The Company

Current Repertoire | The Company | Booking Information | Classical Dance | Folk & Tribal Dance | Contemporary Dance | Performance Pieces

Mallika Sarabhai (M.BA, Ph.D)
Director, Darpana Academy

Mallika Sarabhai is a performer and creator of many talents. Her career has developed from being a young, internationally acclaimed, classical dancer and film personality, to being an activist and commentator on social issues. As an artist she celebrates positives reaffirmation of images of womanhood through dance, theatre and writing. As dancer, actress, choreographer, writer, and instigator of community projects she challenges audiences to sit up and think, to realign themselves to questions of ecology, the role of women, gender awareness, cultural atrophy and the very place of the arts in our society.

D. Padmakumar, Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Martial Artist:

D. Padmakumar is a trained martial artist in the kalari form of Kerala, a Bharata Natyam dancer and a contemporary choreographer. He has trained many dancers in the use of martial arts for dance and has choreographed many pieces. He has performed and taught all over India and the world with darpana.

Kizhakumpat Jayan, Musician, Composer:

Jayan trained in vocal music from early childhood, and is Darpana’s lead vocalist. He also plays a variety of instruments and is involved in composing for many of Darpana’s new performance pieces. He has toured in India and abroad with the Darpana Performance Group, teaching workshops in leading Universities.

Kottalal Sasidharan Nair, Dancer, Teacher:

Kottakal Sasidharan is a well-known Kathakali exponent. He was born at pandalur, a small village in Kerala. He received his intensive training from P.S.V. Natya Sagam, Kottakal, one of the famous Kathakali schools in Kerala.
In 1971 Sasidharan got an opportunity to present Kathakali in London, Greece and France. On his return from France, he joined the famous Darpana Academy, Ahmedabad of Smt. Mrinalini Sarabhai, where he continues to remain both as a teacher and a star performer.

Shajeesh Rajan, Musician:

A violinist, trained in Indian classical Carnatic music, Shajeesh plays for the classical performances and teaches at the Academy.

Rajesh P, Musician:

Trained  as a classical Carnatic flute player, Rajesh also plays the nadaswaram and several folk wind instruments. He tours with the group and teaches at Darpana.

Manikandan, Musician:

Manikantan is a trained percussionist, particularly in the Kerala instrument, the Chenda.  He has also learned the tabla, several other lesser known tribal instruments and is now learning how to compose.

Manoj Bagga, Dancer:

Manoj Bagga joined Darpana in 1992. He has completed his graduation in Bharatanatyam. He is also a folk dancer and a contemporary dancer, trained in Kalaripayattu and theater. He has performed all over India and the world with the Darpana Dance Company. He is also a graphic designer.

P. Muralidharan, Dancer, Group Manager; Head, Janavak:

Joining Darpana as a student of folk dancing in 1983 and training under Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, Murali has been head of the folk department since 1987. He has trained hundreds of people in India and abroad in the nuances of India’s folk and tribal tradition. He has also led Darpana’s folk group to festivals across Europe, asia and he Middle East.

Revanta Sarabhai, Dancer, Choreographer, Lighting Designer:

Revanta Sarabhai has been involved with all aspects of theatre and dance since an early age. He is a professional dancer with the Darpana Performance Group and runs his own multimedia design company in India.

Revanta is a graduate in the classical Indian dance style of Bharatanatyam and has trained in various other Indian classical, folk and contemporary forms. He has toured Australia, China, Europe, the UK and the US performing with Darpana. In recent years, Revanta has also started experimenting with choreography, combining aspects of classical dance with innovative contemporary movement.

Revanta graduated with honors in May 2006, completing a BFA in Multimedia at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Having developed skills to integrate aspects of media, technology and the performing arts, Revanta is now based in India where he continues to work as a designer, performer and multimedia artist.

Sonal Solanki, Dancer, Teacher:

Sonal joined Darpana as a student of Bharatanatyam in 1985. She graduated in 1992 and started apprenticing with the professional company. She also studied folk dancing with Janavak and started performing. She has been part of the Darpana Performing Group since 1998`. As a member of this core group she is trained in Kalaripayettu, Contemporary dance and dance threatre. She played the lead in Darpana’s musical threatre production. Ashwamedha, and has started choreographing with her first short solo “Bonsai”. She has acted in a variety of TV serials with D.Com and has taught dance workshops in several countries. She continues touring extensively with Darpana.

T. Palanivelu, Musician:

Born in Chennai, Palanivelu is from a family of musicians. His father, Thangavelu Pillai was one of the greatest Tavil artists. Palanivelu has taken initial training in Mridangam from his father and then from Thaimanavar. He is with Darpana since 1995, and is well-versed in playing Ghatam and Kanjira.

Kishore Dave, Dancer, Teacher: