Vidwan D. Keshava
Choreographer, Dancer, Yoga and Dance Teacher, Musician
The Indian Dance Master, choreographer and Yoga teacher Vidwan D. Keshava was born and grew up in Mysore, South India. From 1969 until 1975 he studied dance, music and acting at the Mysore University. As the first male dancer in Karnataka he was awarded the title of Natyavisharada and a gold medal. D. Keshava studied the Indian temple dance form Bharatanatyam in the Mysore style with Padmabhushana Dr. K. Venkatalakshamma, the last representative of a famous temple dancing dynasty in the State of Karnataka. He initially learned Yoga from his father, later on from the well-known Yoga master Yogiraj Deshikacharya in Mysore. In addition, he studied several classical dance styles, folkdance, vocals and the string instrument Veena with great Indian masters. D. Keshava is one of the few male Bharatanatyam dancers of his generation. Since 1976 Vidwan D. Keshava has been living in Basel, Switzerland. He and his Swiss partner Esther Jenny opened the first school of Indian dance and Yoga Kalasri in Switzerland and acted as pioneers in establishing Indian art and culture in Switzerland. From 1976 on, D. Keshava and Esther Jenny performed together as the Swiss- Indian dancing couple Esther and Keshava. Their countless appearances in Switzerland found a delighted audience. As director of the Kalasri Dance Ensemble, D. Keshava created traditional and innovative choreographies which were a great success with the Swiss and Indian audience. He receives regular invitations to perform for cultural organisations and international festivals, also for Swiss and Indian TV. D. Keshava enjoyed success in Switzerland, India, Germany, Austria, England, USA, Italy, France and Kuwait. He has earned a great respect for his relentless efforts as a cultural mediator between India and Switzerland and honored with several awards in the course of his career.
Awards, Books, CDs
- 1990 Publication of the book Yoga – Grundkurs für Anfänger (Yoga – Basics for Beginners) by Esther Jenny and D. Keshava, GU Publishers, Munich (translated into Danish and Italian)
- 1993 Publication of the book The Art of Indian Dance and its Tradition by the University of Mysore, in Kannada, the language of the State of Karnataka
- 1997 D. Keshava received the Cultural Gold Medal and the Kannada Rajyotsava Award from the Indian Government of the State of Karnataka for his cultural activities in Switzerland
- 2001 Two CDs with songs in the Carnatic style: Classical South Indian Music and Daiva Stuti – Devranamas
- 2003 Foundation of the Kalasri Cultural Center in Mysore
- 2007 Global Man Award for his life work and his cultural contribution to society, at the 4th World Kannada Cultural Convention in Kuwait
- 2021/22 Karnataka Kalashri Award – Vidwan D. Keshava was honoured with the highest civilian award by the government of the State Karnataka (Karnataka Sangeeta Nritya Academy and Departement of Kannada and Culture)
Most Successful Choreographies
- Dance theatre «Mohini Bhasmasura»
- Dance theatre «The Tiger and the Honest Cow»
- Dance theatre «Buddha Charitam»
- Dance theatre «Ramayana»
- Dashavatara
- The Death and the Maiden (music by F. Schubert)
- Indian Dance on Ice (for World Skating Champion Denise Bielmann)
- «Four Classical Indian Dance Styles»
- «The Four Seasons» (music by A. Vivaldi)
- Choreography for Indian Dance in the Opera Francesa da Rimini (Bregenz Festival)
- «The Female Divinity»
- Dance theatre «Navagraha»– The Nine Planets
- «Bhava – Raga – Tala»
- Dance theatre «Firebird»(music by I. Stravinsky)
- Stories from the Bible
- Dance theatre «Pancha Bhuta – The Five Elements»
- «Moving Sculptures»
- Dance theatre «Himalaya»
- … and many more classical, folkloristic, innovative and Bollywood style choreographies