“….she is also an excellent solo performer and her form of Nritta and sensitive Abhinaya have won the appreciation of critics and art lovers. Her dedication to art is total and absolute.”

 - Dr. VempatiChinna Satyam on Shobha Korambil

 

Shobha Korambil was born and brought up in Chennai, the cultural capital of India.  She was initiated into dancing at the age of 10 by her parents and had undergone training in Melattur style of Bharathanatyam from late Guru Sundaram (Disciple of Mridangam Maestro Sri Mangudi Dorairaja Iyer). Shobha started her training in Kuchipudi dance under the direct tutelage of Guru Padma BhushanVempati Chinna Satyam in 1990 at Kuchipudi Art Academy, Chennai. Since then, she has participated in several programmes staged by the Academy and has toured across India and around the Globe as a member of her mentor Dr. Vempati's Troupe.

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Shobha is a faculty member of Sridevi Nrithyalaya, handling advanced level performers with stage presentation nuances. She also imparts basic knowledge of the Indian Puranas to the students. She is a vital part of the Nrithyalaya’s productions, assisting Smt. Sheela Unnikrishnan with script writing. Shobha Korambil also handles the Aharya aspect of SDN’s performances.

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Shobha’s four decades of journey in dance has given her educative experiences through the way. With the blessings of her Guru, Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, Shobha was fortunate to be a part of his troupe performing at some of the following prestigious events:

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• SangeetNatak Academy- New Delhi 

• Mamallapuram Dance Festival-Tamil Nadu

• Deccan Herald Festival of dance-Karnataka

• Surya Dance Festival – Thiruvanathapuram, Kerala

• Nishagandhi Dance Festival- Thiruvanathapuram ,Kerala

• Konark Dance Festival- Orissa

• ChemburFine Arts Festival- Maharashtra

• Chidambaram Natyanjali Festival

• Andhra Day Celebrations, New Delhi

 

Shobha’s International Sojourns with Dr. Vempati include performances in: 

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• World Music Theatre Festival in 1996, Netherlands and Belgium

• Kuchipudi Globe Trot, performing in 30 cities in United States and in New Zealand, Australia and Singapore from Aug – Dec 2004.

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Shobha’s independent performances abroad:

 

• Tamil Day Celebrations - Reunion Islands in 2002

• UNSRC Photographic Society& Arise India presentation at New York in 2006

• National Geographic Society Centre in Washington DC and Lincoln Center, New York in 2005 during a presentation on India organized by National Geographic Traveller Magazine with the famous photographer Steve Mc Curry

• Multiple performances at Indian Consulate, New York between 2004 & 2007

• 19th Annual National Convention of Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America

• Pranapratishtha anniversary celebrations of Hindu Samaj temple in Wappingers Falls, New York State   in 2006

• Multiple Performances at the Hindu Temple Society of North America from 2004-2010

• Boston University Seminar in the Arts in 2005

• Lotus Music & Dance, New York – Celebrations of South India Music and Dance in 2006

• India Culture Festival, Seoul, South Korea in 2006

• Korea World Travel Fair, Seoul in 2006

• Erasing Borders Festival of Indian Dance, New York 2010 (This performance was reviewed by Alastair Macaulay in The New York Times on Aug 19, 2010)

 

Workshops & Lecture Demonstrations by Shobha:

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• Lucille Roberts – Gym for women, New York City

• Lotus Music and Dance, New York

Shobha now performs and trains with YuvakalaVipanchiSri Kishore Mosalikanti in Chennai. Some of her important performances with Kishore’s troupe are: 

• International Dance Alliance (IDA) –Chennai 

• Natyanjali –Chidambaram 

• Ananya Dance Festival, New Delhi 

• Dhouli Festival -Bhubeneshwar

• Choreography Festival of Impresario India, New Delhi  

• Bharat Bhavan Annual dance festival in Bhopal

• Rukmani Devi Arundale centenary celebrations at Kalakshetra, Chennai 

• Nada Neeranjanam, TirumalaTirupathi

• Annual Music & Dance Festival, Music Academy, Chennai

• National Centre for the Performing Arts, Mumbai 

• Konark Dance Festival, Konark

 

Shobha’s significant solo performances:

 

• Mylapore Fine arts Club 

• Thyaga Brahma GanaSabha

• Bharat Kalachar

• Mudra, Thiruvananthapuram 

• Mamallapuram dance festival 

• NishgandhiOnam Celebrations, KeralaAkruthi, Chennai

• Natyanjali, Chidambaram  Umang – NCPA, Mumbai

• Kala Pradharshini

• Sri Krishna GanaSabha, Chennai

• SATYAM - SIVAM - SUNDARAM, Chennai

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Shobha's urge to acquire proficiency in dancing and dedication shaped herself into an artiste of determination, dedication and devotion. A Commerce graduate, she is a multifaceted personality. She is a diploma holder in Travel and Tourism management and also in Cosmetology. She has been awarded the prestigious "NatyaVisharada" award by Kuchipudi Art Academy in 1997. She was also the recipient of Scholarship for Young Artiste in field of Kuchipudi,awarded by Department of Culture, Govt of India during 1998-2000. She has been recognized as Grade – A artiste by the Doordharshan Kendra, Chennai in the year 2011. Thyaga Brahma GanaSabha of Chennai felicitated Shobha with the title, VANI KALA NIPUNA. 

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Shobha continues to follow the footsteps of her Guru Dr. Vempati Chinna Satyam, dedicating herself to take our divine art to the younger generations through teaching and performances. Shobha lives in Chennai, India undergoing advance training, teaching and performing dance and also assisting her sister, Smt. Sheela Unnikrishnan at Sridevi Nrithyalaya.