Learn about Medha Hari, a young Bharatanatyam dancer and her background in the classical Indian dance. Read about her Bharata Natyam lineage and her interests outside Bharathanatyam.

She started her Bharatanatyam lessons at the age of six. The tremendous headway she made is largely due to her Guru's, Anita Guha's, efforts. Her sincere hard work and dedication convinced her Guru that she should start giving solo Bharatanatyam performances which have received a very warm appreciation by the audience. Medha also has participated - in the leading roles - in all the group ballet productions of her Guru'a school, Bharathanjali. Medha's other interests include drawing and painting.

Style of Bharata natyam

Formally being a rare blend of Vazhuvoor and Pandanallur, the original and complete styles of Bharathanatyam, Medha breathes a living and creative rapture into the mystic forms of the spiritualized art which sprang from the sacred worship in the Indian temples, and which is based on inner experiences, vision and feelings, and, thus, is strikingly different from the outer and shallow mimicking of someone else's technique.
Adyar Lakshman in his presiding speech on 8th February 2002 of Medha's Salangai oli performance said, "There has been a lot of debate going on whether 'Araimandi' is essential for Bharatanatyam. Today this girl has positively proved beyond doubt the point in question by her excellent araimandi". As some spectators remarked, "Her charm is compelling, and her vibrant and original realization of the most exquisite and nimble elements reveals a soul of apsara embodied in the delicate body of a child".

Bharatnatyam Tradition and Lineage

Medha has been very fortunate to study with the guru who was awarded the "Best Natyacharya" title from Indian Fine Arts Society (Chennai) for 2 consecutive years, "Best Natyacharya" from Nrityopasana and "Nritya Kalaimani".
Smt.Anita Guha, received her formal training in Bharatanatyam from Sri Govindaraj Pillai of Bangalore, and later perfected her skills under the guidance of Smt.Ananda Shankar Jayanth.