Aparna B Marar is a young Indian classical danseuse from Kerala. She has attained accomplishment as a dancer, organiser, art educator, choreographer and a singer. She is also an engineer with a postgraduation in wireless communication engineering from PSG College of Technology. She has received numerous honours including the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy- Yuva Prathibha Award, Calicut University- Kalathilakam Awards, National scholarship by Ministry of Culture. As a regular performer and educator she travels extensively around the world for her performances and lectures. She is an empanelled artist of Indian Council for Cultural Relations – ICCR, as well as a member of American Dance Therapy association. She is also the director of the Kalabharathi Foundation for Indian Culture and Heritage, which is a non-profitable cultural organization, regularly organising festivals, workshops and welfare programmes. Aparna is actively involved in art movements for the benefit of society. She is a resource person and a researcher with National Institute on Developmental Delays, USA training the children with developmental delays in movement exploration activities using techniques of Indian classical dancing. She actively takes part in art appreciation programmes for the common people and students.
Personal life
Aparna was born in Guruvayoor, the temple town of Kerala, to Balram K. Marar, a marine chief engineer and Dr. Sreelekha Balram, a homoeopathic doctor. After completing her post graduation in engineering with a rank, she pursued a master's degree in fine arts from Sastra university, Thanjavur. She is also an alumnus of the Indian institute of Management, Bangalore wherein she did executive management in entrepreneurship. She has received many honours in arts as well as academics. Aparna has also presented and published many technical papers in international journals and at national conferences.
Professional life and career
Aparna was initiated to dancing at an age of four. She received extensive training in different styles of Indian classical dance, Bharathanatyam, Kuchipudi and Mohiniyattom from prominent gurus of the country. She is a student of Kalamandalam Kshemavathy in Mohiniyattom. She is also trained under Isaimani R. Vaidyanatha Bhagavathar in Carnatic music, and Sri. Vijay Sursen in Hindusthani music. She is also involved in art appreciation programmes and training programmes for children with developmental delays. She propagates dance therapy through workshops and demonstrations across the globe. Under the banner of the Kalabharathi Foundation for Indian Culture and Heritage, Aparna regularly organises festivals for the promotion of youth in Indian classical arts. The organisation has also initiated support services to struggling veteran artists of the country through the scheme "Ashraya Nidhi". Aparna is also a noted playback-gazal singer and a choreographer.
