Born into a family with a long lineage of traditional performing arts, it was natural for Vijayalakshmi to take to the classical arts. She was initiated into dance at an early age but was gradually drawn towards Mohiniyattam, the cause with which her mother and Guru Padmashri Smt. Bharati Shivaji has come to be identified with.

Belonging to the younger generation of Mohiniyattam dancers, Vijayalakshmi brings to the dance-form a much-needed fresh perspective and insight. Inspired by her mother’s path-breaking reconstruction of the repertoire of Mohiniyattam, she has tried to present new choreographies by drawing upon traditional and contemporary sources. One such recent production called Unniarcha is inspired from Vaddakkan Pattakal or the ballads of North Malabar.

Since a young age , she has had the opportunity to perform along with her Guru in several National and International festivals. A post-graduate in English from Delhi University, she has also received training in Carnatic music from her grand-mother, Sankari Krishnamurthy.

Vijayalakshmi is currently working on a research-project for the IGNCA (Indira Gandhi National Centre For The Arts) on exploring new dimensions in Mohiniyattam.

She has co-authored a book on Mohiniyattam entitled “Dance of the Enchantress” along with her Guru in 2002.

Her achievements in the field of Mohiniyattam have been widely recognized and include her being:

• Recipient of 'Top Cultural Ambassador Award' from Indian Institute of Marketing & Management , New Delhi from Shri. I.K. Gujral (former Prime Minister of India) in 2003.

• Recipient of a Fellowship from the Dept of Culture, Govt. of India for “Exploring the art of Mohiniyattam” in 2001 .

• Recipient of  ‘Outstanding Dancer of the Year’ award from “Keli”, a Mumbai-based Malayalee organisation in 2001.

• Recipient of the ‘Sanskriti Nritya Puraskar’ as outstanding young performer in the field of dance (Mohiniyattam) in 1993 from the Prime Minister of India.

• Recipient of a Fellowship by the Department of Culture, Govt. of India, to pursue research in Mohiniyattam in 1993.

1986 - Mexico (Cervantino Festival), sponsored by the ICCR.

1987 – Italy and the Festival of India, USSR, Sponsored by the ICCR.

1989 – North Korea (International Youth Festival)

1990 – Spain (Festival of India) under the aegis of Department of Tourism.

1992 – Re-union Island (Festival of India), Germany, Luxembourg, France, Greece, Sweden, Norway, Italy, Malta and Ireland, sponsored by the ICCR.

1996 – Russia, sponsored by the ICCR.

1997 – Bangladesh and The Theatre de la Ville Festival in Paris.

1998 – Turkey, UAE, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, sponsored by the ICCR.

2000 – Performed extensively in the U.S. and assisted Guru in presenting lecture-demonstrations in Mohiniyattam in some of the Universities there.

2001 – Performed with Guru Bharati Shivaji on an official visit of the Vice-President of India to Indonesia, Thailand and Cambodia .

2002 - Performed with Guru Bharati Shivaji at the Edinburg Internatinal Festival, U.K.

2001 - Performed at the Khajuraho Festival.

2000 - Performed during the Sangeet Natak Academy Festival,held in Manipur.

2002 - Performed for Kerala tourism in Trivandrum .

Email : vijaylakshmi@indiatimes.com

Contact : 104, Bhaktawar Singh Block
   Asian Games Village
Siri Fort Complex,
  New Delhi 110 048