Bharatha Arangam Dance Institute

Smt. Premini  ( Bremini) Thanan, Founder and Artistic Director of Bharatha Arangam Dance Institute. A motivated dance teacher and an inspired choreographer. She has been teaching bharatanatyam in New York, New Jersey area for over 20 years and has earned the title “Natiya Kala Vithahar” and “ Natiya Kalaamani” . 

A lifelong student of dance, Premini started learning Bharatanatyam at the age of 4, under Kala Bhushanam Smt. Leela Selvaraja, (Disciple of Shreemathi Rukmini Devi Arundale who was a dancer and choreographer of the Indian classical dance form of Bharatanatyam and who laid the foundations of the legendary dance school Kalakshetra) and continued her training with NatyaKalaimani Smt. Malini Suresh, Disciple of renowned maestro Erampu Suppiah, who founded the Kalabhavanam Dance School in Kokuvil, Jaffna, Sri Lanka and performed her arangetram in front of a pack of audience at Kalaimanram, Sri Lanka. Premini was amazed at her Guru’s dedication and devotion to the art took to it even during her younger days. Her Guru’s introduced her to the stage very early, she participated in various dance dramas and thematic presentations and took many leading parts and won many dance competitions regionally and National level. After relocating to the USA, Premini had the privilege to continue her post professional training in dance under the eminent Guru Padmashree Adyar K. Lakshman  Sir of chennai,  who also was one of the foremost disciples of the legendary dance school, Kalakshestra, Founded by Shrimathi Rukmini Devi Arundale and it is natural that Premini imbibed the kalakshetra style of dance. And performed internationally such as Srilanka, India, Europe and most  prestigious places in the USA including United Nations Headquarters, New York and Lincoln Center and CMTD, NY (Center for Traditional Music and Dance), And Yale university etc .

In addition to being an accomplished dancer, Premini is a gifted dance choreographer. Being a firm believer in maintaining the integrity of tradition, Premini explores her creativity without compromising on the classicism of the dance form. She Choreographed and staged her own dance musicals called “ Janaki Kalyanam “ , “ Ramayanam” , “  Muthu – Precious Pearl” and “ Peace- Wish for the World”.  

In spite of her busy schedules as a Software Engineer, and a Mom of two active children, Premini continued mastering the complexities and intricacies of this art through workshops and training from the prominent artists  from Chennai such as Padma Bhushan Dr. Padma Subramaniam, Kalaimamani Shri Madurai R Muralidaran , Shri Narendarkumar Lakshmi Sapapathi , Shri J. Suryanarayana Murthy(Lecturer- Kalaksheshtra) and Dr. Janaki Regarajan. 

Premini is a very graceful dancer who has the ability of portraying the character with ardent devotion and grace. Her expressions and “ anga sutham” coordinated with her intricate footwork (thaalam) and hand movements (hastas) bring to life the character she plays. 

As a teacher, Premini devotes time and energy into developing a new generation of dancers who are dedicated to Bharatanatyam with an aim of spreading the richness and grander of the art form and yet retaining its pureness and tradition. She also plans to inculcate the precious art to various young students as devotedly, diligently and structurally as her gurus.

Premini is trained in Carnatic vocal music , Veena (South Indian string instrument) and Mirudungam as well. Premini has also been invited to judge dance competitions.