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   Kuchipudi and Bharatanatyam exponent SAILAJA was honored with the KARTIK AWARD OF EXCELLENCE 2026 by Kartik Fine Arts at the organization's 51st anniversary celebration on April 14, 2026 at Chennai.  Government of Karnataka to confer NATYA RANI SHANTALA AWARD 2026 on Bharatanatyam dancer PRATHIBHA PRAHLAD. This is the highest Karnataka State Govt award instituted for the art of dance.  PANDIT SUNDARLAL GANGANI CHANDRAKALA SANMAN was given on February 16, 2026 by Pt Jagdish Gangani’s Kathak Darshan Festival to Guru SHOBHA KOSER, a Kathak exponent known for her grace, depth of abhinaya and lifelong dedication to nurturing the art.  Latvian Bharatanatyam dancer VIJA VETRA passed away on April 12, 2026. She was 103. More info: Vija Vetra: A century of dance - Prakhar Bajpai  Koodiyattam artiste G VENU receives the MANIKYA SREE PURASKARAM from the Sree Koodalmanikyam Devaswom on the occasion of the Thiru Utsavam (temple festival) on April 29, 2026 at the Sree Koodalmanikyam Temple, Irinjalakuda, Thrissur. Venu G‘s significant achievement in this field is that he has presented important Sanskrit plays such as Mahakavi Kalidasa‘s Abhijnana Shakunthalam, Vikramorvaseeyam, Bhasa‘s Urubhangam and Shudraka’s Mricchakadikam in Koodiyattam and brought them to national and international stages.  MES Kalavedi presented the KALAVEDI PURASKAR to Guru REVATHI NARASIMHAN on April 17, 2026 at MES College Quadrangle, Bangalore.  KAPILA VENU received THE HINDU ARTS, MUSIC AND CULTURE AWARD 2026 from Dr. Nirmala Lakshman, Chairperson of THG, at the ‘World of Women’ gathering in Chennai on March 27, 2026.  On April 3, 2026 the SAPTARANGA SAMMAN by Mrudugunjan was conferred upon eminent personalities for their outstanding contribution to various fields of art and culture, at Rabindra Mandap, Bhubaneswar. The awardees include Pradeep Kumar Biswal (Theatre), Sachikanta Das (Mardala), Sukanta Kumar Kundu (Odissi vocal), Sadashiva Pradhan (Chhau dance), and Vani Madhav (Odissi dance).  VIDHYA SUBRAMANIAN received the NATYA VIDHA NIDHI (Lifetime Achievement Award) from IFAASD, San Diego on March 28, 2026.  LATA PADA has been recognized by the Ontario Art's Foundation for the prestigious ELDRED FAMILY DANCE AWARD. Administered by the Ontario Arts Council, this annual award recognizes exceptional achievement and creative ability in dance by an established Ontario choreographer.  Kalasangam 2026 presented LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS to the Dhananjayans, Savitri Jagannath Rao and Ambika Buch on March 30, 2026 at Chennai.  At the 5th Nayika Odissi Dance Festival 2026, Angaraga presented the NAYIKA SAMMAN to Guru GEETA MAHALIK, and the NAYIKA KALA SADHAKA SAMMAN to Guru SATYABAN PASCHIMAKABATA, on March 28, 2026 at Jayadev Bhawan, Bhubaneswar.  Astikya Foundation presented the MARGI SATHI SMRITHI PURASKARAM to KALAMANDALAM GOPI and CHITRA VISWESWARAN on April 4, 2026 at Thiruvananthapuram.  The title of NRITHYA RATHNAKARA was bestowed upon ROJA KANNAN and NRITHYA SEVA MANI upon SUNANDA NARAYANAN by Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, for their lasting contribution to classical dance, on April 4, 2026 at Cleveland. The title KALA RATHNA went to Bhavya Kumaran.  Madras Music Academy announced its dance awardees for 2026. NRITYA KALANIDHI: G Narendra NRITYA KALA ACHARYA: A Janardhanan DANCE MUSICIAN AWARD: S Rajeswari and TK Padmanabhan Dance awardees will receive the awards at the inauguration of The Music Academy's 20th Annual Dance Festival on January 3, 2027.  The Kerala Government's top national cultural award with a cash prize of Rs.3 lakhs in the name of legendary Guru Gopinath, will be given to the Bharatanatyam couple V.P. DHANANJAYAN and SHANTA DHANANJAYAN and Kerala Natanam artiste AMBIKA MOHAN. This Puraskar is organized by Guru Gopinath Natana Gramam on behalf of the cultural department. The awards will be given shortly by the Chief Minister of the State.  The Padma awards have been announced on Jan 25, 2026. PADMA BHUSHAN: Dr. Shatavadhani R Ganesh (Karnataka) PADMA SHRI: Deepika Reddy (Telangana), Kalamandalam Vimala Menon (Kerala)  Urmila Sathyanarayanan is the convenor of the Natya Kala Conference in 2026 and 2027. Highlights ; Obituaries |
