{{Short description|American dancer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Bala Devi Chandrashekar | image = Bala Devi Chandrashekar - Bharatanatyam exponent.jpg | alt = | caption = Bala Devi in 2010 | birth_date = | birth_place = | occupation = dancer, choreographer, teacher | known_for = Bharatanatyam }} '''Bala Devi Chandrashekar''' is an American dancer specialized in the Indian classical dance form Bharatanatyam.

==Career== thumb|Bala Devi in 2022 Bala Devi worked in public administration and as a management consultant but later became a full-time dancer.<ref>{{cite web |author=Jaywant Naidu |date=2016-07-25 |title=We need to think global: Bala Devi Chandrashekhar |url=https://www.deccanchronicle.com/lifestyle/books-and-art/260716/we-need-to-think-global-bala-devi-chandrashekhar.html |publisher=Deccan Chronicle |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref><ref name="SG">{{cite web |author=Savitha Gautam |date=2011-08-11 |title=The dance of devotion |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/dance/the-dance-of-devotion/article2346586.ece |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

She has studied Bharatanatyam under Padma Subrahmanyam and performs using the style of Padma's school.<ref>{{cite web |author=Usha Ramdas |date=2010-01-29 |title=Song and dance mesh in story depiction |url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/music/Song-and-dance-mesh-in-story-depiction/article16840196.ece |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref> She dances in the Vazhuvur style.<ref>{{cite web |author=Rupa Srikanth |date=2016-07-25 |title=Snapshots in succession |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-features/tp-editorialfeatures/snapshots-in-succession/article2797168.ece |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref> Bala Devi has choreographed Bharatanatyam performances and performed for the Madras Music Season.<ref name="Brihadiswara">{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2017-12-14 |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekhar premieres her new production |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/dance/celebrating-the-architectural-mastery-of-the-big-temple/article21662214.ece |publisher=The Hindu |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref> She has performed with music by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.<ref>{{cite web |last=Gilbert |first=Ellen |date=2010-11-17 |title=University Chapel Glows and Resounds With Joyful Celebration of the Diwali Holiday |url=http://www.towntopics.com/nov1710/other2.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223124342/http://www.towntopics.com/nov1710/other2.php |archive-date=2014-02-23 |publisher=Town Topics |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

Bala Devi has been artist-in-residence at the Carl A. Fields Center, Princeton University.<ref name="SG" /> She has taught Princeton students.<ref>{{cite web |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=2013-09-10 |title=Clark Muñoz Gallery |url=http://www.princeton.edu/fieldscenter/programs/arts/gallery/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221200524/http://www.princeton.edu/fieldscenter/programs/arts/gallery/ |archive-date=2014-02-21 |publisher=Princeton University |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

Bala Devi was awarded the Kalaimamani for Bharatanatyam in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |last=Ramakrishnan |first=Shivani |date=2019-08-15 |title=Tamil Nadu Kalaimamani awards – full list of winners |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-kalaimamani-awards-full-list-of-winners-5908219/ |publisher=The Indian Express |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220820051414/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tamil-nadu-kalaimamani-awards-full-list-of-winners-5908219/ |archive-date=2022-08-20 |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref>

She teaches at Shree Padma Nrityam Academy, New Jersey.<ref name="SG" />

Category:Stella Maris College, Chennai alumni

Bala Devi is based in Princeton, New Jersey, is married to Chandrashekar and has two sons.<ref name="SG" /><ref>{{cite web |author=Chava Pearl Lansky |date=2024-01-17 |title=Bharatanatyam Dancer Bala Devi Chandrashekar Shares Her Indian Soup Recipe |url=https://dancemagazine.com/bala-devi-chandrashekar-indian-soup/ |publisher=Dance Magazine |access-date=2025-04-13}}</ref> == Productions == She has choreographed and performed over ten solo thematic Bharatanatyam productions that blend scholarship, temple architecture, classical texts, and music into operatic presentations across prestigious venues worldwide. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the only Bharatanatyam exponent to have presented at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris (2018, 2024), and to have performed at India House during the Paris 2024 Olympics.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekar – Profile |url=https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/Baladevi-profile.html |website=baladevichandrashekar.com |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

Bala Devi Chandrashekar’s notable productions include:

* ''Padmavati – An Avatar'' (2023), staged at Symphony Space, New York, described as “a captivating operatic Bharatanatyam production” based on Jayadeva’s poetry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bharatanatyam Maestro Bala Devi Chandrashekar |url=https://www.symphonyspace.org/events/vp-bharatanatyam-maestro-bala-devi-chandrashekar |website=Symphony Space |date=30 September 2023 |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''Brihadeeswara – Form to Formless'' (2019), presented at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris during World Heritage Week, focusing on the architectural and spiritual dimensions of the Thanjavur temple.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekar – Profile |url=https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/Baladevi-profile.html |website=baladevichandrashekar.com |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''Karna: Destiny’s Child'' (2019), performed at the Attikon Theatre in Cyprus, exploring the Mahabharata character Karna through Bharatanatyam.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ICMACY – Bala Devi Chandrashekar |url=https://icmacy.org/baladevichandrashekar/ |website=ICMACY |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''Maa – The Eternal Truth'' (2023), premiered at R.K. Swamy Hall, Mylapore, Chennai, as an operatic production on motherhood and nature, later reviewed in the Indian press.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Maa – The Eternal Truth |url=https://narthaki.com/info/prv24/prv1535.html |website=Narthaki |date=25 December 2023 |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Dancer Bala Devi Chandrashekar pays homage to Mother Nature with Maa – The Eternal Truth |url=https://www.indulgexpress.com/culture/dance/2024/Dec/29/dancer-bala-devi-chandrashekar-pays-homage-to-mother-nature-with-maa-the-eternal-truth |website=Indulge Express |date=29 December 2023 |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''Uddhava Gita: Lord Krishna’s Last Message'', a dance production centered on the final teachings of Krishna.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekar – Profile |url=https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/Baladevi-profile.html |website=baladevichandrashekar.com |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''Tripura – Divine Feminine'', dedicated to the goddess Tripura and the concept of Shakti.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekar – Profile |url=https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/Baladevi-profile.html |website=baladevichandrashekar.com |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

* ''FujiHima – Eternal Peaks'', juxtaposing Indian philosophy with the symbolism of Mount Fuji and the Himalayas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bala Devi Chandrashekar – Profile |url=https://www.baladevichandrashekar.com/Baladevi-profile.html |website=baladevichandrashekar.com |access-date=25 September 2025}}</ref>

Her repertoire also includes productions such as ''MLV Favorites'' and ''Krishnaarpanam'', along with dance workshops and films documented in international archives.

==See also== * Indians in the New York City metropolitan area

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *[https://baladevichandrashekar.com/ Official website] *[https://shreepadmanrityam.org/ Shree Padma Nrityam Academy]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chandrashekar, Bala Devi}} Category:American dance teachers Category:American female dancers Category:American women choreographers Category:American choreographers Category:Bharatanatyam dancers Category:Living people Category:Recipients of the Kalaimamani Award Category:Teachers of Indian classical dance Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:American performers of Indian classical dance Category:American dancers Category:People from Princeton, New Jersey Category:Artists from New Jersey Category:American expatriates in India Category:American artists of Indian descent