The Story So Far:
Guru Smt. Mythili Raghavan is a postgraduate in Bharatanatyam from Kalakshetra, the reputable institute for fine arts in Chennai. She has had the honour of being taught by legendary artists, including those she fondly refers to as Atthai (Smt. Rukmini Devi Arundale), Gowri Pati, Sarada Teacher, Pushpa Teacher and Jaya Teacher.
Guru Mythili Raghavan has received prestigious awards for excellence in Bharatanatyam, such as the Iyal Isai Nadagam award and, more recently, the Pandita Rohini Bhate Puraskar. As part of the Kalakshetra troupe, she has toured Australia, the Fiji Islands, Nepal, and Singapore. In addition, she has performed in Malaysia with the Dhananjayans, and has toured Sri Lanka on her own.
After her post-graduation, Guru Mythili Raghavan joined the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir, Patna, as Professor of Bharatanatyam. She taught there for five years, before setting up, in 1978, the Academy of Indian Dances. With special permission from the Zambian government, the Academy of Indian Dances was set up in Lusaka, Zambia. Five years later, the Academy shifted base to Nigeria, where it continued to flourish. Since 1991, the Academy of Indian Dances has been based in Pune, training hundreds of dancers, many of whom have successfully completed their Arangetram. Guru Mythili Raghavan has organised a number of performances, including two dance ballets – one on Lord Krishna called ‘Kasturi Tilakam’, and the other on the Ramayana.