Smt. Padmalaksshme Suresh, founder-director of Padmalaya is a great exponent of the Bharatanatyam style in classical dance. She has carved a niche for herself as a performer, teacher and choreographer. As an established danseuse she has toured to Dubai, Muscat, Colombo, United states of America, Malaysia, Singapore and Australia for cultural performances and has enthralled international audiences. Padma performs as an “A” grade artiste of Doordarshan. She has performed many thematic solos and dance productions on rare themes.
She is the panel member of IRCEN (India International rural Cultural centre), New Delhi, an organisation which works for spreading art and culture throughout the nation. Padma has given lecture Demonstrations to the youth of India under the auspices of IRCEN to create awareness about our rich art and culture heritage in places like Goa, Howrah, Delhi etc. Padma’s dance blossomed under the guidance of Kalaimamani Smt. Ranganayaki Jayaraman. She has also been associated with many senior dance guru’s in their own dance productions.
Students from abroad come here to take up tutelege under padma and perform during margazhi season, in this regard dancers from Sydney came here and performed recently. Her talent has been acknowledged by leading sabhas and veterans in art field with titles like:-
- “Natyamayuri”-Natyanjali Trust.
- “Natyathilakam”-Saraswathy gana niyam.
- “Bharata Kala Ratnam”
- “Natya Kalaimani”-Kalaimagal Trust of India
- “Balasaraswathi” – Sri Ragam Fine Arts.
- “Dr. MGR award of excellence”-Raadu Arts Academy
- “Rotary award of excellence in Art”-Rotary Club.
- “Kalaivalarmani”-Tamilnadu government.
- “Award of Excellence”-Nalvazhu Sangam.
- “Best dancer award”-Madras medical college, culturals.
- “Best dancer”-Stanley medical college.
- “Best Student of the year”-Adarsh Vidyalaya School -(All-rounder)
- Women Achiever Award 2017-2018 by K.S.Rangaswamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu
- Kalaimamani Award 2018 by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
Reference Asia- Asias who’s who of Men and Women of Achievement has published Smt. Padmalaksshme Suresh biography as an acknowledgement of her achievement as a danseuse.
Padma’s dance project “Chidambara Kuravanji” has been sponsored by ministry of culture,New Delhi, she has taken up the lead roles in all dance productions of padmalaya. Has given many interviews on art and culture in “Kalaimalar” Jaya TV, “Nam Virundinar” -Doordarshan, “Dhinam Dhinam thagaval Kalam” Raj TV.
Padma has been the Judge for prestigious dance competitions, to name a few:-
- Talent promotion scholarship-Tamilnadu Iyal Isai Nataka Mandram
- Kerala Inter University dance competition-Kollam
- Kerala Inter University dance competition-Chenganur
- Southern Railways dance competition-Chennai
- Thakadimitha-Jaya TV. (dance game show)
- Preliminary classical dance judge for “Ungalil yaar adutha prabhudeva”
- Postal department culturals-South Zone
- Papanasam Sivan Dance Competition, Singapore
- Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival, USA
- Papanasam Sivan Dance Competition, Chicago
- Papanasam Sivan Dance Competition, Dallas.
First dancer in the field of dance to experiment and achieve success in performing to the dance numbers chosen by the audience on the spot of the show, the show being titled “ATMA NRITHYAM” Dance of the soul. This innovative effort was much appreciated and has been performed in Chennai and Australia.This Vivacious dancer is an M.A. gold medalist or Madras University and an M.Phil holder. Padma’s motto is to serve the society through art.With this vision she started “Padmalaya the essence of Art to all cadres of people in the society irrespective of their foundation”. She has taken the essence of Art to all cadres of people in the society, irrespective of their caste, creed, religion and economic diversities for Art is the only way to unite all people with different languages thereby leading to National integration. To mark the 15th Anniversary of Padmalaya Dance School, Padma with her senior disciples performed a contemporary dance show “NETHRAA” and the proceeds were donated to Vishnu Eye Clinic for eye operations of 50 under privileged people.
Padma recently went on a cultural tour to the United States of America from April-June. She was the part of the prestigious Cleveland Thyagaraja Festival and staged Chidambara Kuravanji at Milwaukee Thyagaraja Festival.