Tanjore Dance Music and Art Research Centre public trust, solely have its purpose to educate, encourage and propagate Bharatnatyam in its Original, Classical Tanjore Nritya Gharana under the able guidance of Guru Shri Ramesh Kubernath Tanjorkar, Guru Smt. Leela Ramesh Tanjorkar and their sons Shri Rajesh R Tanjorkar and Shri Ashish R Tanjorkar and Family.
The Thanjavur style of Bharatnatyam is well known not only in India but even abroad, thanks to the disciples and family of Thanjavurs Gurushri Kubernath Tanjorkar, who have taken the bani far and wide. Among them is Ashish,who also happens to be grandson of the legendary Nattuvanar. The torchbearer of this family and its tradition, Ashish started learning dance from his grandfather when he was very young. One of the first lesson he learnt that he was taught was how to hold the ‘Tattukalzhi’, the small stick used to keep the beat or ‘talam’. From there to basic adavus and expression. This paved the way to core Nattuvangam which was one of the more important lessons. He is also a good Vocalist simultaneously with Nattuvangam.
Cherished Memories
He is the 5th generation artist of this tradition. His father Guru Ramesh Tanjorkar is also a well-known Nattuvanar himself. His mother Guru Leela Ramesh Tanjorkar is a Dancer and active Bharatnatyam Teacher. His Grandfather legendary Nattuvanar Guruvarya Kubernathji Tanjorkar was renowned Bharatnatyam Guru. The ancestors of Ashish Tanjorkar and parents of Guru Kubernathji namely Nattuvanar Appaswamy and Thanjavur Kanthimatiammal were the first to bring Bharatnatyam from Tamilnadu to Gujarat and then it spread to rest of the India and abroad.
Personal Details and Present Activities
Ashish has a MBA, PGDBM and M.com degree but he chose to devote his life for the sake of spreading Bharatnatyam in India and Abroad and keeping his Grandfathers dream alive. He has travelled to many countries like Greece, Turkey, Bulgaria, Romania, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Taiwan for Bharatnatyam performances and workshop. Also National programmes of Natyanjali in Chidambaram, Thanjavur, Thiruvayur, Nagapattinam, Thiruvaiyar, Thirupalathurai at Tamilnadu. Also programmes arranged by West Zone Cultural Centre and South zone Cultural Centre in Chandigarh. Recently in October 2024, has travelled to Srilanka with his team of 20 artists for the Bharatnatyam performance and workshop taught basic to advance level of Bharatnatyam to about 800 dance students of Srilanka and to represented our country INDIA. Along with his wife Priya Tanjorkar he is actively teaching Bharatnatyam in the institute Tanjore Nritya Shala at Vadodara, Gujarat