*This masterclass is suitable for students who have a minimum of 4 years of training in Bharathanatyam.
Shankar Kandasamy is a prominent Bharata Natyam dancer, choreographer, and Artistic Director at The Temple of Fine Arts Malaysia, where he also leads the Bharata Natyam faculty. Trained in Bharata Natyam, Odissi, Western Classical Ballet, and other Indian classical styles, he brings a rich and diverse vocabulary to his choreography. He has choreographed and conducted over 120 Arangetrams and played a key role in numerous major dance drama productions, including Panchali Sapatham, NeoMargam, Krishnaayanam, and Crossing Borders, the latter earning him the BOH CAMERONIAN Award for Best Choreographer.
Shankar has performed and toured internationally, representing Malaysian Bharata Natyam on prestigious platforms such as the Konark Festival in Orissa. His knowledge of Sanskrit, Tamil, and Carnatic music also makes him a valuable resource for Indian classical dancers. He lectures at ASWARA and holds a Master’s degree from Kalai Kaviri College of Fine Arts, Bharathidasan University. During the pandemic, he continued his teaching and choreography through global online platforms and presented papers at esteemed forums like the Natya Kala Conference in Chennai and events organized by the Indian High Commission.
