Australia Dancing - Chandrabhanu (1950

Chandrabhanu (1950 - )

Hooper, Jim: Chandrabhanu, artistic director of Bharatam Dance Company, montage from a variety of productions, 1991-1998 , ca. 1998

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Dr Chandrabhanu was born in Kangar, the capital of the Northern most Malaysian province of Perlis. An early interest in dance led him to study classical Malay dance, Gendang Terinai, under Pa’Mei, and study traditional Malay folk dances under various teachers between 1956 and 1976. Chandrabhanu also studied in Bharata Natyam Indian classical dance at the Usha Prema School of Indian Classical Dance, Malaysia from 1957 to 1973.

Chandrabhanu arrived in Australia in 1971 on a Malaysian Government Civil Service Department Scholarship, to study social anthropology at Monash University, Melbourne, achieving his BA (Hons.) in 1974, and a PhD in social anthropology in 1980. In 1974, after completing his BA (Hons.), Chandrabhanu undertook an extended tour throughout south and south-east Asia, during which time he began studying Odissi, at Orissa Sangeeta Parishad, Puri, India, under the tutelage guru Bijoy Kumar Senapati. Chandrabhanu also continued his training in Bharata Natyam at the Bharata Choodamani Academy of Fine Arts, Madras, India under the tutelage of guru Adyar K. Lakshman, which he had began in 1973 and continued through to 1982.

In 1976 and 1977, Chandrabhanu undertook two research trips to Malaysia to research his PhD. During the second of these trips Chandrabhanu worked with the Kompleks Budaya Negara, the Malaysian National Dance Company, co-choreographing the work Indraputera and dancing the principal role. He also spent time as a guest artistic director and choreographer with the Perlis State Dance Ensemble, Kangar, Malaysia, working in Gendang Terinai style of classical Malay dance.

Chandrabhanu’s teaching career began in his second year of study at Monash University when he brought a group of students together. The group was known as Suasana, Malaysian and Indian Dance Ensemble and was active between 1972 and 1976. As teacher and artistic director of the group, Chandrabhanu trained student dancers, choreographed several full-length works, and produced concerts, which toured Sydney, Canberra and Tasmania. In 1973 Chandrabhanu established the Bharatalaya School of Indian and Classical Dance. In the same year, 1973, he met his partner, the visual artist Geoffrey Goldie, subsequently one of the 'strongest driving forces' in Chandrabhanu's career. In 1980 the Bharatalaya Company of Indian Classical Dance was formed by Chandrabhanu to provide a performance group for students of the school. This performance group became known as Bharatam Dance Company in 1985, later expanding and becoming incorporated in 1987. As artistic director of Bharatam Dance Company from 1985 to 2000, Chandrabhanu choreographed over twenty works, which toured throughout Australia, South East Asia, Europe and the United States.

Chandrabhanu has choreographed almost 50 major choreographic works, productions and performances in Bharata Natyam, Odissi and contemporary dance styles throughout his career. Amongst these have been a number of Bharata Natyam solo recitals that Chandrabhanu has performed in, these include Journey Towards Hope II (2003) Kuala Lumpur, Rasamalika (2002) with vocalist O.S. Arun, Hansavihar, Melbourne, Quintessence (2002) with vocalist O.S. Arun, Sydney, Dasi Attam (2001) with vocalist O.S. Arun, Melbourne, Bharata Natyam solo recital (2000) in London, Quintessence (1996) in Kuala Lumpur, and Bharata Natyam Solo Recital (1984), The Hague.

Chandrabhanu is currently artistic director and principal of Chandrabhanu Bharatalaya Academy of Indian Classical Dance and Music, Melbourne.

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Find more about Chandrabhanu in:

Internet - Google
Articles - New York Public Library Dance Collection