Shobha Subramanian      

Among the artists selected to receive Individual Artist Award (Citation from Governor and cash Award) from the Maryland State Arts Council this year is East Indian classical dancer-teacher-choreographer Ms. Shobha Subramanian.

A resident of Prince George's County Ms. Subramanian hails from a highly talented family of musicians and is trained in Indian Classical Dance and Music. She has performed extensively all over India, Europe and the US as well as given lecture-demonstrations and workshops in various County Arts Councils in Maryland and Colleges and Universities in the US having appealed to the masses and classes. As Dance Director of Jayamangala school of Indian music and dance (Lanham MD), she has been teaching and choreographing dance for the past 8 years to dedicated students and presented them in group/solo performances. She is also proficient in Indian vocal classical singer. She previously received the Solo Dancer's grant from Maryland State Arts Council in 1994 and two mini-grants from MSAC - for conducting a dance festival in 1995 and a music/dance workshop in 1996. She has given a guest lecture on Indian dance at American University, Washington DC, an interview feature on Bharatanatyam for the local cable television, and a special coverage of her dance at the Inter-Faith Concert was done by The Washington Post in October 1996.

Subramanian specializes in Bharatanatyam which is a highly complex and elegant form of dance involving intricate footwork, hand gestures and facial expressions and dancers are clad in colorful sarees and temple jewelry.