A brilliant Performer and a Leading Choreographer, Shashidharan born in 1954 began his artistic journey with Kathakali in his village Edakkalathur in Kerala, where he trained under K. Padmanabhan Nair. He won a scholarship at the age of 9 that gave him the privilege of training under the great master of Kathakali & Sangeet Natak Akademi awardee– Kavungal Shankaran Kutty Paniker for a decade at the Rajah’s High School, Kollengode, Kerala.
He learnt Mayurbhanj Chhau from the great master & Sangeet Natak akademi awardee, Guru Krishna Chandra Naik at Rangasri Little Ballet Troupe, Gwalior & Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi.
Shashidharan also studied techniques of Modern Dance, Improvisation and Choreography with American Choreographers.
He pursued Kalari Payattu, the martial art of Kerala with Narayanan Embranthiri under a fellowship awarded to him by the Ministry of HRD of Govt. of India.
Shashidharan trained in Creative & Contemporary styles under veteran Choreographer Shri Prabhat Ganguly and Smt. Gul Bardhan at Rangasri Little Ballet Troupe in Gwalior, where he worked as a dancer for a decade. He has also learnt traditional dance forms and worked under veteran Choreographer Shri Yog Sunder Desai.
He has been associated with Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra for the last 2 decades– as a dancer from 1982 to 1984, as a trainer from 1987 to 1990 and as a choreographer since 1990. He had the opportunity to work with senior Choreographer Shri Shekharan Panikkar during his tenure as a dancer at the Kendra and learn Odissi from Smt. Aloka Panikar.
Shashidharan’s choreographic journey began with Sangharsh in1989 for Sahitya Kala Parishad’s Yuva Mahotsav. Shashidharan has choreographed Eight highly popular and critically acclaimed dance productions for Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra. He choreographed Tripurantak in 1990 for Hari-Hara Utsav. It toured Japan, Korea & Thailand for ICCR and was presented at the India International Dance Festival held in New Delhi. Chakravyuha was made in 1993. Parikrama premiered in 1994, was presented at the Festival of Choreographic works – Bangalore in 1996 and at the Uday Shankar Shatabdi Samaroh – Delhi in 2001.
Meera was choreographed in 1995, Krishna Katha in 1996, Ram in1999, Dance of Shiva in 2003 and ShreeDurga in 2006.
Shashidharan has choreographed for Festival Of India, USA in 1991, > Lakshmibai in 1997, Auto Expo in 2000 & 2002 for Tata, Taj Mahal Hotel centenary celebration in 2003 & Panchatantra staged at Siri Fort Auditorium in 2007.
Shashidharan featured with some of the leading choreographers of India in 3 Choreography > Festivals of Sangeet Natak Akademi held in Bangalore in 1996, Uday Shankar Shatabdi Samaroh in New Delhi in 2001 & in Nritya Sanrachna Festival in Guwahati in 2007.
