About Nupura ~ School of Music and Dance Toronto and Founder

Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar

Principal and ArtIstic Director of Nupura School of Music and Dance
Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar has been involved with South Indian classical music and dance for more than 20 years and have learned classical music in traditional Gurukula style under renowned musicians such as P.Madhusoodhana Menon (disciple of maestro G.N. Balasubramaniam), Kunjuraman Nair (disciple of the great Chembai Vaidyanath Bagavathtiar).

In Classical dances she studied Barathnatyam, Mohiniyattom & Kuchipudi under Kalamandalam Sarojam and Kalamandalam Chandrika. In vocal, currently seeking guidance from Smt Raji Gopalakrishnan.

In vocal, currently, she is still seeking guidance from Smt Raji Gopalakrishnan and in Kuchippudi under Smt.Vyjayanthi Kashi, renowned Kuchippudi dancer, Choreographer and Vice Chancellor of Karnataka University.

Gayathri Principal School of Nupura Music and Dance

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS

Gayathri Devi Vijaykumar had been awarded the prestigious Kalathilakam title 3 times from Government of Kerala for the excellence in Bharathanatyam, Mohiniyattam, Kutchippudi and Folk Dances during Kerala Youth festivals. Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar’s first outstanding achievement in Canada was the appreciation award from NSS Canada. In 2007, 2008, 2009 she won the OIDA spirit award.

In 2010 she received an appreciation award from the Brampton Malayalee Samajam for her outstanding performance and support, at the Miss Kerala Canada 2010 beauty contest.

She won an Appreciation award for community engagement and participation presented by Minister Harinder Thakkar, from the Canadian Malayalee Association. She got a contribution award for her active involvement in the Malayalee community from the Mississauga Malayalee association.

In 2016, Gayathri got an award presented by Radha Krishna temple, for the contribution towards the Indian Gujarati community. An appreciation for the Women’s Diversity Symposium conducted by Srilankan community in the year 2018 was also awarded to her. In 2015 she was recognized for her performance in Kannada Sangha. She was also recognized by the Malayalee Catholic church Canada, for her active participation in the fund raising event for the Haiti earthquake disaster.

She won the Woman Hero award in Performing Arts Category.by ICACI (Indo-Canadian Arts and Culture Initiative) in the year 2018.

She was actively participated in various Dance and Music festivals in Kerala and North America. Participated in the Toronto International Dance Festival (TIDF) in 2017.

She has done many collaborative projects with various Dance and cultural Organizations like Dancing Damsels Inc.

Gayathri has been invited to perform by cultural organisations all over India, USA and Canada. She has performed in Dubai, Bombay, and different parts of Kerala. She has also been part of the Toronto International Dance Festival in conducting workshops.

The Waterfront Awards 2019
Boogie Woogie Canada 2010

Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar - Principal Nupura Music and Dance School

Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar ~ A single-minded focus in innovative teaching on traditional South Indian Music and Dance.

MEET OUR GURUS / FACULTIES

Uthara Menon

Uthara Menon is an Indian born Canadian citizen who has received professional training in
Bharatanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattam under celebrated South Asian classical Artists Aswathy
Srikanth, N. Srikanth and RLV Anand. She initiated dance from the age of 6. Until the age of 11, Uthara
was trained in both western and classical dance under the guidance of her mother and Guru, Gayathri
Devi Vijaykumar who is a distinguished performer choreographer, principal and artistic director of
Nupura School of Music and Dance. At the age of 12 Uthara journeyed back to her hometown in South
India to receive professional training in the previously mentioned native art forms. A debut onstage
performance called Arangetram lasting approximately two and a half hours was conducted by her the
same year of her arrival. This was completed under the guidance of her Guru Sri RLV Anand. She has
also participated in multiple state level competitions for Mohiniyattam, Bharatanatyam, and Kuchipudi
commencing from Grade 8 itself. Before further endorsing the classical arts she had also been the 1st
junior runner up in the internationally televised programme ‘Boogie Woogie,’ aired in Canada and
sponsored by Sony TV entertainment. She also learned Eastern classical violin under T.H Lalitha and
specialized in Carnatic music under the tutelage of Sri. Attuwaseri Mohan Pillai. Recently she completed
a mohiniyattam workshop conducted by Indian Classical Dance exponent, research supervisor and
cultural interpreter Methyl Devika and a Koodiyattam workshop demonstrated by illustrious Koodiyattam
practitioner Kapila Venu. Her latest performances were showcased at the Arohi Festival in Hamilton,
Dancing Damsels International Dance Festival, and The Toronto Malayalee Samajam (A non-profit
secular organization upbringing various cultural arts). She studied Theatre and Performance at the
University of Waterloo and currently continues to carry out her passions of teaching, performing and
dancing as the associate Instructor at Nupura School of Music and Dance.

Thuvaraha Ramananan

2009 to present Independent Artist
Created, performed and toured works as an Independent artist. Worked with Dr. Lakshmi Ramaswamy (Artistic Dr of Srimudhralaya and Bharathanatyam guest lecture at the University of Madras) group productions such as Alavadhu Eppadiyo, Saptha Vidangam & Purananooru.

Dance Training
Bharathanatyam training was under the Guru. Smt Sreelatha Vinod the disciple of Guru Padmabhushan Sri Dhananjayan & Shantha Dhananjaya.

Educational Qualification
Master of Arts in Bharathanatyam completed at University of Madras (2012-2014) – First class with distinction.
Bachelor of Dance completed at Annamalai University, Chidambaram (2009-2012) – First Class

Remya Krishna

Started learning Indian classical dance (Bharathanatyam) from age 4 under the guidance of Mr.Innas. At the age of ten, joined Midhilalaya Dance Academy under the guru Smt. V. Mydhili. Pursued dance as a profession after joining Lakshya School of Dance and Music under the guru Smt. Aswathy Nair.

Through Lakshya got opportunities to work with Mr. Soorya Krishnamoorthy (Founder-director of Soorya Stage and Film Society) and Mr. Lenin Rajendran (Indian Film Director) and also to perform for several Television channel programs (Asianet, Surya, Kairali).

GRADE EXAMINATION

COURSE COORDINATOR FOR
GRADE EXAMINATIONS IN

BHARATHA NATYAM AND VOCAL CARNATIC MUSIC
CONDUCTED BY
ANNAMALAI UNIVERSITY,
TAMILNADU, INDIA

South INDIAN Classical Dance classes in CANADA

Classes are conducted by Gayathri Devi Vijayakumar, the principal and arstic director of Nupura school of music and dance. She also been involved with South Indian classical music and dance for more than 20 years and have learned classical music in traditional Gurukula style. In Classical dances she studied Barathnatyam, Mohiniyattom and Kuchipudi under Kalamandalam Sarojam and Kalamandalam Chandrika. She is Having Wealth of experience in Hundreds of stage shows and teaching.