Gomathi Manoj - Artistic Director & Teacher
An Indian classical dancer, educator & Artistic Director, Gomathi Manoj is a senior disciple of Guru Smt. Padmini Radhakrishnan & initiated the New Jersey chapter of Soundarya Natya Kalalaya in 2015. She has more than 3 decades of perfoming experience with various performances to her credit staged in India, USA, Singapore, Kingdom of Bahrain & Greece.
Gomathi started her initial training at Kingdom of Bahrain under Kalamandalam Gurus -
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Shri. Ashokan & Smt. Chandrika Ashokan
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Smt. Sreedevi Sreenivasan
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Smt. Girija Sasi
Gomathi is trained in 3 different classical dance forms -
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BHARATANATYAM (traditional dance form of Tamil Nadu, India)
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MOHINIATTAM (traditional dance form of Kerala, India)
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KUCHIPUDI (traditional dance form of Andhra Pradesh, India)
She has completed the -
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Bachelors' Degree in Dance - the 'Nritya Visharad' from Shree Vallabh Sangeetalaya, Mumbai
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Masters' Degree in Arts (Bharatanatyam) from Tamil University, Thanjavur
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'Diploma in Nattuvangam' from Guru Layathvam Academy of Fine Arts
Gomathi is trained under Gurus Shri Swamimalai Suresh, Shri Guru Bharadwaaj & Shri RLV Hemanth Lekshman, in the art of Nattuvangam (art of cymbals) which is important for a dance recital. Her proficiency of rhythm (Thalam) supports her students during Annual Day recitals & Arangetrams in Vadya-Vrindam.
A Masters' Graduate in Software Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani, Gomathi had been a software professional at a leading US corporate company for 8 years.
Gomathi was recognized as an Outstanding Performer of High Artistic Excellence & awarded the
'2023 Individual Artist Fellowship' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) & Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation. She was also recognized as a 'Master Artist' of extraordinary ability as part of the
'New Jersey Folk Apprenticeship Grant' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) for 2021-22.
As quoted by the New Jersey State Arts on the Council (NJSCA) in February 2023 -
"The New Jersey State Council on the Arts is pleased to share the exciting news that you are among 96 artists selected from 635 eligible applicants in seven artistic disciplines to be awarded a 2023 Individual Artist Fellowship. Your work was reviewed by a panel of peers working in your field, and they evaluated it to be of very high artistic quality. A Fellowship will be awarded to you in recognition of the outstanding work you are doing."
In April 2023, Gomathi was awarded the 'Spandana Service Award' by the fundraising organization - Spandana Foundation, for her efforts to the art form & to the artistic community.
She has been conferred with the titles -
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'Singar Mani' by Sur Singar Samsad, Mumbai (India) - 2007 &
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'Nritya Shivali' by Shivali Cultural Society, Mumbai (India) - 2009.
While at Bahrain, she won several accolades at the dance competitions held for Bharatanatyam, Mohiniattam and Kuchipudi hosted at
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Indian Fine Arts Society (IFAS),
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Coordination Committee of Indian Associations (CCIA),
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Tamil Social and Cultural Association (TASCA),
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Indian Club,
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Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam (BKS)
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Indian School to name a few.
In the USA, Gomathi has performed for various prestigious organizations & temples at -
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New York
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New Jersey
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Delaware
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Maryland
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Pennsylvania
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Ohio
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California
Few of the organizations & associations where Gomathi & her students have performed are -
- New York Tamil Sangam, New York
- Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New York
- Navatman's Drive East Festival, New York
- Organization of Hindu Malayalees (OHM), Orange County, California
- Chinmaya Vrindavan, Cranbury, New Jersey
- One World Music & Arts Cultural Festival, Burlington, New Jersey
- Shiva Shakti Center, Garfield, New Jersey
- North Bergen Public Library, New Jersey
- Sai Datta Peetam, South Plainfield, New Jersey
- Sri Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Pomona, New York
- Center for Modern Dance Education, Hackensack, New Jersey
- Sri Guruvayurappan Temple, Morganville, New Jersey
- Shri Krishna Vrundavana, Edison, New Jersey
- ISKCON, South Plainfield, New Jersey
- ISKCON, Towaco, New Jersey
- Indian Caucus of Secaucus, New Jersey
- Princeton Bengali Association, New Jersey
- Jeeyar Asramam, Cranbury, New Jersey
- Mercer County Cultural Commission
- BMW, North America
- Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana, Ohio
- Mahalakshmi Devasthanam, Delaware
- Council of Indian Organizations in Greater Philadelphia (CIO's) event - 'Festival of India', Philadelphia
- Fund raising organizations - SPANDANA Foundation, Vibha Organization, Kala Spandana
Dance Productions
Gomathi has portrayed the leading roles in multiple dance ballets & thematic productions over the last 2 decades. Apart from the in-house productions at Soundarya Natya Kalalaya, Mumbai, she has also been invited to play pivotal roles in well-appreciated productions choreographed by esteemed Gurus in Kingdom of Bahrain.
During her growing years, she also trained under Guru Smt. Lekha Sasi (from Kalakshetra) at Bahrain.
Under the guidance of Guru Smt. Lekha Sasi, Gomathi has played the main characters as part of her choreographed productions.
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Annual Day Productions at Soundarya Natya Kalalaya, Mumbai, India - between 2000 & 2011
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“Navarathnamalika” - 1996 at Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam - Kingdom of Bahrain
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“Ravanaputri” - 1997 at Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam - Kingdom of Bahrain
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“Bhoothapaattu” - 1998 at Indian Club, Indian School - Kingdom of Bahrain
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“Kaalachakra” - 2002 at Indian Fine Arts Society (IFAS) - Kingdom of Bahrain
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“Prapancham” - 2002 at Tamil Social & Cultural Association (TASCA) - Kingdom of Bahrain
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“Luv Kush” - 2002 at Vartak Nagar Ayyappa Sangh - Mumbai, India
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“Sree Krishna Parijatham” - 2004 at Bhajan Samaj, Ghatkopar - Mumbai, India
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25th SNK Annual Day Celebrations - "Prakriti-Nature" - 2005 at Zaverben Auditorium, Ghatkopar - Mumbai, India
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26th SNK Annual Day Celebrations - "Shakuntala" - 2006 at Zaverben Auditorium, Ghatkopar - Mumbai, India
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“Swami Saranam Ayyappa” - 2006 at Ghatkopar Bhajan Samaj & Mulund Fine Arts, Mumbai, India
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“Ramayana” - 2009 at Dombivli Fine Arts, Ghatkopar Bhajan Samaj - Mumbai, India
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“Bhakti Nrityam” - 2009 at Sri Srinivasa Perumal Temple - Singapore
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“Om Saravanabhava” - 2009 at Mysore Association - Mumbai, India & Nritya Sankul, Goa, India
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“Shakti” - 2010 at Kollur Mookambika Temple, Karnataka, India
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“Swagatham Krishna” - 2011 at Udupi Krishna Temple, Karnataka, India
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“Swagatham Krishna” - 2011 at New York, USA
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Kalakendram Production - "Viswaroopam" - 2015 in New York, USA
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Kalakendram Production - “Mirage of Lion” - 2015 in New York, USA
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“Hari-Haram” - 2016 in New York, USA & New Jersey, USA
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“Shiva-Shakti" - 2017 in New Jersey, USA
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IndianRaga Production - “Natya Yatra” - 2018 in New Jersey, USA
Jury Member (Event Judge)
Gomathi is sought as a judge for Classical Dance competitions across USA & Canada -
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'Shivoham' competitions by Organization of Hindu Malayalees (OHM), California - 2018
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'Dance Pe Chance' competition hosted by Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), New York - 2019
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Kalarangam Competitions hosted by AGAM Events, Toronto, Canada - 2020
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'Vanakkam VadaAmerica' Classical Dance Competition hosted by Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America (FeTNA), USA - 2021
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'Drishya' competitions hosted by New England Malayalees' Association (NEMA), Massachusetts - 2023, 2024
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'Vibrance 2024 Talent Show' hosted at New Jersey by Vedic Wellness University, Florida - 2024
Recognition in USA
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In April 2023, Gomathi was awarded the 'Spandana Service Award' by the fundraising organization - Spandana Foundation, for her efforts to the art form & to the artistic community.
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In March 2023, Gomathi was recognized as an Outstanding Performer of High Artistic Excellence & awarded the '2023 Individual Artist Fellowship' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) & Mid-Atlantic Arts Foundation.
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Gomathi was recognized as a 'Master Artist' of extraordinary ability as part of the 'New Jersey Folk Apprenticeship Grant' by the New Jersey State Council on the Arts (NJSCA) for 2021-22.
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In February 2019, Gomathi was officially invited as Event Judge for 'Dance pe Chance' competition hosted by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) to mark the 70th Republic Day Celebrations of India and FIA's 35th year anniversary.
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In December 2018, her performances were featured on Rasa Web Channel under the NRI Dance program schedule. Link available here.
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In October 2018, Gomathi was invited as the Featured Performer & as a Judge for Shivam 2018 - a premier Bharatanatyam Competition hosted by Organization of Hindu Malayalees (OHM) at South California. Press Articles are available here - IndiaWest, eMalayalee, India Journal & US Manorama.
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In September 2018, she was short-listed in the Talent Hunt & featured in the IndianRaga Princeton chapter’s collaboration video release called Pop Thillana : A Bharatanatyam cover, which was premiered on Facebook & YouTube
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In July 2018, she was invited to present performances & a workshop at the 51st World Congress on Dance Research, representing USA & the beautiful art form of Bharatanatyam at Athens, Greece. The event was conducted under the auspices of the Dora Stratou Performing Arts Theatre & patronage of the Ministry of Culture, the National UNESCO Commission.
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In June 2018, Gomathi was invited by Dr. Sharon Bernstein from the Defining Moments Foundation in Englewood, New Jersey to talk about her art form and teach the importance of this art to young kids.
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In October 2017, Gomathi was officially invited & admitted to the prestigious membership at the International Dance Council CID - the official world-wide organization of dance. The International Dance Council is the official umbrella organization for all forms of dance in all countries of the world & official partner of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).
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In May 2017, she was awarded the First Prize at the Regional Rounds (held at Edison, New Jersey) & Third Prize at the National Championships of SiliconAndhra Annamayya 609th Jayanthi Utsavam (held at San Jose, California).
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She was selected as the IndianRaga 2017 State Amabassdor in Bharatanatyam from New Jersey. (Link - https://indianraga.com/2017-indianraga-state-ambassadors/?pagenum=1)
She aims to spread this joyous & divine art form to different kinds of audiences & interested students (both young & adults) in the coming years.