CHIDAMBARAM ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS
Smt. Chitra Visweswaran & Sri. R.Visweswaran established Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts, (CAPA) in Chennai in 1975. CAPA has trained several generations of dancers, teachers, musicians, choreographers & researchers, several of whom have branched out to establish themselves worldwide. Several students of Chidambaram Academy have received the CCRT and Central Government Senior Scholarships, Junior and Senior Fellowships from the Department of Culture, Government of India. The institution is proud to have produced three Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar awardees. The institution has also turned out Full Bright Fellows & Scholars in dance & arts management. Other senior students have set up institutions carrying on the style/ work of Chidambaram Academy, both in India and abroad.
CAPA adopts a holistic approach to dance and music. In addition to performing Bharatanatyam, nattuvangam (conducting the dance and orchestra), theory, music, poetry, stage-craft, lighting, teaching methodology, philosophy of movement and Bharatiya samskriti are stressed upon. Deep study of the cognate art forms is also encouraged. In all, an awareness of our rich Indian art and culture is instilled in all those who pass through its portals.
Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts is known to maintain high professional standards in quality and presentation, be it solo or group, both genres having travelled widely, both nationally and internationally. Chidambaram Academy of Performing arts is governed by Chidambaram Trust.
The Naming of the Vichitra Bani
A significant moment during the inauguration of the exhibition was the formal naming of Smt. Chitra Visweswaran’s distinctive bani as the Vichitra Bani.
The name reflects the confluence of Chitra and Visweswaran, while also suggesting the unique artistic vision that has defined her work over decades. The Vichitra Bani recognises the distinctive aesthetic she has shaped—one that seamlessly integrates movement, music, scholarship, and imagination.
This naming acknowledges not only a personal style but also a living artistic lineage that continues to inspire students, collaborators, and audiences. The Vichitra Bani stands as a testament to Chitra Visweswaran’s enduring contribution to Bharatanatyam: a tradition deeply rooted in classical grammar, yet constantly expanding in thought, expression, and creative possibility.
The Vichitra Bani, as taught at the Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts, is a distinctive style of Bharatanatyam developed by Smt. Chitra Visweswaran. It is a beautiful synthesis of rigorous tradition and imaginative innovation.
“The Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts serves as the exclusive vessel for the Vichitra Bani, a unique language pioneered by Smt. Chitra Visweswaran. Characterized by its sophisticated use of space, rhythmic intricacy, and an emotionally resonant approach to Abhinaya, the Vichitra Bani transcends mere technique to offer a holistic, spiritual experience of Bharatanatyam.”
The Chidambaram Academy of Performing Arts serves as the primary home and custodian of the Vichitra Bani, the distinctive bani evolved by Smt. Chitra Visweswaran. The bani embodies a holistic vision of the art—where movement, music, emotion, and thought converge to create an experience that is at once aesthetic, intellectual, and deeply spiritual.
