Vision
To preserve, promote and celebrate India’s rich cultural and artistic heritage, inspiring future generations through classical dance, music and yoga while sharing Indian traditions with the world.
About us
A gurukula for dance, music and yoga
Natyantharanga has trained dancers since 1987. Karana, founded in 2006, brought vocal music, instrumental music and yoga into the same house.
Guru Shubha Dhananjay
A distinguished Bharatanatyam performer, guru, choreographer and cultural organiser from Karnataka.
She has presented classical recitals and dance ballets across India and internationally, and is known for blending traditional and contemporary approaches in productions such as Amrutha Mathana, Narakasura Vadhe, Radha-Madhava, Sri Srinivasa Kalyana, Devi and Ashtalakshmi.
She has led Natyantharanga since 1987 and founded Karana in 2006, nurturing artists through disciplined training in a gurukula-inspired environment. Her work includes major group choreographies, cultural festivals, teaching, and support for rural talent. She has also served as President of the Karnataka Sangeeta Nrithya Academy.
Through performance she shares the spiritual essence of classical dance. Through teaching she trains aspiring dancers, as a commitment to preserve India’s cultural and artistic heritage.
Awaiting Her artistic philosophy in her own words, her training and teaching experience
What we stand for
Mission
To offer systematic, high-quality arts education rooted in the gurukula tradition; nurture creativity, discipline and artistic excellence; encourage rural and emerging talent; and promote classical arts through performances, workshops and cultural exchange.
Our story, and a life in dance
- 1987
Natyantharanga, an institute of Indian classical dances, is established with Shubha Dhananjay as director.
- 2004
Belli Gejje, a national dance festival marking 25 years of the dancing life of Shubha, is acclaimed as one of the year’s best cultural events.
- 2006
Karana is founded, adding vocal music, instrumental music and yoga to classical dance training.
- 2010
Invited with her daughter Maya to perform at AKKA 2010 in the United States.
- 2011
Performs at the international festival at Jinan, China, in October.
- 2012
Nrithya Bharath, a five-day national festival marking 25 years of Natyantharanga, hosts artistes of great calibre from across the country.
- 2014
Performs at Chengdu, China, in July, and choreographs for Dasara at Banni Mantapa Grounds with a company of more than 550 dancers.
- 2026
Natyantharanga completes 39 years of training dancers.
As a cultural ambassador of Indian dance, Shubha has performed at international festivals in the United States, the United Kingdom, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, the Maldives, Nepal, Iraq, China and Malaysia, and served as Cultural Ambassador in Bali, Indonesia. She also choreographed a massed performance of more than 550 dancers at Chinnaswamy Stadium for Suvarna Karnataka.
Awaiting Milestones after 2014, with dates and venues
Beyond the stage
Free training for rural talent
Shubha finds talented young people in rural areas, trains them free of cost and encourages them to continue, so they can pass the tradition on to hundreds more.
Lectures and demonstrations
She travels to schools, colleges and government institutions, including CCRT, where teacher trainers learn about the art form.
On screen
Her performances and interviews have been telecast on almost all television channels. Natya Madhuri, a programme dedicated to classical dance, was conceptualised, directed and hosted by her for Sri Sankara TV.
Come and meet us
Visit the institute, watch a class and talk to us about the right course.