It’s a tale of a boy who started a dance school at the age of just 17. Anil Iyer now a 21-year-old is the proud owner of a classical Tanjore style, Bharathanatyam dance institute in Jayanagar 9th Block, ‘Shivoham School of Performing Arts.
Shiva’s aananda tandava
Iyer says he does not want to add more than 40 students, as he believes in quality and flawless teaching. “I teach to propagate this art form, I love teaching. I wish to give some artists back to the divine field of art, ” he explains.
Iyer’s dance journey started when he was just 10, when passed the junior exam. Watching one of the Bharatnatyam invocation pieces during his annual day school function inspired Iyer. “I was inclined towards dancing right from my childhood, but during my school days I got encouragement from my teachers and I was addicted,” he says.
He has been trained under Late Guru Narmada. She is considered as one of the great masters in producing ‘soloists’ in field of Bharathanatyam.
Ashish Mohan Khokar, a reputed dance critic has termed Anil as the ‘Bangalore’s wonder boy’. Anil has earned the ministry of culture’s young artist scholarship awarded by government of India for the years 2010 – 2012.
Anil has performed more than 150 stage shows with well-known dance groups like Abhinava, Shambhavi and Natyalakshana. He is currently training under Guru Poornima Gururaja. Anil says credits his teachers for what he is today. “There is no end to learning, this field is like an ocean and I know very little of it,” he says.
He has rendered his Bharathanatyam pieces in prestigious Utsavs like Hampi Utsav and Mysore Dasara Utsav. Anil also composes dance pieces and dance features.
Anil is also interested in theatre and is working with Spandana, a theatre group headed by actor, director, singer and Rajya Sabha MP, B Jayashree.
Shivoham, 1064/1, 27th Main, 39th cross, 9th block, Jayanagar, Bangalore 560069.Ph: 9035170608