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KEREMANE SHIVANANDA HEGDE

(Director, Guru, Choreographer and Performer)

Sri Keremane Shivananda Hegde is the present director of the Mandali.  He is also running the repertory and the Yakshagana Training Center along with various socio-cultural programs inthe remote village of Gunavante, Honnavar Taluk of Karnataka.

 

Coming from a great lineage of noted Yakshagana artists, Shri Hegde was introduced to Yakshagana when he was merely 12 years old.  After completing academic BA, he followed the path of his father, Late Sri Keremane Shambhu Hegde and completed Diploma in Choreography under the tutelage of great Guru Dr.Maya Rao.  Besides that he learnt Kathak and many folk dances of India and Chhau Dance of Seraikala, Manipuri Marital Dances are some of them as a part of his choreography course.The constant guidance of his highly impressive grandfather and father and Guru Dr.Maya Rao, molded his elegant career in the field of “Yakshagana”.

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He has performed in many countries including USA, England, Sri Lanka, France, Spain, China, Singapore, Malaysia, Philippine, Laos, and Myanmar.

Being one of the leading artists of Yakshagana and also director, Choreographer and Guru of the troupe, he has proved himself as an exemplary actor as well as an organizer with clear vision and mission.

 

Besides Performances and the Training center, Hegde has now launched several innovative projects expanding the horizons of the Yakshagana field. His noted works and projects like ‘Aatave Pata’,  ‘BhaSam’ , ‘Masada Aata’ etc have been highly praised by the veteran Yakshagana artists, art critics and scholars. ‘Keremane Shambhu Hegde National Dance Festival’ - a 5 days cultural festival has become a great cultural event of Karnataka State and one of the favorite of the common mass.

He has performed leading roles like- Shri Krishna in the episodes of Sandhana, Krishnarjuna, Jarasandha, Maruti Pratapa, Subhadra Kalyaana, Karthaveeryarjuna; Shiva in Daksha Yajna; Vishwamitra in Harischandra; Duryodhana in Gadhayudda, Kamsa, Nala, Anjaneya, Ravana, Sudhanva, Shri Rama; Bheema in Sougandika, Gadayudda, Kanakangi Kalayana, Hidimbha Vivaha; Bheeshma, Salva in Bheeshma Vijaya; Raama and Vali in Vali Moksha; female characters like Droupadi in Shri Krishna Sandhana; Chaydhya Rani in Nala Charitra; Subhadre in Krishnarjuna, Rukmini in Krishanrjuna etc.

 

Some of the notable episode of his direction and choreography are Panchavati, Seetapaharan, Vali Moksha, Gadhayudda, Nala Damyanti, Sougandika Harana, Hidimbha Vivaha, Kalayavana Kalaga, Kartha Veerya, Kamsavadhe, Daksha Yajna, Chakra Vyuha, Vidyunmati Kalyana, Jambhavati Kalyana etc.

Awards and Titles Conferred

  • Received Nadoja Shri H.L.NageGowda JANAPADA SHREE Award-2022

  • 'The Dakshina Chitra Virudu'-2020 by Madras Craft Foundation and Friends of Dakshinachitra, Chennai.

  • Honored by Consulate General of India, Dubai; Hindu Society of Minnesota, U.S.A; Kannada Sangha of Arizona & Sri Venkata Krishna Kshetra, USA;Nrupatunga Kannada Koota and Havyaka Association, Atlanta;Karnataka Cultural Association, South California;Bay Area Havyaka Association and –KKNC; Kasturi Cleveland, Ohio;Havyaka Association of America (H.A.A.) Bay Area,USA;Kerala Fine Arts Society, Ernakulam; Press club and Kannada Sahitya Prishad Honavar; Yakshagana Research Center, Kumta are some of them.

  •  ‘Ajitashri National Award for lifetime achievement’-2018.

  • ‘Kusumashri’ award - 2018

  •  ‘Huklamakki Award’ -2017

  •  ‘Aryabhata International Award-2015’

  • “Yaksharaja Award” -2015

  • 'Kuvempu Deepa Prashasti'  by Janapada Vishwa Pratisthana (R), Honavar-2015

  • “Padmashri Chittani Ramachandra Hegde Award” by Innovative ® Mysore-2014

  •  “BCKA-Capt. C.P. Krishnan Nair Award 2013” -by Bangalore Club for Kathak and the Arts. 

  •  One of the two outstanding performers selected from India to participate in APPEX WORKSHOP organized by University of California, Los Angeles, USA, in 1996.

  • Received Junior Fellowship from Government of India for higher studies of traditional Yakshagana (A practical study of Uttara Kannada Style of Yakshagana with special emphasis on Nritya and Abhinaya) from the year 2000-02.

  • Indian Junior Chamber has given him “Outstanding Young Person Award” for his exclusive cultural performance particularly in the field of Yakshagana as an artist and choreographer on the occasion of Regional Conference of Zone XV JC held at Padubidri, Karnataka, in May 1993.

  • Received scholarship, from the Ministry of Culture, Govt of India, for Young workers in different cultural fields (Yakshagana) in 1990 – 92.

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Recognitions:

  • Chairman : Folk and Tribal Committee and EB Member - Sangeet Natak Akademi, New Delhi

  • Academic Council Member of Karnataka State - Dr. Gangubhai Hangal Music and Performing Arts University, Mysore

  • Member: Natya Institute of Kathak and Choreography, Bangalore

  • Member:Sahyadri Paramparika Abhivraddi Pradhikar,Govt of Karnataka

  • Ex Member- Rangayana  RANGASAMAJA, Mysore

  • Ex Member - Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy Bangalore.

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