“Even today one can quite easily point out a dancer as a product of Natyapriya, the dancers having remained true to the zestful style despite having branched off on their own. One among the later crop of dancers of Natyapriya who shone bright was Shilpa Nanjappa née Uthappa, whose recital at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bengaluru, was not only a tribute to her Guru, but was reminiscent of her style.

Yet, Shilpa was no mere clone. She proved herself to be an artiste through creating her own dance compositions that had substance to them in meaning and delineation, while literally continuing in the footsteps of her teacher by picking up some of her old, burnished pieces and presenting them in their original style and format, as in the rarely seen varnam, Velanai vara solladi modi saiyyamal (Purvikalyani raga) on Lord Muruga. Shilpa's portrayal of the Sita swayamvara in the devaranama, Adigo baruthihane Sri Rama (raagamaalika), had a fresh feel to it despite the tag of being commonplace; in her hands it remained "commonplace" only at the surface level, her stately denouement making it a new experience.”

- Jyothi Raghuram, Narthaki.com

Journey of an Artiste

Shilpa Nanjappa is a multi-faceted artiste on the path of constant discovery of newer avenues and possibilities within her Art. She was born and brought up in Bangalore and later moved to Kodagu (Coorg), where she currently lives. She was initiated into the world of Bharathanatyam by her mother at the tender age of seven, under the guidance of the iconic Guru, Bharatha Shikaram Guru Padmini Ramachandran. What followed was a fulfilling Guru-Shishya relationship between the teacher and student for over two decades. Today, Shilpa is one of the most sought after Bharathanatyam soloists of her generation, known foremost for her expressive face, agility of movement, creative intellect that transcends different cultures. Shilpa creates memorable and soul stirring performances which linger with audiences long after viewing.

Exploring dance beyond its physical form

Whilst her journey in creative arts started with learning Bharatanatyam, through the years, Shilpa also branched into allied artistic pursuits such as Carnatic music, a Master’s degree in English Literature and Yoga. She possesses a unique combination of skill sets of a dancer, choreographer, teacher, writer, research scholar, linguist, poet, social activist and orator.

She was commissioned to choreograph themes by various organisations and has weaved her creativity through them to present critically acclaimed masterpieces. She teaches advanced lessons to passionate students and conducts dance workshops across the world. In addition to dance in the physical form, she has also written and regularly contributed to dance through the written form. She is a poet, who writes in three languages (Kodava, Kannada and English) and has also musically composed some of her works. She has grown further as a multidisciplinary artiste by pursuing research work relating to her homeland (Kodagu/Coorg) and its dying culture, a pursuit she intends to carry on extensively. A strong social figure within the dance fraternity, Shilpa has taken a stand on several occasions against unjust practices faced by artistes at large.

Even though many feathers adorn her cap, she has taken on her varied responsibilities with undivided focus and determination, making her a force to reckon with in the artistic community. Equipped with a natural flair to articulate, she has always connected with her connoisseurs while communicating her vision for the future with grace and strength.

Journey of an Artiste

NAVARASA