divyabhinaya@yahoo.com USA +1.858.229.5696
India +91.44.2491.0322
For upcoming events and up-to-date information visit
www.divyadevaguptapu.com D E V A G U P T A P U design and layout ● ōviya ● oviya.design@gmail.com | +1.51.585.8500
Abhinaya (expression) and Lāsya (grace), epithets that define the essential artiste in Divya – a rare alchemy of rich tradition and sublime gift, Divya evokes the lost ethos of a discerning purist.
about the artiste divya devaguptapu
Divya’s growing years as a dancer were steeped in the classical and unyielding heritage of her Gurus, world renowned dancing couple, ‘The Dhananjayans’. Her legacy stems from Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai, India, an august institution founded by her Gurus in the tradition of the illustrious Kalākshētra. She started learning to dance at the tender age of 4 and performed her Arangētram (maiden solo performance) at the age of 7. Hailed a child prodigy by many art critics, she has been performing and touring as a solo artist and as a company dancer of Bharata Kalānjali for over 20 years. Graceful in movement and studious in approach, Divya’s total and complete immersion in her art elevate a focused pursuit to fluid poetry. A lovelorn Nāyika (heroine) or a longing Bhakta (devotee), Divya’s Abhinaya is effortless and echoes with subtle yet communicative detail. An innately absorbed performer, her art is a consummate marriage of rigorous grounding and deep meditative personal interpretation. From this artistic blend arises a vibrant repertoire as expressive as a canvas in classicism. Her dancing is considered "a poem where every movement is an unwritten word". Divya’s extensive knowledge of the theoretical aspects of Bharatanātyam, Hindu philosophy and scriptures, aggrandizes her prowess as a performer, teacher and researcher. With a strong background in Indian Classical Music (Carnātic music, in particular), she firmly believes that there is an inextricable link between Indian Dance and Music and that a deep understanding of music is key to being a good performer and teacher. In addition to traditional Bharatanātyam performances, Divya is exploring the global language of dance and movement in her collaborations with westerns artistes. She has worked with the renowned ballet dancer Jacques d’ Amboise of the National Dance Institute of New York on a production titled Chakrā – Event of the Year. She has also worked with Patricia Rincon and her company on ‘Deep Light’, which premiered at the Blurred Borders International Dance Festival in San Diego. Divya is also an accomplished Engineer with a Masters in Electrical Engineering and has worked in the Telecommunications industry for several years. However, her strong calling for dance has made her give up a career in Engineering to pursue a full-time career in her lifelong passion of Bharatnātyam. Divya currently divides her time between USA and India and is establishing herself as a brilliant professional performer and choreographer of this divine art form.
Abhinaya (expression) and Lāsya (grace), epithets that define the essential artiste in Divya – a rare alchemy of rich tradition and sublime gift, Divya evokes the lost ethos of a discerning purist.
about the artiste divya devaguptapu
Divya’s growing years as a dancer were steeped in the classical and unyielding heritage of her Gurus, world renowned dancing couple, ‘The Dhananjayans’. Her legacy stems from Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai, India, an august institution founded by her Gurus in the tradition of the illustrious Kalākshētra. She started learning to dance at the tender age of 4 and performed her Arangētram (maiden solo performance) at the age of 7. Hailed a child prodigy by many art critics, she has been performing and touring as a solo artist and as a company dancer of Bharata Kalānjali for over 20 years. Graceful in movement and studious in approach, Divya’s total and complete immersion in her art elevate a focused pursuit to fluid poetry. A lovelorn Nāyika (heroine) or a longing Bhakta (devotee), Divya’s Abhinaya is effortless and echoes with subtle yet communicative detail. An innately absorbed performer, her art is a consummate marriage of rigorous grounding and deep meditative personal interpretation. From this artistic blend arises a vibrant repertoire as expressive as a canvas in classicism. Her dancing is considered "a poem where every movement is an unwritten word". Divya’s extensive knowledge of the theoretical aspects of Bharatanātyam, Hindu philosophy and scriptures, aggrandizes her prowess as a performer, teacher and researcher. With a strong background in Indian Classical Music (Carnātic music, in particular), she firmly believes that there is an inextricable link between Indian Dance and Music and that a deep understanding of music is key to being a good performer and teacher. In addition to traditional Bharatanātyam performances, Divya is exploring the global language of dance and movement in her collaborations with westerns artistes. She has worked with the renowned ballet dancer Jacques d’ Amboise of the National Dance Institute of New York on a production titled Chakrā – Event of the Year. She has also worked with Patricia Rincon and her company on ‘Deep Light’, which premiered at the Blurred Borders International Dance Festival in San Diego. Divya is also an accomplished Engineer with a Masters in Electrical Engineering and has worked in the Telecommunications industry for several years. However, her strong calling for dance has made her give up a career in Engineering to pursue a full-time career in her lifelong passion of Bharatnātyam. Divya currently divides her time between USA and India and is establishing herself as a brilliant professional performer and choreographer of this divine art form.
“pride of the preceptors ”
- the dhananjayans
from the gurus the dhananjayans
"Divya is one of our prized disciples who has excelled in the field of Bharatanātyam. Endowed with all essential qualities and qualifications for a Bharatanātyam dancer, Divya has carved a niche in the minds of the classical connoisseurs. A rare phenomena found in Divya is that she excels in her performances and is equally proficient in her imparting. We are very proud of this girl with whom we rest our confidence of continuing and spreading the message of Indian art and cultural heritage, wherever she goes in life. The true art and artistic inheritance is deeply embedded in her and that will keep her Bharatanātyam flag flying aloft.”
“pride of the preceptors ”
- the dhananjayans
from the gurus the dhananjayans
"Divya is one of our prized disciples who has excelled in the field of Bharatanātyam. Endowed with all essential qualities and qualifications for a Bharatanātyam dancer, Divya has carved a niche in the minds of the classical connoisseurs. A rare phenomena found in Divya is that she excels in her performances and is equally proficient in her imparting. We are very proud of this girl with whom we rest our confidence of continuing and spreading the message of Indian art and cultural heritage, wherever she goes in life. The true art and artistic inheritance is deeply embedded in her and that will keep her Bharatanātyam flag flying aloft.”
notable performances… Some of Divya’s notable performances include: George Harrison Annual Music and Dance Festival, Pandit Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and Performing Arts, New Delhi, India December Season festivals at prestigious Sabhās in Chennai, India, including – Nārada Gana Sabhā, Mylapore Fine Arts and Bhārat Kalachār Indian Fine Arts Annual Music and Dance Festival, San Diego, USA Blurred Borders Dance Festival X, San Diego, USA India Adorned Festival, Mingei International Museum, San Diego, USA
performance highlights india & abroad
"Chakrā - Event of the Year", joint production of Jacques d' Amboise of National Dance Institute of New York and Bharata Kalānjali- New York, USA Bharata Kalānjali Company performance tours of USA, Bahrain, India Solo Performance tour of USA, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore Soorya Festival, Thiruvananthapuram, India "Spirit of Youth", Music and Dance Festival, Music Academy, Chennai, India Māmallapuram Dance Festival, Mahābalipuram, India South Zone Cultural Center, Govt. of India, Mumbai, India "Apnā Utsav" organized by Indian Center for Cultural Relations.
notable performances… Some of Divya’s notable performances include: George Harrison Annual Music and Dance Festival, Pandit Ravi Shankar Institute of Music and Performing Arts, New Delhi, India December Season festivals at prestigious Sabhās in Chennai, India, including – Nārada Gana Sabhā, Mylapore Fine Arts and Bhārat Kalachār Indian Fine Arts Annual Music and Dance Festival, San Diego, USA Blurred Borders Dance Festival X, San Diego, USA India Adorned Festival, Mingei International Museum, San Diego, USA
performance highlights india & abroad
"Chakrā - Event of the Year", joint production of Jacques d' Amboise of National Dance Institute of New York and Bharata Kalānjali- New York, USA Bharata Kalānjali Company performance tours of USA, Bahrain, India Solo Performance tour of USA, Qatar, Bahrain, Malaysia, Singapore Soorya Festival, Thiruvananthapuram, India "Spirit of Youth", Music and Dance Festival, Music Academy, Chennai, India Māmallapuram Dance Festival, Mahābalipuram, India South Zone Cultural Center, Govt. of India, Mumbai, India "Apnā Utsav" organized by Indian Center for Cultural Relations.
critics say…
critical acclaim in the press
"A prodigy is born" – Femina, India. "…A Preteen Prodigy" – Hinduism Today,(International Edition), San Francisco, USA. "Divya displayed immaculate rhythmic precision and accuracy of posture" – The Hindu, Chennai, India. "Flawless Recital " – Indian Express, Chennai, India. "Breathtaking display of intense proficiency over the field of Bharatanātyam Adorning the stage with a confidence that bubbled, and with an experience that impressed; she justified her recognition as a prodigy. The dance, glaring with beautifully orchestrated expressions set to a swift range of stunningly unerring steps held the audience in stupefied awe", Deccan Chronicle, India "Divya enchanted the audience in Rāgam –Tālam ’98 with prodigious skill, phenomenal perfection and excellent Abhinaya as she demonstrated the various facets of Krishna." – The Hindu, Chennai, India. "Indian dancer enthralls….Bharatanātyam came alive as Divya danced her way into the hearts of a large audience. The performance was a blend of proficiency, rhythmic precession and posture accuracy." – Gulf Times, Doha (State of Qatar) " Dancer enthralls San Diego….Divya Devaguptapu, a disciple of the famed Dhananjayans enthralled with her Bharatanātyam performance " – India Abroad, USA "….Divya Devaguptapu - charming performance " – India Journal, USA “…Devaguptapu is riveting as she tells the story of the Hindu God Shivā with expressive hands and solid presence” – San Diego Union Tribune, USA
critics say…
critical acclaim in the press
"A prodigy is born" – Femina, India. "…A Preteen Prodigy" – Hinduism Today,(International Edition), San Francisco, USA. "Divya displayed immaculate rhythmic precision and accuracy of posture" – The Hindu, Chennai, India. "Flawless Recital " – Indian Express, Chennai, India. "Breathtaking display of intense proficiency over the field of Bharatanātyam Adorning the stage with a confidence that bubbled, and with an experience that impressed; she justified her recognition as a prodigy. The dance, glaring with beautifully orchestrated expressions set to a swift range of stunningly unerring steps held the audience in stupefied awe", Deccan Chronicle, India "Divya enchanted the audience in Rāgam –Tālam ’98 with prodigious skill, phenomenal perfection and excellent Abhinaya as she demonstrated the various facets of Krishna." – The Hindu, Chennai, India. "Indian dancer enthralls….Bharatanātyam came alive as Divya danced her way into the hearts of a large audience. The performance was a blend of proficiency, rhythmic precession and posture accuracy." – Gulf Times, Doha (State of Qatar) " Dancer enthralls San Diego….Divya Devaguptapu, a disciple of the famed Dhananjayans enthralled with her Bharatanātyam performance " – India Abroad, USA "….Divya Devaguptapu - charming performance " – India Journal, USA “…Devaguptapu is riveting as she tells the story of the Hindu God Shivā with expressive hands and solid presence” – San Diego Union Tribune, USA
felicitations…
awards
& teaching experience
‘Nātyapurnā’ – Diploma in Bharatanātyam from Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai, India Chosen as one of the best 15 gifted and talented children, from among 700 participants (in the 12-16 age group) from all over India, "The Child of the Year" contest held in May 1995 in Bangalore, India. First prize in "Rāgam Tālam ‘98" - All India Bharatanātyam competition, held at Music Academy, Chennai, India Recipient of the Junior and Senior Cultural Talent Scholarship awarded by the Government of India Graded Artist on ‘Doordarshan’, Indian National Television Network.
teaching experience Senior faculty member of Bharatanātyam at Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts Chennai, India June 1997 – July 2001 Adjunct Faculty of Dance University of California, San Diego January 2010 - March 2010 Private instructor of Bharatanātyam July 2005– Present
felicitations…
awards
& teaching experience
‘Nātyapurnā’ – Diploma in Bharatanātyam from Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts, Chennai, India Chosen as one of the best 15 gifted and talented children, from among 700 participants (in the 12-16 age group) from all over India, "The Child of the Year" contest held in May 1995 in Bangalore, India. First prize in "Rāgam Tālam ‘98" - All India Bharatanātyam competition, held at Music Academy, Chennai, India Recipient of the Junior and Senior Cultural Talent Scholarship awarded by the Government of India Graded Artist on ‘Doordarshan’, Indian National Television Network.
teaching experience Senior faculty member of Bharatanātyam at Bharata Kalānjali Academy of Performing Arts Chennai, India June 1997 – July 2001 Adjunct Faculty of Dance University of California, San Diego January 2010 - March 2010 Private instructor of Bharatanātyam July 2005– Present
divyabhinaya@yahoo.com USA +1.858.229.5696
India +91.44.2491.0322
For upcoming events and up-to-date information visit
www.divyadevaguptapu.com D E V A G U P T A P U design and layout ● ōviya ● oviya.design@gmail.com | +1.510.585.8500