Natya Kala Shiromani Sri Vidya Chandra Sekhar
Fondly known as Diya, she holds 2 world records for the longest solo classical dance performance. For years she trained vigorously and tirelessly on two continents, under the supervision of her renowned dancing mother and grandmother, and the Masters of Thanjavur technique from Sri Rajarajeshwari Bharata Natya Kala Mandir, including the late award-winning masters, T.K. Mahalingam Pillai, and his father, Bharata Vidwan Sri T.K. Kuppiah Pillai. Diya’s repertoire now consists of over 500 items of the traditional repertoire, ranging from abhinaya-intensive numbers made popular by legends such as Balasaraswati to arcane numbers researched and brought to the stage in the 1950’s and 60’s for the first time by her own legendary mother, ‘Natya Veda Bharati,’ Smt. Sudha Chandra Sekhar, née Sudha Doraiswamy. Diya received the title of Natya Yogi in 1996 for her 2nd world record performance, and the title of Nritya Meera at the Conference of World Religions from the late Sant Keshavadas, in 1976. A former Miss India USA, Diya was a regular host on the weekly Emmy award-winning PBS TV show Club Connect in the 80’s and a winning singer on Zee TV’s SaReGaMa in the late 90’s. She has been featured in TIME, People, Femina, and India Today magazines, and in the Marg Publications book, Bharata Natyam.
In 2002, Diya was diagnosed with lupus, and then with sensorimotor polyneuropathy, when she began falling, seriously injuring herself. Now disabled, Diya is working on integrating this new challenge into her life, still seeking to learn, express herself, and serve the world. With a sincere desire to the spread love of our ancient arts and share her extensive repertoire, Diya is thrilled to work for Subhashini to teach the post-arangetram senior students of From Within Academy, introducing the school’s dynamic students to the Tanjore style. Diya is super excited to bring composer Gopal Venkatraman’s work, Origins of Dance, to life with the students of From Within, and she prays that in the years ahead she can continue to support this amazing school and encourage all these brilliant young dancers to advance their knowledge of the art.