Sujata Nair-Mulloth is a performer, teacher and choreographer that brings tremendous dedication and energy to promoting the ancient dance tradition of Bharata Natyam. Bharata Natyam, one of the six styles of Indian Classical Dance, originated over 2000 years ago in the Hindu temples of South India.
Sujata was trained in the Bharata Natyam style of Indian Dance at The Ganesa Natyalaya, New Delhi under Kalaimamani Guru Saroja Vaidyanathan. She also has had intensive training in Kuchipudi under Guru Jayarama Rao and in Mohini Attam under Guru Sahadevan.
As a performer Sujata has given recitals since 1979 internationally. She has performed at the Cultural Celebration hosted on the occasion of the Asian Games 1982, the Cultural Festival in Amsterdam, the International Cultural Festival in Pyong Yang, at North Korea, and a cultural presentation at the Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff Wales. She was recently appointed to the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts as a roster artist.
As a teacher she has taught Bharata Natyam in association with the Arts Council of Cambridgeshire, United Kingdom. She has worked with mentally and physically challenged students in projects with the East Midlands Arts, United Kingdom. In addition to teaching Bharata Natyam at the Conservatory and Keystone College, La Plume.
As a choreographer, Sujata uses Indian Classical Dance as the medium through which to create thought-provoking work that transcends cultural boundaries. Her choreographies include “Ayyappa” (2002) “Krishna” (2003), “Ritu” (2004) and “Nritya” (2005). These productions explore new ways to use the ancient dance vocabulary. Though rooted in Bharata Natyam, her work incorporates contemporary themes and diverse musical influences from around the world.
Her academic qualifications include a master’s degree in European history and a graduate degree in mass communications. In addition, she spent several years working as a journalist with the premier national newspaper The Times of India, editing one of its weekly supplements.