Mercara Downs Golf Club (MDGC) recently honoured Shilpa Nanjappa for her achievements in the field of Bharatanatyam. Speaking on the occasion Captain of club I K Anil said that Shilpa Nanjappa is an established artist of Bharathnatyam and is one of the most sought-after dancers of her generation in India. She is also a research scholar, educator, writer and choreographer.
Having trained under the illustrious Guru, late Padmini Ramachandran of Bengaluru for over 2 decades, Shilpa has to her credit over 200 solo performances worldwide, garnering appreciation for her soul stirring performances from critics and audiences alike, he added.
Anil further said that Shilpa is an ‘A’ grade artist of the national government’s Doordarshan and is an Empanelled artist (Proficient) with the Indian Council for Cultural Resources, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India. She is also empanelled with SPIC MACAY. She was awarded the prestigious Junior Research Fellowship for 2019 from the Central Govt. (CCRT) to carry out research work on the topic ‘Adaptation of Kodava language Compositions into classical format and Bharathanatyam’.
This work has been greatly noticed by academics, universities and cultural practitioners as Shilpa is a pioneer who created several codified gems of Kodava compositions that can be used by the classical fraternity at large. Observing a deep sense of social responsibility, Shilpa presents this work at several schools and colleges of Kodagu in order to create cultural awareness and appreciation among the next generation.
She has travelled to Maldives through the ICCR and performed amidst the President and first lady of Maldives during the India-Maldives Friendship Week, 2009. She represented India and conducted workshops on “Indian Classical Dance-Bharathnatyam” and performed at “One World-2006” organized by World Youth Citizens at Karlsruhe, Germany. She has performed at the Sri Krishna Temple and for ‘Dance Mela- 2019’ at Melbourne, Australia. She has conducted workshops, lecture demonstrations and performed at Vilnuis University, Lithuania and has performed at the Indian Embassy, Berlin, Germany.
Recognition: Karnataka Government’s Kittur Rani Chennamma Award-2012, presented by then Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.V. Sadananda Gowda for her Service a Recognition: Karnataka Government’s Kittur Rani Chennamma Award-2012, presented by then Chief Minister of Karnataka, D.V. Sadananda Gowda for her Service and Contribution to Classical Dance Dr. M.G.R Award on being ‘the Best Dancer selected’ at the national level 17th Spirit Of Youth Festival – 2005, by Music Academy, Chennai The title ‘Singar Mani’ by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai The title ‘Abhinaya Chature’ presented by Dr. Padma Subrahmaniam at the State level Belli Gejje Competition by Natyantaranga in Bengaluru Yuva Prathibhe award from Government of Karnataka(2004-2005) on standing first at the State level competition, ‘Kala Prathibhotsava’ State Award from Aryabhatta Cultural Association, Bengaluru Seva Ratna Award 2004 by Raja Rajeshwari Trust, Bengaluru for her philanthropic works for blind children through her art. Honours for exemplary service to the arts by Kodava Sahitya Academy, Kodagu Honours for outstanding talent by Kodava Samaja, Bengaluru . Kerala State level Award from the Karavali Samskrithika Prathishtana, Kasargodu . Gold medal at the State level Gopinathdas Nyasa competition (fetched her the Rolling Trophy for the year 2004), to name a few Shilpa’s most noteworthy solo performances in India are at NCPA, Mumbai; Music Academy, Chennai; 4ooth year Mysore Dassera at Kalamandira, Mysore; Hampi Utsav; Soorya Festival, Trivandrum; Silver Jubilee of Natyanjali, Chidambaram; Kinkini Festival, Bengaluru; Brahma Gana Sabha, Chennai; Narada Gana Sabha, Chennai, among others. She has alsoacted and danced in several productions of national award winning director, late G.V.Iyer. She was the Chief Editor of ‘Nrithyam’- an annual dance Magazine for 4 years and was on the editorial board of popular art magazine ‘Kalasinchana’ by Ananya for over a decade. She lives in Kodagu and continues to work in Choreography, teaches advanced classes in Bengaluru, delves deeply into research and performs at some of the most prestigious platforms of the country and abroad.
A truly multi-faceted personality, Shilpa is also a businesswoman, who is a Partner and Brand Manager of Papakuchi Coffee, a speciality coffee export company run by her husband.
