalam as interpreted in Smt. Rukmini Devi’s Choreography, Manjeeram, Hyderabad
- Feb 2015 – Lecture on ‘Male dancing tradition in India’ as a part of Humanities Conference, Andhra University, Vishakhapatnam
- Jan 2015 – Poetry as an input to Dance, Prayatnam, Chennai
- Oct 2013 – Lecture on ‘Male dancing tradition in India’ as a part of Purusha Dance Festival, organised by Natyanjali Trust
- Dec 2012 – Lecture on ‘When light moves: Interpretation of Natamadinar, Natya Kala Conference, Chennai
- Mar 2012 – Lecture on ‘Iconography as an input to dance’ organized by Smt.Priyadarsini Govind
- Feb 2012 – Lecture on ‘Drushti – a traditional perspective’ as a part of seminar organized by Sanskar Bharati, Pune at Kumbakonam
- Jan 2012 – Lecture on ‘Sri Nataraja in South Indian philosophy and religion’ organized by Gandharva Mahavidhyalaya, New Delhi
- Nov 2011 – Lecture on ‘Dance drama compositions of Mysore Vasudevachariar’ organized as a part of 75 years of Kalakshetra Foundation at Meghdooth, Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi
- Sep 2011 – Lecture on ‘Architecture, Choreography and traditional knowledge system in Indian context’ organized by Smt.Nivedita
- Mar 2011 – Lecture on ‘Architecture and Choreography’ delivered as a part of TED lecture series for the inauguration of the wesite www.shabda.co.in
- Nov 2010 – Lecture on ‘Emperor Rajarajan’s contribution to tamil’ under the series of lecture organized by Smt.Lakshmi Vishwanathan
- Feb 2010 – Lecture on ‘Significance of temple in the contemporary society’ – organized by Ignite Chennai
- Sep 2009 – Lecture on ‘Thyaga Rahasyam – search of the blue lotus’ a collaborative work with Smt.Roja Kannan
- Jun 2009 – Lecture on ‘Manmatha’ along with Smt. Priyadarsini Govind at Narada Gana Sabha (Mini Hall), Chennai
- Apr 2009 – Lecture on ‘Cupid’s symbols - during union and seperation’, presented under the auspices of Indianostrum Theatre, Chennai at Alliance Francais, Chennai.
- Feb 2009 – Lecture on ‘Tiruvarur stalam as interpreted in Smt.Rukmini Devi’s Choregraphic works’, under the auspices of Rukmini Devi Natya Kalalaya, Mugappier, Chennai.
- Dec 2008 – Lecture on ‘Feminine Narrative–core and concept’, presented as a part of Annual Seminar by Karthik Fine Arts at Bharatiya Vidhya Bhavan, Chennai. Was also the MODERATOR for the entire seminar.
- Dec 2008 – Lecture on ‘Tiruvarur stalam as interpreted in Smt.Rukmini Devi’s Choreographic works’, presented as a part of 82nd Annual Conference and Concerts of Music Academy, Chennai. This lecture won the BEST DEMONSTRATION AWARD for the season Dec 2009.
- Dec 2008 – Lecture on ‘Brahmotsavam in Tiruvaur’, presented as a part of 80th birthday celebration of Smt.Kalanidhi Narayanan, Shastri Nagar, Chennai
- Sep 2008 – Lecture on ‘Tiruvarur stalam as interpreted in Smt.Rukmini Devi’s Choreographic works’, presented at Kalakshetra Foundation, Chennai.
- Mar 2008 – Lecture on ‘Tiruvarur stalam as interpreted in Smt.Rukmini Devi’s Choreographic works’, presented under the auspices of Natyarangam, Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai.
- Feb 2003 – Lecture on ‘Importance of Art Education for Technical mind’ at Regional Engineering College, Calicut.
Workshops conducted:
- Dec 2022 – ‘Text and Textures of Hastabhinaya’, a workshop as a part of Natya Kala Conference 2023, Krishna Gana Sabha, Chennai
- Sep 2020 – Conducted 5 days workshop on ‘Aattam’ for Navadarshana , for Smt. Priyadarsini Govind’s institution, Chennai, (conducted online)
- Sep 2020 - Conducted 5 days workshop on ‘Aattam’ for Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, (conducted online)
- Jan 2020 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Sringara padams of Annamayya’ for Ambalam, Bangalore
- Nov 2019 - Idea of Sri Nataraja and Textual inputs, Iyengar Center for Fine Arts, Bangalore
- Aug 2019 - Foundations of Arts, Kripa’s Center for Fine Arts, Chrompet, Chennai
- Aug 2019 - Sumasayaka Varnam, Divyanjali, Chennai
- Jun 2019 – Conducted a 2 days workshop on Aspects of Sri Nataraja, Bhavanrithyalaya, Bangalore
- May 2019 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Abhinaya’ Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- Jan 2019 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Ambalam, Bangalore
- Jul 2018 – Conducted 2 days workshop on ‘Ekan Anekan’, Art Infinite, Trivandrum
- May 2018 - Nadai, Udai, Bhaavanai, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- May 2018 - Sense of Abhinaya through Textual Traditions, Bharatanjali, Mysore
- Jan 2018 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Ambalam, Bangalore
- Oct 2017 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Poetry as an input to Abhinaya’, Smt. Priyadarsini Govind, Chennai
- Jan 2017 – Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Abhinaya’ for Ambalam, Bangalore
- Jul 2017 - Foundations of Arts: Dance, Sanskriti School, Isha Foundation, Coimbatore, conducted at Calicut
- May 2016 - Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- May 2015 - Forms of Shiva, Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- May 2014 - Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- May 2013 - Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- May 2012 - Conducted 3 days workshop on ‘Theoretical inputs to Dance’ for Sarasvatam Foundation, Chennai, conducted at Calicut
- Nov 2007 – Conducted 2 days workshop on ‘Theory of Dance’ for the students of Saraswathy Natyalaya, Vellore.
- Sep 2006 – Conducted 2 days workshop on ‘Theory of Dance’ for the students of Saraswathy Natyalaya, Vellore.
- Jan 2004 – Conducted 3 days dance workshop for Engineering Students at Regional Engineering College, Calicut.
- Feb 2003 – Conducted 3 days dance workshop for Engineering Students at Regional Engineering College, Calicut.
Awards & Recognitions:
- Jan 2012 – Received ‘Nava Nartaka’ award from Dasyam Trust, Chennai
- Dec 2008 – Received the ‘BEST DEMONSTRATION IN THE ANNUAL CONFERENCE’ award under the auspices of MUSIC ACADEMY, Chennai.
- Jan 2024 - To Move is to Measure: Dance as a scale to Measure Cognitive Space and Time, Online International Seminar on Temporal and Spatial Dynamics: Comparative Explorations through a Myriad of Indian Perspectives, Central Sangeet Natak Akademi, Ministry of Culture, New Delhi
- Oct 2021 - Tradition and Innovation in Invocatory Dance Compositions, International E-conference on Kalpita-Kalpana, Tradition and Innovation in Natya, Dept. of Natya, Dr. MGR Janaki College of Arts and Science for Women, Chennai
