Guru Kalaimamani 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 cultural heritage in places like Goa, Howrah, Delhi etc. She is also an Executive Member of ABHAI (Association of Bharatanatyam Artistes of India). Padma’s dance blossomed under the guidance of SNA Awardee Guru 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. Her talent has been acknowledged by leading sabhas and veterans in art field with titles like:-

  • “Natyathilakam”- Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam, 1984.
  • “Best Student of the year”- Adarsh Vidyalaya School – (All-rounder), 1989.
  • “Best Dancer Award”- Madras Medical College, Culturals.
  • “Best Dancer”- Stanley Medical College.
  • “Natyakalaimani”- Kalaimagal Trust of India.
  • “Natyamayuri”- Natyanjali Trust.
  • “Bharata Kala Ratnam” – Sri Saraswathy Gana Nilayam, 2005.
  • “Balasaraswathi” – Sri Ragam Fine Arts, 2012.
  • “Dr. MGR Award of Excellence”- Raadu Arts Academy, 2014.
  • “Rotary Award of Excellence in Art”- Rotary Club of Madras Mount, 2015.
  • “Kalaivalarmani”- Tamilnadu Government, 2015.
  • “Award of Excellence”- Nalvazhvu Sangam.
  • Women Achiever Award 2017-2018 by K.S.Rangaswamy College of Technology, Tiruchengode, Tamil Nadu.
  • “Naatya Saagar” – Thyagayya TV, 2018.
  • “Nrithya Jothy” – Arulmigu Sri Ekambareshwarar Kovil, 2018.
  • Kalaimamani Award for 2018 was given by the Government of Tamil Nadu in 2019.
  • “Nrithya Jothi” Award of Excellence in Bharatanatyam – Karthik Fine Arts, 2019.
  • ” Sarva Devatha Anugraha Praveena” – Papanasam Sivan Trust, 2023.
  • “Acharya Kala Vipanchee” – Vipanchee Trust, 2023.
  • “Akshaya Kala Nipuna” – Akshaya Arts, 2025.

Reference Asia – Asias who’s who of Men and Women of Achievement has published Guru Kalamamani Smt. Padmalaksshme Suresh’s 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, a live relay and interview of the production “Om Nama Shivaya” by Sun Music and an interview on the “Chidambaram Kuravanji” project in Sun News.

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 – Chengannur
  • 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.
  • Online Judge for Bharatham competition, Singapore.
  • Kala Utsav, Tribal Welfare Society, Central Government of India.
  • Kendra Vidyalaya, Central Government of India.
  • Examiner for Tamil Isai Sangam’s degree exams.
  • Examiner for Prayathanam examination.
  • Guest Tutor in Government Music College, Tamil Nadu.

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. She was invited to perform in the Government Music College of Tamil Nadu in 2025. This vivacious dancer is an M.A. gold medalist of Madras University with an additional Master’s degree in Political Science and Bharatanatyam and an M.Phil holder. Padma’s motto is to serve the society through art. With this vision she started Padmalaya School of Bharatanatyam in 2001. Padmalaya Foundation was established in 2012 to take 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.

Thematic solo and group productions:

  • Navarasam
  • Sakthi
  • Atma Nrithyam
  • Swamiye Saranam Ayyappa
  • Siva Sakthi Shanmuga Prabavam
  • Om Sakthi
  • On Nama Shivaya
  • Annaithum En Annai
  • Chidambaram Kuravanji
  • Om Namo Narayana
  • Bharata Swatantrata Kuravanji
  • Nayaki
  • Maha Periyava Pancharatnam
  • Thiruvaroor Pancharatnam
  • Sri Kapaleeshwara Pancharatnam
  • Rama Nama Smaranam Krishna Nama Smarami
  • Krishnam Smarami
  • Adi Yogi
  • Meenakshi Thirukalyanam

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